May 31, 2008 - Filoli Gardens and an RT Experience

[Tyler]

In preparation for our trip to [url="http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50665&highlight=italy"]Italy[/url]next month, I decided to rent an RT and give it a try before riding it for a week! The nice folks at [url="http://www.pacificcyclecompany.com/"]Pacific Cycle Co[/url]. were glad to oblige my rental desires – if you’re looking to rent a bike for a day, this is a good place to do it.

Mark, one of the owners, was giving me the scoop on the RT – it had all the farkles one could want – heated grips, heated seats, adjustable windshield with the push of a button, adjustable seat, cruise control, etc. He cautioned me that the RT was a heavy bike and I just laughed… he looked at me kinda funny so I told him what I usually ride. He understood my mirth.

My trusty steed for the day

[Tyler]

Anyway, we had a DC ride scheduled for Filoli Gardens so I headed for the coffee meet and waited. My riding companions for the day were Alex and her hubby Wilder. Nice small little group through the Los Altos foothills and alighting at Filoli Gardens.

Wilder and Alex


Portola Rd.


I’ve been to Filoli a couple of times but usually earlier in the year when the daffodils were in full bloom. This time of year, the rose gardens are alive with color and blossoms. Here are a few pics (difficult to take with the cloudy lighting conditions) to give you a taste.

Alex and Wilder at the entrance – both grew up in the area but had never been to Filoli so it was fun to see them experience it for the first time


The master ballroom has these amazingly beautiful (and huge) murals on the walls… I had Alex stand in front of one so you could get an idea as to the size of them.

[Tyler]

Yours truly


Lots of color

[Tyler]

Damn kids

[Tyler]

After Filoli, we headed for Alice’s for some lunch. It was very foggy and drippy on the way up 35 but eased up at bit once we reached Alice’s. Outside the restaurant was one of the Can Am Spyder’s… I would love to try one of those out someday!

Did I mention it was foggy?

[Tyler]

After lunch, Alex and Wilder headed down 84 to Pacifica and I continued along 35 to 9, putting the mighty RT through its paces. Like the Trophy, once it’s moving, it handles really well and I think we’ll be pleased with it for our trip.

I headed for home to pick up my favorite farkle so she could try out the pillion seat.


I think she was a little surprised to see a camera in her face while we were riding!



Took her up 9 and Pierce Rd. then a little freeway to see how the wind buffeting factor was… I adjusted the windshield to its highest setting and she said that took a lot of the wind off of her. We returned the bike to its owners and sitting out front was a little 250 Nighthawk… brought back memories as that’s the bike I learned on in the MSF course. Shannon seemed to take a liking to it as well… I’m in trouble, aren’t I?



FIN