Saturday, July 14, 2007

2007 July 14 - Hwy 1

{CLICK on photos to view full size images}

Now this started out as a Monthly NorCal Triumph Riders and Friends (NCTRF) Ride, but Phil T formerly a Triumph Daytona Rider and now a Nomad Rider invited the DAmico's to join the NCTRF group. Then Phil invited Cranky and a fellow Nomad rider from his home town of Citrus Heights to join the Ride. So now with 7 VROCers and Las an Honorary VROCer. We invited VROCers to join the Ride. In fact, I think we have more Vulcan Riders than Triumph Riders that actively participate in the NCTRF Rides.

Here is what one VROCer wrote:
Cranky wrote:
"I started at almost 0800, got home at almost 1900, if I give an hour to Jelly Belly and lunch, 10 hours of riding, and except for the super slab from home to Jelly Belly, damn nice country!!! Overall I traveled 378 miles!!! "
Here is a link to Cranky's Blog of the Ride.

We meet at the Jelly Belly. Note that Linda and Las decide to ignore the parking lot lines and park their bikes in the middle of the roadway.

The early part of the Ride is to head to Point Reyes Station and the Coast. Traffic is pretty heavy since the weather is perfect. But we manage to get through Sonoma County via Hwy 12 and Hwy 121 to Sears Point. Then over Hwy 37 to Atherton Avenue/San Marin Avenue around Novato. We "T" into Petaluma Point Reyes Road and soon pass the Cheese Factory. The All British Rally is held there by the BSA Club.

We start out with 13 bikes and 15 people as two are riding two-up.

Here we have reached Hwy 1 and are waiting for a break in traffic to get a bunch of bikes onto the highway.


Our first rest stop at Point Reyes Station. With so many bikes the normal gas station stop is not possible so we wind up at the edge of town.

This is Linda hamming for the camera.
Jess and Theresa.

Scott with a smoke.

Here I am taking a photo.We just take over the whole street.

Onto Hwy 1 we ride along Tomales Bay.

We quickly lose the sunshine and head into the fog. Boy am I glad that I did not take off my wind shirt. But my left hand got really cold, since I took off the left glove to take these photos over my shoulder.






We then turn inland for a lunch stop in Occidental. Not Negri's for a change but Howard's Station Café, which is owned by the Negri's.

Here's Cranky and Larry and Glenda C.
Eric, Jess, Jenn and Theresa.

The food was really good.

Las had a big cheeseburger with fries.

After lunch we break into various groups. The planned ride is made in two groups as we head over Coleman Valley Road to the Coast. This is a one lane road that heads over the hill right out of Occidental. We start in the sunlight.



Ah. But the fog is blowing in at 30 Knots as we near the summit. We miss the view of the Pacific that we would get when the air is clear. It is a spectacular view. But the fog has visibilty down to a few feet. Just before we get to Hwy 1 there is a nice little 12% down grade with a 180° turn that we take at 4 or 5 mph in the middle of the fog.

Seven bikes started from Occidental in Group 1 but two turn to the south when we reach Hwy 1. They head to Bodega Bay. We head on up to Duncan Mills and stay in the fog until just before Monte Rio. The visibilty is not nearly as good as the camera lens shows.
Gas stop at Guerneville for the second group.
Same gas stop as the first group.

Second group.

Heading out of Guerneville.
From Guerneville the Ride continues along River Road into Santa Rosa where River Road turns into Mark Springs West Road. This gets us into Hwy 128 just north of Calistoga. At Calistoga though the Ride heads over to the Silverado Trail which is a much nicer Ride than the really busy Hwy 128/Hwy29. Hwy 128 crosses the Silverado Trail where the Ride heads toward Winters.

Epilogue:
It turns out that Group 2 had to stop again to eat:

"As we came to the stop sign in Calistoga, we looked to our right and noticed the bbq place (I forget the name), so we made a quick stop for more grub. Jess and Theresa had to go, though. This really is an eating club that utilizes motorcycles to get from restaurant to restaurant!
I've tried 2 times to send the picture of us there, but it's too big.
Thanks for a great day!
Jenn"

So anyway here are photos of Buster's from previous Rides.
Jenn finally figured out how to make the photo small enough to email. So this is Group 2 after "pigging out". Jenn, Eric, Phil, Las, Jeff and Scott.

Now Group 1 had the "older" folks who are headed to Oregon for the FOOL Ride {Fogies, Old, Oregon Loop}. The young stomachs stop at Buster's to eat. The Fogies stop at the Soda Canyon Store for a soda, but more importantly a potty break. :-)
It was a great day.

We had seven Vulcans, two Triumphs, two BMWs, a Yamaha, a Suzuki and a Harley.

Eric B ............................Elk Grove ..Low Rider
Jennifer B ....................Mt Aukum ..Low Rider Pillion
Larry C .........................Vacaville ..1500 Classic
Glenda C .......................Vacaville ..1500 Classic Pillion
Linda D .........................Pollock Pines ..VN 900
Mario D ........................Pollock Pines ..VN 2000
Jesse H .........................Sacto ..Sprint ST
Don I .............................Stockton ..F650
Will J ............................Coloma ..1500 Classic
Jeff L .............................Citrus Heights ..Nomad
David M .........................Roseville ..K1200LT
Las S ..............................Silver City ..Boogar
Scott S ...........................Sacto ..Sprint
Cranky S ........................San Jose ..Nomad
Phil T ..............................Citrus Heights ..Nomad
Theresa W ......................Rancho Cordova ..FJ1200