2007NorCal

2007 Nov 18 - David J's Ride

2007-11-18T17:09:00.000-08:00

{Click on any photo to view the full size image}

This Ride was just two weeks after my off-road fiasco:
Don "vsp"'s off road adventure

We meet a bit late at the new McDonalds in Livermore at Vasco Road. It was very foggy this morning. We did manage to start the Ride just before 11:00 AM

Redbeard is acting up as the rest of the crew poses for this photo. We start out the day with 10 riders and 10 bikes. Eight of them are actually Vulcans.

Jazzhound was waiting for some friends who never made it so you can see him riding in on Vasco Road at the far left of this photo.

We ride from Livermore over the Old Altamont Pass Road. That used to be US Highway 50 in the Korean War days. We then head over Midway Road past the Altamont Speedway over to Patterson Pass Road. Patterson Pass is a twisty little one lane road that lies between Tracy and Livermore.

A couple of photos from Cranky of Patterson Pass Road taken earlier this year.

Now we take a break at the Chevron Station just east of the Livermore Harley dealership. Now Roy C. is doing his dance as Ron F. fills up his bike. Roy had to leave the Ride at this point because of an old shoulder injury.

Ron, Jazzhound and a new member, Steve P. from Livermore.

David J, KC, Cranky and Redbeard at the Chevron Station break.

We back track Patterson Pass Road to the Crossroad since Cranky has never ridden that road and he requested it at the break.

Here are a couple of photos along Crossroad.

The next two photos are along Corral Hollow Road after the steep descent.

We ride around the south end of Tracy and head into the farmlands and orchards.

After some really back roads that meander very near I-5 we criss cross the Delta Mendota Canal about 8 times before winding up in Modesto at Doc's BBQ.

This is for Sherm. The brisket sandwich. Unfortunately this shot is of a half eaten brisket sandwich.

And Jazzhound goes all the way and has a brisket dinner. Yams and greens as sides and a corn bread muffin.
Others had the pulled pork, a hot link, and chicken.

Real smoked bbq.

After lunch {a late lunch we finish about 2:30 PM} we have three groups leaving Modesto. Ron and his buddy Toby head north on Hwy 99. Cranky leads Jazzhound, Steve P, Redbeard and KC to I-580. All but Jazzhound then are taking Corral Hollow Road over to Livermore then over to Highway 84 to head back to Fremont/San Jose/Sunnyvale. I lead David J on the back roads to I-5. I wave good bye as I get to my March Lane exit and David heads back to Woodland.

The weather was cool and sunny for the Ride. We had to go through various amounts of fog to get to the starting point. But the visibility was at least a 1/4 of a mile so it was not nearly as bad as the zero visibility fog days here in Central California.

Who is ready for our POLAR BEAR RIDE?

Todays Riders:
Don I. ......................Stockton..............#5569
David J. ..................Woodland..........#13157
Jazzhound ..............Berkeley.............#15466
Roy C. .....................Castro Valley....#16477 had to drop out
Cranky ....................San Jose.............#16804
Redbeard ................Fremont............#18179
Ron F. .....................Citrus Heights...#21318
Toby H. ..................Elk Grove........... Ron's guest
KC ...........................Sunnyvale...........#23847
Steve P. ...................Livermore..........#25371

fin

2007 October 20 - Cranky's Santa Cruz Hills Ride

2007-10-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

{Click on any photo to view the full size image}

I was running late because the past two weekends I had to leave home at 7 AM and 7:30 AM. Today I had too much time to fool around. I was planning on leaving home at 9:00 AM but got engrossed in stuff and did not get on the road until 9:30 AM and I still had to get gas.

Anyway I arrive at the Chevron meeting place at 10:59 AM. Everyone else is there already.

Cranky has his big American Flag on his bike. His bike was the landmark for the Meeting Place.

We ride through Saratoga and head into the hills. Today everyone comes to a full stop at Stop Signs. They must have read last week's Blog.

The road narrows. What happened to the double yellow lines? These are from Castle Rock State Park on Hwy 9.
It is dark in some sections of the road. We are traveling through some tall, thick redwoods.

A break at Big Basin State Park. Actually outside the Park proper. But there is a restroom. :-)

A story about the couple that took our pic in the tree..
Roy took a pic of them in the tree and we asked them to take one of us.
They were glad to, they said they wanted a pic too,
they've actually met the Wild Hogs!!! Good joke!!
Cranky

We continue along Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek and then take Bear Creek Road to loop over to Hwy 35 - Skyline Boulevard. Along the way we stop at a Vista.

