Well we were headed to Seattle to spend Christmas with our daughter but the gods of travel decided that was not to be!
Ended up stranded in San Diego for 3 days, trying to get back home to Dallas today. We managed a family gift giving over WhatsApp video though and if you're looking for good weather, SoCal doesn't hurt (70 degrees & sunny).
When life gives you lemons you make lemonade!
Happy Christmas to all!
Ours has gone a bit pear shape but we will prevail 
Carmel Valley - long way from the beach.
https://goo.gl/maps/Xzq7m4AtfHMS11H27
I rode a lap of Laguna Seca, slowly on a rental GS. We went for a look see very early one Sunday & the gates were open
Carmel & Carmel Village are very different. The Village is a quirky little town nestled in the foothills below Laguna Seca, cool little spot with great food both high & low brow.
Funnily enough they promote the clothing as having a surf connection when the reality is that Hollister is a dusty farm town, miles inland!
For the surf "scene" you would hit Santa Cruz;
Turn off CA-25 south of Hollister at Pinnacles, ride through Pinnacles National Park to East Carmel Valley Road/G16 & head north to Carmel Valley which is an amazing, twisty run to a cool town with an M/C friendly motel and an amazing motorcycle museum.
Here's some maps from previous trips.
Provided you stay West of the mountains it's not going to be super cold. 30's in the mornings but in the 40s/50s during the day. Death Valley is a little out of your way but since you've already done the lower portion of the PCH I'd recommend Indian Valley Rd - CA-25 which winds it's lonely way up from Paso Robles to Hollister. One of the best (and largely unknown) M/C roads in CA. Just check the weather conditions before you head out.
You'd be doing the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) at a good time to avoid the RVs but anything coastal could be cold & wet. Of course, being Scots that's probably not something that bothers you! Certainly it's a spectacular run with some great towns (big & small) on the way. It's close to 1,700 miles mind you and portions are very twisty so your average speeds aren't going to be that high. But riding in the redwoods...
Inland you're going to be at the end of winter with the possibility of late snow storms and closed passes, the Cascades are amazing but best left for the summer months.
Phil Barrett: Enjoy those temps, ours will just reach half of that in the afternoon. And it will rain. If it doesn't it'll snow. Covid stopped me traveling to Scotland, but the weather won't! DD
The wee place on Skye looks outstanding today on the webcam! Sunny & still, 40F.
Screen Shot 2022-12-04 at 4.27.52 PM.pngOne of the few remaining reasons to remain in Texas...
Twenty-five was the speed limit,
Motorcycle not allowed in it
You go to store on Fridays,
You go to church on Sundays
They call it Nutbush,
Oh, Nutbush,
Said they call it Nutbush city limits
wellcome back to the forum
Thanks - work has been beyond crazy as my industry comes rampaging back from COVID like Godzilla, plus the family stuff too. Riding time has been next to zero which is not good especially as the heat has finally broken over here.
Crikey, that's some groundworks there. Does Kevin McLeod visit occasionally?
The Grand Designs discussion did come up but we're so boring viewers would be asleep before we even got to say "in by Christmas!" Actually the reality is that although we're huge fans of the show it's too intrusive into personal lives for us to want to be involved. It's not like you get paid to be on there or anything.
Another quick trip to the Islands followed by a run south to help my 82 year old mom move out of the house she & my dad were in for nigh on 40 years. All a bit emotional plus she has a lot of stuff!
Site is close to finished, Innis the stone mason has been doing a cracking job. Foundations to follow in the next few weeks, steel is being fabricated in Inverness.
dji_fly_20220929_174014_336_1664469622672_photo_optimized.jpg
Nessie has good taste, nice beer;
Headed back to Texas yesterday, via the Western Isles to my surprise;
Did the run West from Inverness yesterday (in a car unfortunately), still lots of 2 wheel action on the NC500. Way less RVs thankfully.
Well that sent me off down a Google rabbit hole 
A slow bike going fast is some of the best fun I've ever had on 2 wheels. And as a buddy once said "20HP is all you need, the rest is just wheel spin!"
That's a good looking machine too.
It's all a matter of perspective my friends. Right now I'd trade in a heartbeat!
Just started watching Sea Power on Netflix, so far pretty interesting.
For those who ask "how will you deal with the weather?" I attach our forecast for the week. In other words "the weather will be a welcome relief, thank you!"
Where's the camp site going ?
How about you ditch the tent & chill in the spare bedroom?
