NCTRF_2010

21 Aug 2010 - Bill's Breakfast Ride

2010-08-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

21 Aug 2010 - Bill's Breakfast Ride

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{photo's and text by Bill}

We started out with Paul, Tom, Mark and Phil arriving for breakfast at about 8:30.
Sonja had already arrived and made coffee while I cooked up the breakfast.
Here I am dishing up someone's breakfast

Pancakes on the stove

Blueberry pancakes, turkey sausage, scrambled eggs with cheese, peaches and strawberries.

It is such a beautiful morning that we have breakfast al fresco on my patio.
Clockwise from the left: Tom, Sonja, Pdub, Mark and Phil

Today we have six (6) bikes...Mark's Moto Guzzi, Phil's Vulcan, Tom's Yamaha, Pdub's WeeStrom, Sonja's Street Triple and my Speed Triple . The Little Dragon is the highlight of today's Ride.

We rode to Waterford then to La Grange and to Merced Falls. On to Hornitos for a short restroom break. {Hornitos means little ovens!}
The Hornitos Post Office parking lot

From Hornitos we ride to Bear Valley {Mariposa County} then turn north on Hwy 49.
We stop at the John C Fremont overlook for a photo op.

The Little Dragon is just this 16 mile stretch of Hwy 49. About half is down to the bridge over the Merced River and the other half is getting back up from the river on the north side.

Highway 49, “The Canyon” as it is known to the local riders, our section running south to north from Bear Valley to Coulterville. This 16 mile stretch is some of the best tarmac that California has to offer. This run is not about top speed, but rather finding a rhythm that allows you to connect a series of turns ranging from tight decreasing radius turns of 180 degrees to the “S” turns that will have you flicking your bike from right to left mile after mile. Liter bikes advantage none-supermotards and 600’s are the best tools for this nirvana and the lighter the better. But don’t get me wrong Goldwings, Busas and Road Kings can enjoy this switchback heaven too. from Pashnit.com

The Plaque at the Overlook

We wind up in Coulterville after 16 miles of Hwy 49.

After Coulterville we ride the short distance to Jamestown for "Here's the Scoop"

Phil and Mark waiting for their ice cream

Phil's double black cherry

The taste test

Mark took no prisoners

And more twisties and views to Murphys and the Firewood restaurant.
Tom showing the way to lunch

Pdub's carnitas tacos

Sonja and my each have a Gorgonzola Burger

From there we grab 11 more miles of twisties down the grade to Starbucks in Angels Camp.
135 miles from breakfast later.
There we share conversation and coffee before we part...

A Parting Shot

And most of today's Ride Route:

View Larger Map

Until the next ride....
Keep the rubber down my friends

~end
.

17 Jul 2010 - Marin/Sonoma County

2010-07-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

17 Jul 2010 - Marin/Sonoma County

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Next Ride anywhere near Sonoma I have to check and see if there is a big event happening at the Infineon Raceway. This weekend there was the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals. The traffic was horrendous. But more on that later.

Pdub led the Sacramento contingent to the Jelly Belly. Makini, Phil and Don H. rode on their own as did I.
Peter, Don H., Makini {hidden}, Steve, Stan, Ron's back and Pdub. {Phil missing}

Notice that Stan is dressed in shorts and a light jacket. He froze his tail off on the ride in from Sacramento. Ron also was so cold that he went into the Jelly Belly and bought a sweat shirt.

The Delta Breeze was in full force this morning and the temps were in the low 60's with a 25 mph head/cross wind.

Anyway, since we were going to ride quite a few miles along Tomales Bay barely sheltered from the Pacific Ocean, Stan became a "no starter". As the Ride headed west on Hwy 12, he headed east and back home.

That's Hwy 12 in the background.
An eclectic group of bikes

Pdub insisted that I post his Wee Strom with its new accouterments.

For the start of the ride through Jameson Canyon Road and around the south end of Napa the traffic was normal, which means it is always heavy but moving. The route plan was to take Hwy 121 to Hwy 37.

I rounded the curve where Hwy 12 turns north to Sonoma and saw the "parking lot" in front of me. Since we were still 10 miles from Hwy 37 it became a no brainer to reroute the Ride. {a map of our actual route is at the bottom of this Blog}

A gas stop in Novato where I was hoping to see Lil Doc and Manjo, but Lil Doc had her telephone ringer off and we never got messages.