Some photos as we continue our Ride along Skyline Boulevard.

When we arrive at the junction with Hwy 92, it is a 12 mile long parking lot. So our Ride into Half Moon Bay must be rescheduled.

So we take a break and after some discussion decide to head in different directions. Since some live south, north and east of where we have stopped. We say our good byes.
Roy C heads back to Castro Valley. Jazzhound heads home to Berkeley. Gar, K.C. and Cranky head back to Alice's for lunch. Redbeard and I head for the Original Pancake House in Fremont as David J rides along with us on Hwy 92 over the San Mateo Bridge until I-880.

I have wanted to eat at the Original Pancake House for some time now. There are now about 100 open. The only one that I ate at was quite a few years ago at the original Original Pancake House in Portland, OR. I loved their large Apple Pancake:
............ Original Pancake House
A quote from their web site:
"Our signature items include the Apple Pancake, a single large pancake smothered with sautéed apples and cinnamon sugar baked to perfection. To create a deliciously rich cinnamon sugar glaze."
We get to the Pancake House and the hours are from 6:30 AM to 2 PM, M - F and 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Sat and Sun. We get there at 3:10 PM, so it is closed. I hate the traffic pattern getting there from home. Perhaps some weekend.

But Redbeard lives in Fremont so he leads to Dina's Family Restaurant.

Here is the "food" shot for Sherm. I did have my clam chowder. And baked short ribs with rice and veggies and lots of gravy.

Heading home I left the Interstates to ride the Old Altamont Pass Road. I had to stop and take a couple of photos just outside of Tracy. The sheep have kids.

Cranky's end of ride:
Not much happened after we split up, we went back to Alice's and after that, I went south on 9, KC went east on 84 and Gar went west on 84!
Blogger is busted, I can't upload any pics or do my blog..
#$*&#!)%*!#$%!#)*
GREAT RIDE!!!!!! - up to 92....
---
Cranky

Cranky's Blog of his Ride

Todays Riders:
VSP ..................... #5569 ................ Stockton
Gar ..................... #13077 ............... Santa Cruz
David J ............... #13157 ............... Woodland
Jazzhound .......... #15466 .............. Berkeley
Roy C .................. #16477 .............. Castro Valley
Cranky ................. #16804 ............ San Jose
Redbeard ............ #18179 .............. Fremont
K. C. ................... #23847 .............. Sunnyvale

Epilogue:
I had to drive to Alameda today {Sunday the 21st} to pick up a spare seat pan for one of my motorcycles. So at the last minute I decide to detour to Fremont and have an Apple Pancake.
Here is the Apple Pancake. It is more like an apple pie, but instead of the crust you get a baked egg rich batter pancake.
Too much to eat. That is a 10" plate.

fin

2007 October 13 - tc's Giant Artichoke Ride

2007-10-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

{CLICK on photos to view full size images}

Cranky has some additional photos at: Cranky's Blog

I have been meaning to stop at the Vista Point near Gustine for years. This is above I-5.

Tiny, Cranky, tc and Happy Wanderer at Hollister.

Jest shows up.

Bear {Brian Sublow} filling up.

Nite Lite trying to find the slot...................

Okay now we start the Ride. tc is the Ride Leader and Nite Lite is riding shot gun. Well, turning north onto old Hwy 156. Jest and nite lite get cut off in traffic. There is road work being done and one lane is shut down creating heavy traffic.

Cranky overtakes tc after a few miles since Jest and Nite Lite are still not in sight. So we make a U-turn and head back to the start spot. No Jest and Nite Lite. tc figures that they took the Hwy 25 exit instead of continuing along old Hwy 156 which is where we were.

So instead of losing Cat, we lost Jest and Nite Lite in the FIRST MILE of the Ride. A new record.

We hang out at Hwy 25 just before the Hwy 101 entrance for a couple of minutes. Brian calls his dad's cell and leaves a voice mail.

The six of us head through Gilroy. tc, Happy Wanderer, Tiny, Bear, me and Cranky in that order. Well, at one of the four way stops which we have all been floating through, tc and Happy Wanderer have stopped and take off. Tiny and Bear kind of float through, then I see the Sheriff's car second in line to our right. I stop. The Sheriff then turns on his blinking lights and turns, thus he does not see Cranky floating through.

