RenoJohn
Well-known member
After some Friday night weekend plans got nixed at the last minute....
I woke up early Saturday itching for a ride. Been stroming a lot lately so decided
to let the FJR stretch her legs on this ride.
Headed out early and took some notes that I had previously put together for what I
thought would be a challenging California Saddle Sore
Left the house about 4:15a and went into California. Halleluja Junction is the
first gas stop north of Reno so this is where I would start my documentation. A
little after 5:00a started the Saddle Sore ...without any true commitment to
actually do it. It was COLD (with a capital K).
A few hours later the sun was coming up as I got to the remote town of Alturas.
Even colder here, and the sunrise was a welcome site:
..and these funny things -a home-brew interesting tribute to 9-11 ...in this field
in the middle of nowhere:
Next fuel stop and some GOOD grub and neaded warmth here in Fall River Mills
Heading down hwy 89, heavily forested and fairly twisty with lots of deer. Here is
an opening and rare straight stretch where I captured a shot of Mt. Shasta ..I'd be
there soon!
Headed north trough Yreka and then to WONDERFUL HWY 96! This is a great road, not
the type Iron Butters would typically put on route to eat up the miles. Instead
nice sweepers, a few spots of tighter stuff and VERY scenic.
In happy camp, caught a first hand glimpse of Big Foot !!
.....and the nice road just goes on..and on...and on!
MORE PICS CLICK HERE
Northern CA has lots of remote, funky little villages where the people are isolated
from the pace of mainstream society
...but sometimes the restrooms leave a bit to be desired:
Dropping out of the dense moutain forest into the coastal area -Now on hwy 299
-which has some GREAT twisties as well as gentle sweepers like shown here:
I then started Down the Redwood Hwy ...another scenic road with some nice sweepers
and great scenery
"Lost Coast" Brewery in Eureka
Couldn't help but to play tourist for a moment:
Stromers Mark and Vince: this pic is for you!
Sunset in Hopland .....and my favorite Brewery in the whole wide world. This is
also CA's oldest brewery ....(well, since prohibition.)
Even though I left my favorite at home this trip, I put all my trip expenses on the
card with her picture on it. She would have liked this trip, but would have been
dispointed that it was a pussy street ride and not any dirt riding.
Continuing down the Redwood Hwy, I made a stupid (with two o's) mistake. On a map
it looks like rt128 west is a good way to cut over -through Calistoga, the Napa
Valley etc ...but the reality is that at aprox 775miles into this trip, I was
getting a bit tired, it was DARK and the roads are very rural, not marked well,
helter skelter zig zaggy. Beautiful in daylight sight seeing with the beautiful
wineries and landscape. But, in the midst of a 1K+ ride and wanting to make up time
from all the twisties it was nerve-wracking and frustrating. I lost a lot of time
...OH, and not to mention having to stay alert for all the people hitting the roads
in their fancy fast cars drunk after their fancy dinners and a day of drinking
wine!! .. Anyway I lost a lot of time with this portion of the route
-Here is a pic of one of the MANY beautiful wineries in the Napa Valley:
Final California stop for gas! After crossing the Sierras (over 7000feet elevation)
in sub-freezing temperatures ....I did IT!! 1030miles on some great roads in
northner CA!!! and even with the spirited roads, the Napa Valley excursion and
stopping for some pics ...I had plenty of time to spare!!
*But!! ..i'm not done ...now it is time to get back on the bike and ride back to
Nevada.
1030 continuous CA mile -So earned my CA saddle sore to put with my Nevada SS.
1150 total miles total on some GREAT scenic windy roads. 23hours total ..the majority in the saddle.
Not a bad "Day" Ride
More pictues, click here
I woke up early Saturday itching for a ride. Been stroming a lot lately so decided
to let the FJR stretch her legs on this ride.
Headed out early and took some notes that I had previously put together for what I
thought would be a challenging California Saddle Sore
Left the house about 4:15a and went into California. Halleluja Junction is the
first gas stop north of Reno so this is where I would start my documentation. A
little after 5:00a started the Saddle Sore ...without any true commitment to
actually do it. It was COLD (with a capital K).
A few hours later the sun was coming up as I got to the remote town of Alturas.
Even colder here, and the sunrise was a welcome site:
..and these funny things -a home-brew interesting tribute to 9-11 ...in this field
in the middle of nowhere:
Next fuel stop and some GOOD grub and neaded warmth here in Fall River Mills
Heading down hwy 89, heavily forested and fairly twisty with lots of deer. Here is
an opening and rare straight stretch where I captured a shot of Mt. Shasta ..I'd be
there soon!
Headed north trough Yreka and then to WONDERFUL HWY 96! This is a great road, not
the type Iron Butters would typically put on route to eat up the miles. Instead
nice sweepers, a few spots of tighter stuff and VERY scenic.
In happy camp, caught a first hand glimpse of Big Foot !!
.....and the nice road just goes on..and on...and on!
MORE PICS CLICK HERE
Northern CA has lots of remote, funky little villages where the people are isolated
from the pace of mainstream society
...but sometimes the restrooms leave a bit to be desired:
Dropping out of the dense moutain forest into the coastal area -Now on hwy 299
-which has some GREAT twisties as well as gentle sweepers like shown here:
I then started Down the Redwood Hwy ...another scenic road with some nice sweepers
and great scenery
"Lost Coast" Brewery in Eureka
Couldn't help but to play tourist for a moment:
Stromers Mark and Vince: this pic is for you!
Sunset in Hopland .....and my favorite Brewery in the whole wide world. This is
also CA's oldest brewery ....(well, since prohibition.)
Even though I left my favorite at home this trip, I put all my trip expenses on the
card with her picture on it. She would have liked this trip, but would have been
dispointed that it was a pussy street ride and not any dirt riding.
Continuing down the Redwood Hwy, I made a stupid (with two o's) mistake. On a map
it looks like rt128 west is a good way to cut over -through Calistoga, the Napa
Valley etc ...but the reality is that at aprox 775miles into this trip, I was
getting a bit tired, it was DARK and the roads are very rural, not marked well,
helter skelter zig zaggy. Beautiful in daylight sight seeing with the beautiful
wineries and landscape. But, in the midst of a 1K+ ride and wanting to make up time
from all the twisties it was nerve-wracking and frustrating. I lost a lot of time
...OH, and not to mention having to stay alert for all the people hitting the roads
in their fancy fast cars drunk after their fancy dinners and a day of drinking
wine!! .. Anyway I lost a lot of time with this portion of the route
-Here is a pic of one of the MANY beautiful wineries in the Napa Valley:
Final California stop for gas! After crossing the Sierras (over 7000feet elevation)
in sub-freezing temperatures ....I did IT!! 1030miles on some great roads in
northner CA!!! and even with the spirited roads, the Napa Valley excursion and
stopping for some pics ...I had plenty of time to spare!!
*But!! ..i'm not done ...now it is time to get back on the bike and ride back to
Nevada.
1030 continuous CA mile -So earned my CA saddle sore to put with my Nevada SS.
1150 total miles total on some GREAT scenic windy roads. 23hours total ..the majority in the saddle.
Not a bad "Day" Ride
More pictues, click here