We rode from Novato to the Marin French Cheese Company.
Some of the cheeses in the display case

I thought that this was a more interesting photo showing the Company sign than the one on the building

Ron had other obligations so bought a sandwich and a salad for lunch. He would head back home from here. Two down, so we are now a seven bike group.
Ron's lunch

The grounds have a couple of parks which are free to the public but close at sundown

Waiting for Peter to get his box of 20 rounds of 8 ounce Brie

We continue the Ride to Hwy 1 just north of Point Reyes Station and continue along Tomales Bay. It is really cool, sunny and crisp weather. The traffic is not real heavy.

We turn inland and ride to Freestone and Wild Flour Bread to buy some goodies.
Peter and Makini parked at Wild Flour Bread

The roadside wall of their building

The "menu" which changes a little daily

Waiting to order stuff

Then only three and a half miles north on the Bohemian Highway is the village of Occidental and Negri's our lunch stop.
Makini, Don H. and Phil

Pdub, Steve, Phil and Don H.

Peter and Makini

Our waitress who forgot to order Pdub's lunch and left Peter's glass of wine at the bar for 10 minutes. She was not too good.

The cheeseburger

Minestrone soup

Raviolis

Fried chicken

Pdub finally gets his all meat personal size pizza and shows his glee

After lunch we lose Steve as he has a brother who lives just a few miles from Occidental. Now we are a group of six.

I decide to change the route from Coleman Valley Road and we just head north on the Bohemian Highway to Monte Rio and Hwy 116. We follow Hwy 116 for many miles along the Russian River and through the redwoods and the vineyards.

Just before Cotati we take Stony Point Road to Railroad Avenue to Old Abobe Road back to Sonoma and the Chocolate Cow.
Along Hwy 116

We get to the Town Square of Sonoma and is it crowded. The weather is in the high 80's and sunny.

I love this little Town Square besides the Chocolate Cow there are bakeries, the Sonoma Cheese Factory and Cafes. Also there is the old Courthouse surrounded by a nice park.
Too hot to bring home any of the Chocolate Cows wonderful chocolates

Peter has the Vanilla Gelato

Makini has an ice cream cone

Phil, Pdub and Don H.

Makini has a son who lives in Sonoma so there are five of us headed back to I-80 and home.
As we get back to Hwy 12 from Napa-Sonoma Road I see a "parking lot". Luckily there is a Passing Lane which allows us to lane split for a nice long stretch. So we had about a 10 minute delay over a normal traffic day in getting to I-80.

It was a beautiful day and a good ride, except for the traffic.

Here is the actual ride route. But you will have to click on the View Larger Map at the bottom as there are too many variations to display on this embedded map.

View Larger Map

Today's Riders:
Pdub............West Sac.................Wee Strom
Phil T...........Citrus Heights........Nomad
Don H..........Walnut Grove.........Speed Triple
PeterJ..........Elk Grove................ST 1300
Makini..........Vacaville.................Custom Nomad
Steve H........Shingle Springs......R1200RT
Ron H..........Gold Run................FJR 1300
Don I...........Stockton.................F650GS
and a no starter
Stan K.........Valley Springs.........Bonne America

~end
.

15 May 2010 - Foothills

2010-05-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

May 15, 2010 - Foothills

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Thanks to Jess H for the photos and route description.

The Ride Report in a nutshell...

Met up at MarSha Tes Coffee House in Rancho Murieta off of Hwy 16. Proceeded on Hwy 16 and exited Carbondale Rd. Then rode through Ione to the Pardee Dam lookout. Continued on and got back onto Hwy 49 heading up Hwy 88. Exited Omo Ranch Rd till it runs into Mt. Akum. Had lunch at D'Agostini's Bakery and Restaurant. Everyone took off for home after.
MarshaTes has a Sloughhouse mailing address

Ron H the Ride Leader gathering up the troops

More preride instructions

Okay who wants to do WHAT???

Arriving at the Pardee Dam Overlook.
Thirteen bikes lined up for the Group Photo

Sonja, Bill, Pdub, Gary G and

A quick pit stop at Jackson Tires.

Arriving at the Lunch Stop D'Agostini's Delights Bakery and Cafe in Mt Aukum, CA.

Bill, Sonja, Jess and Stan

...and Ron the Ride Leader

Cindy and Gary G

Wonderful blue sky

Not the exact route but something like:

View Larger Map

~end
.

17 Apr 2010 - Cantelow Road

2010-04-17T20:02:00.000-07:00

Apr 17 - Cantelow Road

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Today's Ride started out as the Knville-Berryessa Road Ride but with the weather I doubt that any of the potholes have been repaired. So the Ride Route changes a bit.