Only Tiny and Bear get ticketed. What a bummer. Cranky is disappointed that he does not get a ticket.

Meanwhile this traffic stop takes about 20 minutes {two cigarettes}. Just across the road and up the hill from us is this huge house.

We have to change riding routes because of the long stop. So back to Hwy 152 into Hollister.

Harvesting strawberries just outside of Pajaro.
Castroville calls itself the artichoke capitol of the world. They have held an annual Artichoke Festival since about 1947 in May of each year. The Festival's claim to fame is that its first Festival Queen was Norma Jean Baker later better known as Marilyn Monroe.

Jest and nite lite beat us to the Giant Artichoke in Castroville. They get their food before we get ours.

My half eaten plate. I forgot to take a photo before I started, then Cranky reminded me that Sherm wants to see the "food" shot. :-) I have the Giant Artichoke platter, which is a steamed artichoke, deep fried artichoke and artichoke bread with a dish of mayo and a dish of ranch dressing.
These two may soon become the fellow that we saw in the parking lot. The next photo.

After lunch Tiny heads back home. He had worked from 11 PM until 7:30 AM that morning.

tc, rather than jump on Hwy 156 one block away, choses to head back to Hwy 1. Well, when we get to Hwy 1 we get a Right Turn Only, when we want to go to the LEFT. So going about a half a mile the wrong way we turn into a Fruit Stand parking lot and make another U-Turn. :-)

We eventually get to heading south on Hwy 1. Happy Wanderer leaves us at Fort Ord where he lives. So it is now six bikes {the normal number} but a different six. We were headed to Big Sur and make a gas stop in Carmel to avoid the $4.89/gallon gas price in Big Sur.

At the gas stop waiting for Cranky to use the WC.
Cranky and jest decide it is too cold and too late so they head back home from Carmel.

Nite Lite in his usual position, riding tail.

It is just the four of us as we head south on Hwy 1. tc, Bear, me and Nite Lite.

It is chilly and foggy. And the south bound traffic is being held up by a couple of slow moving cars. The last four times that I have ridden through this part of Hwy 1 has been from south to north. In that direction the traffic is not bad. But today was a bitch.

Fifteen miles after our gas stop, tc pulls off at a vista. He has grown tired of the slow pace. We are all tired of the slow pace. We meditate for awhile looking at the ocean.

We then head back home. tc will lead us along Hwy 1 to Hwy 129 via Pajaro Road. NIte Lite pulls along side of me when we get to Pajaro and asks "What town is this?"

I wave my good byes at Hwy 101 and I continue along since this is the back way to San Juan Bautista. I stop for a soda at the Windmill Market. In July of 2006 this is the place where Skid and I bought Sandy her "birthday cake", a piece of Mexican pastry that is the same as a pineapple jelly roll.

In fact, I bought a piece of that pineapple jelly roll. It is really good at this bakery. Most are on the dry side but the Windmill makes a moist jelly roll.

Great sandwiches {cheap too} and their tortas are delicious.

Then back on the road over Pacheco Pass. A gas stop at Santa Nella where a R1150R rider comes over to talk to me as I have a cigarette. He was feeling like the Lone Ranger as there were about a dozen Harley's parked along side his beemer.

I was planning to take Hwy 33, but it is too late and I do not like riding at night, so off along I-5. It is only 70 miles from Santa Nella to my home. I get home in a little under an hour from Santa Nella just as the sun is setting.

Todays Riders:
tc .............. #1245 ...San Jose
Nite Lite ... #4234 ...Petaluma
Tiny .......... #4685 ...Pinole
VSP ........... #5569 ...Stockton
Jest ........... #6372 ...Saratoga
Cranky ..... #16804 ...San Jose
Happy W .. #18670 ...Monterey
Bear .......... #19483 ...Petaluma

2007 July 14 - Hwy 1

2007-07-14T22:50:00.001-07:00

{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

2007 May 17 - sayhey's celebration ride

2007-05-17T20:37:00.001-07:00

CLICK on any photo to view the full size image.

Text and photos by Cranky. {comments in brackets by VSP}

Steve (sayhey) Stansberry was about to have a shoulder replaced,
a grandkid was well into the "wing" and wanted to go for a ride!!! The
shoulder replacement was put off and the kid was born, big and healthy,
and we still went for a ride!!!!!!!

