Monterey-Pacific Grove-Carmel Valley
Just returned this morning from a 5 day trip to the Monterey Peninsula. We stayed in Pacific Grove which is just past the city of Monterey and Cannery Row. Our hotel was in a part of Pacific Grove called Lover's Point which is in my mind, the place I want to spend the rest of my days should I one day be able to afford a house there.
This was the view from our hotel room:
While there, we found some local secrets. Places the locals go for food that are just knock your socks off good. One place, we already knew about so that was cool to find out it was a locals favorite. The others...well....I won't throw the names out there because we were confided in. Suffice it to say I had the best old world baked bread, pastry and desserts to be had on this coast.
Our routine was to go get a sandwich for lunch at one these local favorites and then drive to a spot by the beach and eat lunch. We did this on the road in front of our hotel one day, then 17 Mile Drive the next. We were very near Pebble Beach golf links but closer to Spanish Bay which is every bit as beautiful. We ate at Lover's Point beach on our final day after going to Big Sur in the morning.
All in all, it was a very relaxing and wonderful vacation....and I want to go back!!! So gorgeous there in Pacific Grove. I love it there. Don't think I didn't go do anything motorcycle related because it wouldn't be a complete vacation if I didn't.
On Saturday we finally made it to the Jameson motorcycle museum in Pacific Grove. We'd tried a few times before but never seemed to be able to find the place open. We finally succeeded this time. We went in and were greeted at the door by a guy named Web. He gave us the nickel tour as it is a fairly small establishment.
There were all manner of vintage motorcycles, ranging from BMWs of the 70s and 80s to Harley Davidsons from the early 1900s. There was a smattering of British and Japanese iron mixed in from 60s to the 80s and 90s. Most interesting were the early Harleys, one of which was prepped to go to the Cannon Ball Run. According to Web, everything started and ran. Also among the more interesting bikes were a number of Norton Commandos. I counted at least 3 with the latest being an 850 of the middle to late 70s variety. Must have been one of the last is my guess.
Most interesting of all, was not a motorcycle but a tip we got from Web as we were leaving. He told us of another museum, one we hadn't heard of. He told us about a guy by the name of Talbott who was a winery owner but started collecting motorcycles. He told us there were some significant Ducatis there as well as a few race bikes. He gave us directions to Carmel Valley and told us we would know we found the place by all the old motorcycles hanging about. He wasn't kidding.
http://www.mototalbott.com/
We got to MotoTalbott and just like Web told us, I see a classic Gilera motorcycle stuck on a pole about 10 feet in the air. Did not appear to have anything wrong with it save for a dent in the exhaust. Inside we met one of the docents whose name escapes me at the moment. He told us the place had been open since 2016 and we were welcome to look around. He then told us there was another room downstairs containing a whole bunch of dirt bikes.
The first thing to greet my eyes when we walked in was a Tri-Color 851.
Then immediately to my left I see one of Wayne Rainey's title winning YZR500s. Next to it was a Kenny Roberts title winning V4 from 1980. Then Kenny Roberts Jr RGV title bike from 2000 and one of the KR Proton 3 cylinder 500s as ridden by Nobby Aoki. I was almost out of breath at the sheer quality of the display and the provenance of the race bikes. A few race bikes indeed!!
We walked past the Grand Prix bikes and out of the corner of my eye I see Kawasaki green.....and the number 32. A Bostrom bike...indeed it was a Muzzy Kawasaki ZX7R as ridden by Eric Bostrom. We walked through to a second room, past the bathrooms (a whole other story in themselves) and I see a shop in the back to the left. As I peeked through the windows I was greeted by the sight of a 900 Super Sport Final Edition. An SS/FE. As proclaimed to my wife at the sight of it, a guy peeks around the corner.
Turns out, he the lead mechanic. I think it was Bob Weindorf as he's listed on the website. Anyway, he told me he'd literally worked on thousands of 900s and gave me a rundown on what to do with mine. From what he told me, he was the first mechanic at Moto Italia down in Glendale. Anyway, we chatted about the 900 SS/FE and what I had going on with the Project Super Sport for a bit and then we decided to go downstairs. I thought the whole downstairs was a dedicated "dirt bike" room. Was I ever wrong.
I get down the stairs and what do I see. A 916.
Then through what looked like a hall door, I see a line of motorcycles. I walked through and there sits a Jawa Ice Racer. Cool! The entire place was rocking and I absolutely enjoyed every second of being there. It was a $10 entry for veterans so that was a plus. $12 for everyone else. I think it was less for seniors but I'm not sure if it was just the $10 or what.
Click on the web site link for the museum...far better pics of the place there. If anyone is in the Monterey area for any reason, this place is a great little place to check out. I highly recommend it.....sean