And I also decided to invite the NorCal VROC folks. There were four VROCers. NiteLite, Makini and two members of both VROC and NCTRF, me and Phil T.

Pdub, Tom P., Stan K., Jess H., Eric B. and Eric's friend from work, Mike riding a Harley. In total we had 10 bikes.

And we had a pleasant surprise at the start point in Dixon. Lockup formerly known as David J. stopped by to say Hi. David is a brand new Correctional Officer who is working long hours up in Susanville. His home is still in Woodland, but he had to get back to work later this afternoon.
Lockup and I think that NiteLite is doing his mind reading act

Lockup, NiteLite, Makini and Stan K

Eric B, Jess H, Eric's Triumph Legend and my Triumph Legend

Here is today's planned Ride Route:

View Larger Map

The weather is perfect cool and partly cloudy. The first nice road we ride is new to all but Makini. It is Cantelow Road in Vacaville.
This is the wide part of the road

Too bad it is only 5 miles long, but four of those miles look like this

Then we head north on Pleasants Valley Road to Hwy 128 to The Corners. The General Store is closed again.
Well there are well watered bushes behind the building now

At least there is a big parking lot

One more pit stop where Knoxville-Berryessa Road and Pope Valley Road intersect.
Stan decided to ride his Valk with the bald front tire today rather than his Triumph. And Makini's distinctive Vulcan.

Tom P. was late as usual, but not the last one today and Jess is checking his cell phone.

Pdub, Mike and Eric B

Phil T. and NiteLite

We continue to Pope's Valley then to Angwin and along Silverado Trail to Buster's Southern BBQ.
Now the Ride gets a bit confused. As I ride through the parking lot the tables are full and there is a long line waiting to order.
Buster's Parking Lot photo by Jess

So I decide to continue the Ride and eat in Glenn Ellen. But ......

Anyway NiteLite and I are the ones that continue the Ride Route.

I have only ridden Brush Creek Road in Santa Rosa a few times, but the homes up on the hills continue to amaze me in their opulence. Brush Creek Road goes through a residential neighborhood but much of it is along Brush Creek and the road is very rustic and a thorough fare.

NiteLite and I decide not to eat at Glen Ellen and head into Sonoma to eat at the Black Bear Diner, instead.
My small portion Chicken Fried Steak

NiteLite's French Dip

Getting ready to take a bite

I had NiteLite take my picture in front of the bears to show off my new Joe Rocket mesh jacket

NiteLite and I part company since he is heading west back home and I am headed east.

I gas up across the street and said "I may as well make the last two stops on the Ride Route". So I head over toward the Chocolate Cow. As I turn into the parking lot entrance I notice that Phil's Nomad, Pdub's V-Strom and Jess' Sprint are parked on the street just at the entrance.
At the Chocolate Cow photo by Jess

Sure enough they had ridden Hwy 29 to Hwy 12 to get to the Chocolate Cow from Calistoga

There were a few others that were suppose to make the Ride to the Chocolate Cow, but they either lost touch or decided to head back home along with some others that needed to head back.
I get my gelato although I really did not need to after my big lunch

The only on road shot today as I lead the group back to Hwy 12

The scheduled end point of the Ride was the Jelly Belly Factory. So I stopped there as the other three continued along I-80 back to Sacramento.

I accosted someone in the parking lot to take my photo under the sign

This one is for Cranky. Six dollars worth of licorice Jelly Bellys. {I had the cashier take this photo :-) }

~end
.

20 Mar 2010 - Annual Sausage Feed

2010-03-01T12:06:00.000-08:00

March 20, 2010
Pdub's River Roads Ride ending at Don's for the Annual Sausage Feed around 2:00 PM.

Link to Blog of 2009 Sausage Feed

{Note: Click on the View Larger Map link under the Map. You can then zoom in to see more detail. Just visit the Blog again to view the Original Map.}

View Larger Map

It is before 10:00AM at the start, the Chevron on Jefferson in West Sacramento.
Phil, Dan and Pdub. In the background are Sonja and Jazzhound. - photo by Bill B

Jess and Sonja - photo by Bill B

Here is Bill B who did not make it to the Feed - photo by Jess

The Motley Crue - photo by Jess

Jim and Christi G - photo by Jess

The first pit stop is at the Grand Island Mansion where the guys are bold enough to go into the Mansion to use their restrooms.
Normally the restroom break is at the back parking lot and in the bushes, but there are two ladies riding pillion and one lady on her own Street Triple so they go inside the Mansion
- photo by Jess