The ride started out with Sayhey meeting Cranky at the Bailey overpass
for the ride to Santa Nella. We also had a surprise guest, Jest Rick came by to wish us a nice trip. He was off to see his mother and couldn't make the ride but wanted to stop by for a visit. He has a real nice VN 900!!!

So Cranky set up a route down south around the dreaded 152 thru Gilroy,
and over to Santa Nella. Seven bikes and one was 2up, showed and
we headed to Wool Growers Inn...

Parking lot at the Wool Growers

Jack and Mary are from Bakersfield. Bill "Wham Bam" and Fred are from Coarsegold. sayhey from Fremont. Cranky from San Jose. And Bob and VSP from Stockton.

The front of Wool Growers...
Inside of the bar.
We then fed our faces!!! All in anticipation...

Ate our hearts out.... beans and soup, great stuff... then the salad....
then the lamb stew... then what we ordered and real old fashion French Fries, sigh.... with some
wine.... I was stuffed by then... GBG then some ice cream..

I'M STILL FULL!!!!! GEEZ!!!!!

{Left to right: Mary, Cranky, sayhey, Fred, Jack, Bill, Bob and VSP}

In front hitch'n up to go, right after Don fixed his front left turn signal.

So off we went to Hollister and out Hwy 25!!!!! {Minus the CMC bike who headed back to Coarsegold.} {Now the original route had sayhey heading off to Roseville, so it was a criss crossing to Livermore - Tracy.} {Jack and Mary and Bill were planning on riding all the way to Gustine with us - about 12 miles.} {But sayhey was going to return to Fremont, so we changed the Ride to do Hwy 25 with Cranky and sayhey heading over to King City and back home via Hwy 101.} {The other four bikes rode Hwy 25 to the end at Hwy 198 and turned east to head to Coalinga.} {Bob insists that I somehow manage to turn these Day Rides into 400 milers.} {Wrong today was only 392 miles for us.}

{two funny looking Vulcans from Stockton in foreground}

This is an interesting shot. The group standing by the road in the middle
of NOWHERE!!! Our leader is a smoker, we WILL take breaks!!!
And that is GREAT!!!!!!!!! If you look in the background, there's a
big pile of gravel.

Stay with me here..... this is out in the middle of NOWHERE!!! and
I remember a story about a lost treasure!!!! And I knew it was behind
that pile of rocks!!!!!! GBG

Shucks, all I found was a bunch of wet gravel, whew!!!!!!!!! GBSEG
{note: the gravel was dry before Cranky went to seek his treasure :-) }
{This is a wide spot in the road about a mile or two before the King City turn off. It was time for a break. We had been riding since Los Banos with only one short stop at Tres Pinos, engines stayed on, where VSP checked to make sure everyone had enough gas.

Little did VSP realize that when you head to Coalinga on Hwy 198 from Hwy 25 there is NO GAS for about 95 miles. There is NO GAS on Hwy 198 west of Coalinga. Hwy 198 ends at Hwy 101 and no gas there. The nearest gas is 12 miles to the north on Hwy 101 at King City.}

2007 April 15 - Panoche Road

2007-04-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

{CLICK on photos to view full size images}

Six (6) riders and bikes today. Three more than expected, kewl.
Cranky, of course - San Jose
Prunedale, was always gonna make it - Prunedale where else
VSP, the instigator - Stockton
Paul "Happy Wanderer" - Monterey
Lars - Hollister and soon to be Salem, OR
Gar, made it at the last minute - Santa Cruz

Cat and Top Dawg both had last minute items come up so could not make the Ride. Both had emailed me that they were in other ways tied up {but not tied up to each other}. Tiny also emailed me. His bike is still in the shop getting new rubber and some warranty repair.

Paul, Cranky, Lars, Gar, Prunedale at the former City Gas, now just a 76 station in Hollister.

Paul and Lars suggested we start by taking Cienega Road to Pacines and Panoche Road. Good choice. The road goes to the Hollister SVRA so we had a couple of pick ups loaded with dirt bikes pull over for us on this road, nice. It is a fun road but too much traffic going to the Dirt Track.

Here is Lars {today's Ride Leader} leading the pack at the start of Panoche Road.

This is the only shot of 8 that I took over my shoulder where I captured any bikes. The other 7 photos are of my helmet, the side of the road and the sky. Actually I barely got the bikes in the frame, but with Photo Studio I can make it look like the bikes are centered.

