While the surf is flat....

[billie_morini]

.... there are motos!!

Been spending a lot of time with these two motorbikes. The blue & white one belongs to my 17 year old nephew. The yellow one is mine. For the uninitiated, both motos are Suzuki DRZ 400S. These are dual sport (on-off road) bikes. They are perfect here in Santa Barbara. Yesterday I went and checked out the damage caused by the 32,000 acre (13,000 hectare) Rey fire in our beautiful back country. Quite amazing to see many scorched miles of steep mountains. Stopped and talked to some ranchers and home owners in the area. They had an unnerving 3 weeks when this fire was raging. The fire is still burning at the east end, but is 100% contained.

[billie_morini]

Today was a federal holiday in the USA. It's called Labor Day. This holiday honors the American labor movement and the contributions that workers made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of the country. It started state-by-state in the late 19th century. Eventually, the federal gov't promulgated a regulation for the entire nation.

So, to the maximum extent possible, I pressed one of these motos into service. I wanted to look for a new road through the Los Padres National forest. I met a forest ranger checking on the Rey Fire (100% contained, but still burning) and he told me about a road that goes for more than 100 miles. The next couple of posts provide photos from today's adventure. The moto was far more fit and willing than its rider.

[billie_morini]

The forest ranger told me this "Closed Sign" applies to everything except motorcycles! Heaven!

[billie_morini]

One astounding northwest view.

[billie_morini]

After many miles.

[billie_morini]

I rode the lower dirt road snaking along in the distance. That's all the energy I had. One day, I will ride the upper road. Look to the left of the distant mountain and you can see the Santa Barbara coastline.

This adventure provides one of 100's examples for why Santa Barbara is heaven on earth.