The main dining room of the Grand Island Mansion - photo by Dan A

Two of the three VROCers on this Ride - photo by Jess

The first of two ferry crossings is a short distance from the Grand Island Mansion.
These ferries are a part of a State Highway - photo by Jess

The cable ferry - photo by Dan A

On the ferry - photo by Jess
On the ferry - photo by Jess

Edited video of the Delta Loop by Jim G. The last part of the River Ride before crossing the Mokelumne River Bridge on Hwy 12 and heading to the Feed.
The Full YouTube video is at NorCal Rats River ride #3 3-20-10

You may have to Click on the Down arrow that shows where you are in the Video to start playing it.

Now on to the Sausage Feed Part of this Blog.

I bought the sausages in Lockeford, CA which is on Hwy 88 about seven miles east of Lodi, CA.
Lockeford Meat and Sausage

The Dakota Smoked Bratwurst is their signature sausage

Kitchen photos while waiting for the hungry bunch.
Two rice cookers one for white and one for brown rice

Genova Bakery French Bread - Pdub's wife, Yvonne at work

I need a new meat thermometer. The char is only on the very outside. But the inside was well done even though my meat thermometer read RARE. I should have just cut into it.
Oh well it was still tasty.
A 3.32 pound top sirloin prepared in the Santa Maria BBQ Style.

Dakota smoked brats, kielbasa and Hawaiian luau

Today's Menu:

Italian Dry Salami and Mile's Homemade Wax Peppers
Dakota Smoked Brats
Kielbasa {smoked Polish sausage}
Hawaiian Luau Sausage {sweet teriyaki}
Foster Farms Turkey Italian sausage for the non-red meat eaters

Santa Maria Style BBQ Top Sirloin

Baked beans with Jalapeños
Sauerkraut
Romaine salad

French bread
White rice
Brown rice

Seven ounce individual cups of vanilla ice cream

The pack arrives minus two as Bill B has stator issues and waits in Rio Vista along with Sonja for a tow. Sorry that you two had to miss the Feed.

No one will let Tom P. park next to them. He has to park behind the car. :-)

Tom P. eating

Les, Cindy and Gary

Jazzhound and Phil T

Pdub, Stan K and Yvonne - photo by Jess

Tom P, Don I {me}, Dan, Jazzhound, Phil and Pdub - photo by Jess

Besides the back of my bald head - Yvonne, Les, Cindy and Gary - photo by Jess

Jess has to leave early

Dan A on his new Fat Bob

Getting ready to leave

LAS has mailed Pdub a gift

Last four bikes riding back to Sacto

Tom P. says wait for me

~end
.

13 Feb 2010 - Planning Meeting

2010-02-13T14:46:00.000-08:00

13 Feb 2010 - Planning Meeting

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Today was the Annual Planning Meeting. This year we met for Brunch at the Fox and Goose Pub in Downtown Sacramento.

I took this picture of the Fox and Goose in January

We had seven (7) Triumphs and ten (10) bikes in total show up at the Meeting.
From l to r: Stan, Pdub, Tom, Christi, Jim, Jim 2, Jack and two curious onlookers

You can see a Legend, a couple of Trophies, an America, a Bonne and a Thruxton. Eric arrived a bit later on his Legend.

We had a fairly short wait for a table especially considering that we needed seating for eleven (11).
The back of Pdub, Ron and Stan

Eric is showing off his recently purchased replacement part.
Jim 2, Phil, Jack and Eric

Our food order kind of dribbled in but we ate European style, when served.
Ron and Stan were the first to get their food

The waitress took this photo to get me in a picture - far right

Tom the bearded one had oatmeal for Brunch. But it was in the form of two bottles of Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout.
After eating we blasted through some possible Rides. And have confirmed four solid Rides and some other possibles.

In March Pdub will lead his River Roads Ride starting from his home in West Sacramento.
Since it is scheduled for March 20th the Saturday after Daylight Savings Time starts we can end that Ride at my home for our Annual Sausage Feed.

Willy B will lead his breakfast at his home in Modesto and the Little Dragon Ride in August or September.

Phil will lead a Downieville Ride in late June.

I will lead the Napa/Sonoma Counties ride in May and the Mormon Emigrant Trail Ride in the Summer or vice versa for months.

The Ride Routes will be posted in another Blog, hopefully by early March.

~end
.