Lars or Prunedale needed to lead this ride since both have been over it many times - but the key reason is that they are both smokers. This is a smoke break along Panoche Road at a really scenic spot.

Cranky, Prunedale, Lars, Gar and Paul "Happy Wanderer"

Panoche Road had the gravel washed away by yesterday's rain and was in better shape than a lot of the roads that I have ridden. There are a few bumpy sections, but Lars would crank it up if the road was decent. It is a very remote section of California. Very scenic with a few ranches along the way.

The bikes parked in front of the Panoche Inn. {my little thumper is alone on the left - none of the big bikes wanted to be near it :-) } I would have ridden right past it. It is along a straight part of the road with no warning of its existence.

Gar fiddling with something as Lars kibitzes.

Panoche Inn's owner and his wife.

Interesting wood bike inside the Inn.

There is a BBQ on April 28th at the Panoche Inn. Here are the outside tables.

A shot of Panoche Road to the east from the parking lot of the Inn. Just a few hundred yards ahead we will turn north at Little Panoche Road. Panoche Road continues to the east, but turns to a dirt road very quickly and remains dirt for about 15 miles.

Little Panoche Road has some straights some twisties and is a fun little short ride of about 10 miles. The we get to I-5 and the WIND. The bigger bikes are okay, but I am riding a little F650 thumper that weighs in at under 400 pounds. I am riding at a constant lean angle.

Lars turns off I-5 at the Hwy 165 exit to Los Banos and I take the lead over to the Wool Growers Inn and LUNCH.

A staged photo of da' gang at the bar of the Wool Growers. {Lars had made a bee line to the Men's Room} The owner of the Panoche Inn had mentioned to me that the Iturbe family has the WG up for sale. After lunch I checked with Mrs Iturbe who was tending bar and she confirmed that they are trying to sell it. Crumb, I hope this does not mean the demise of another Basque restaurant.

Here is Paul at the entry door to the Dining Room.

Sunday is the only day of the week that the WG is open continuously from opening to closing. Tuesdays through Saturdays they open from 11:30 to 2:00 and then from 4:30 to 9:00. This ride was scheduled for a Sunday because we got here at 2:40PM.

Just sat down.

Same time as the picture above this one.
Just finished ordering.

The crew. Taken by a customer seated next to the crew........ Soup and Beans. This is one of Cranky's photos.

Finished the soup and now eating the salad and drinking the wine.

This is Prunedale's plate with a lamb chop, beans and chicken and rice. His other lamb chop is on the other plate. He did not have room on his plate for any of the wonderful cooked in lard French Fries. The French Fries taste the way they were meant to taste. After all this is a French Basque restaurant.

Look at the bones left on Lar's plate. Man can that old guy eat...

A quote from Paul "Happy Wanderer":

"And the FOOD! Ah, wow. I'm glad I took a picture of those lamb chops. I showed my wife and explained to her all the other food that came with it. She said we ate enough for three meals. "

After lunch Lars has to fix his right exhaust pipe where the retaining bolt for the strap had become loose. We say our good byes and Cranky and I head off to the San Joaquin Valley Veteran's Cemetery near Santa Nella. The other four head down 6th Street {alternate name is Main Street} heading for Hwy 152.

This was a good day.

---
Don "Very Short Person" Inamasu
VROC #5569-R
Stockton, CA 95219

2007 Jan 14 - Polar Bear Ride

2007-01-15T17:00:00.001-08:00

January 14, 2007 - Second Annual Polar Bear Ride

Napa and Sonoma Counties

{CLICK on photos to view full size images.} by VSP, Cranky and Roy C.

Hey Skid!!! We REALLY did have a Polar Bear Ride,
right folks! Never got out of the 40s, and
we started out below freezing!!! GBG {27* for Nite Lite}
__________________________________________________
Bill (Cranky) Snodgrass
San Jose, Ca 95136
'01 Nomad FI Maroon / Silver

VSP with a cup of coffee and calling Buster's to make sure that they are open.

Nite Lite has his chocolate covered JBs.
Nite Lite, Roy C. and Cranky are the first ones at the Jelly Belly. Cranky and Roy even had time to eat a small brunch before the Ride.

Cranky, Phil T. and Roy C.

Jim E from Rio Vista and his son Mike from Novato ariving at the JB.

David J. and Darcy arrive.

Tiny makes it to the JB.

Even the "Saint" arrives from Santa Rosa for his annual ride with the VROC group.

As I lead the 11 bikes with Nite Lite riding Sweep, there are four bikes from Sacramento arriving late with the excuse (that I later heard) that they could not find the Jelly Belly.

I do notice Tom P. on his FJR as he rides up into second right on my side. We contnue west on Hwy 12. At Napa we leave Hwy 12 to head on over to the Silverado Trail. We have a string of 15 bikes. The weather is still cold but the traffic is moderate and moving along okay.

We get to Buster's Southern BBQ in Calistoga around 1:15. Buster's is busy. In fact the tourist are out in force on this chilly but sunny day all over Calistoga.

After most of us have ordered and are eating Mad Marcia and hubby Wayne arrive at Buster's. It seems that they got to the JB around 12.20 - not good for a Noon start. They rode the same route that we had ridden but were about 15 minutes behind us. We now number 17 bikes. What a great turn out.

Nite Lite and Mike E. warming themselves next to the bbq pit.

Tom P. and Ron F., two of our late arriving Sacramento riders.

Mad Ma, Wayne and Cranky. Pdub trying to turn on the "empty" propane heater.
Cranky, the Saint and Roy.
The Sacramento crew eating.
Roy C. at Buster's.

Cranky at Buster's.

Mad Marcia and Wayne with VSP.

Yvonne and Pdub the third of the late Sacramento bikes. Cristina arrives in a Honda Civic with her sons.
Jim E. leaves the WC as the others wait in line.
Almost everyone had Buster's tri-tip sandwich a few even ventured for the hot sauce. At my age I stick to the mild sauce.

We manage to get some of the bikes topped off with gasoline across the street from Buster's and head off for Sonoma.

Well Nite Lite (riding sweep) has to wait as Pdub forgot his back pack at Buster's. Riding lead in front of 16 bikes I never get a chance to see Nite Lite. Heading north out of Calistoga for a short way to head west onto the Petrified Forest Road which will change names to Calistoga Road and the twistiest bit of road on the Ride.

We regroup in Santa Rosa and have 17 bikes heading back to Hwy 12 and through the Valley of the Moon to Sonoma. The traffic is very heavy on Hwy 12 but we do get regrouped as an SUV lets our rear guard around at a stop light in Agua Caliente.

The Ride has had no incidents until I lead us into the Sonoma Town Square and the end of the official Ride. Well in trying to get to the Parking Lot the right way, instead of going the wrong way through the one way exit road. Which as most will tell you, I always use the Exit Road. Anyway I turned one alley way too soon. There are now 5 bikes in a private parking area that only holds 6 cars. SO I head back out to the street with the other 4 bikes in tow. Well by now the rest of the bikes are strung out along the road. Nite Lite has taken the front to lead a bunch of bikes through the Exit road (he always takes the Exit also). I manage to get to the proper entrance alley and lead 6 bikes into the parking lot.

After parking and as I am heading over to the Chocolate Cow I get a phone call from David J. who is stranded somewhere. I head to the street and tell him to back track and I will point him to the alley way. That he does and then Jim E. wanders in via the Exit. Not sure where he was. It turns out that David J. stopped at the Exit driveway but had lost track of the bikes in front of him, so stopped and made a phone call. So Cat, we did not lose someone on this Ride!

David J., Wayne and Tiny.
Most ordered coffee at the Chocolate Cow. But I had a scoop of Spumoni. The guy in the cap is John a Goldwing rider and rider of the fourth late Sacramento bikes.
Roy C.
Pdub, Yvonne and Phil T.
Tom P. and Nite Lite and Wayne.

VSP eating his Spumoni.
Nite Lite telling another of his tall tales..
This pic is for you Skid. Eating ice cream outdoors in January.....{note: Tiny also has an ice cream cone} And ignore Cranky..

From Sonoma I lead the bikes out to I-80 who are headed that way. The rest of the folks leave for home heading north and west.

Sacramento Area Riders:
..Tom P.
..Ron F.
..Pdub w/ Yvonne
..John A.
..Phil T.
..David J.
Sonoma County Riders:
..Saint
..Nite Lite
..Mad Marcia
..Wayne H.
Bay Area Riders:
..Darcy S.
..Tiny
..Roy C.
..Cranky
..Mike E.
Others:
..Jim E.
..Don I.

---
Don "Very Short Person" Inamasu
VROC #5569-R
Stockton, CA 95219