Occidental for Lunch Bunch

[rontoride]

It is time for the annual March ride.  Occidental is a little town in the Redwoods sort of between Santa Rosa and Bodega Bay, and has some of the best Italian food you will have ever tasted.
We'll do the usual and meet @ Moskowitz Corners (Junction of Hwy 128 and Hwy 121 Northeast of Napa) around 0900, and try to leave around -930 taking 128 past Lake Berryessa and Lake Hennesy, R. on Silverado Trail to Calistoga, jog left to 128, North about 1 mile,  L. on Petrified Forest Rd.  "P-Forest" becomes Calistoga Rd (a really fun 2 lane twisty road thru the mountains) and ends @ Hwy 12 in Santa Rosa.  R. on Hwy 12 thru the city and over 101 through Sebastopol  and take the Bodega Hwy. West about 6 or 7 miles, R. on Bohemian Hwy to Occidental.

Lunch at the Union Hotel.

After lunch, South to Bodega Hwy, West to the town of Bodega (where the movie "The Birds" was filmed) and on to the coast.  North on Hwy 1 thru Bodega Bay to the Russian River.  R. on Hwy 116 to Guerneville (yes, where the floods were this Winter!) and stay R. on 116.  A beautiful stretch of road where the Redwoods grow over the Highway like a tunnel.  I figure to stay on 116 to Cotati on Hwy 101.  From there, we can all find our own route home.

I'm planning to take 101 South to Lakeville Hwy East, Stage Gulch Rd. East and work my way toward Sears Point Raceway, turn L. on 121/12 toward Napa, then take 12 to 80.  (I figure it will be close to dusk by then and don't want to try and ride 121 to Moskowitz corners when antlered vermin will be on the prowl.)  But, if its early enough in the evening, there are always options!

IF the number of bikes approaches what has normally happened on the March ride (20+ bikes) we will be splitting the group into smaller, more manageable groups.  Trying to get through Santa Rosa and Sebastopol with a large contingent would not be prudent.  I'll bring maps, etc., so no one will get lost.  I just don't want to try and force a 20 bike snake thru a small town with signals.

There will be a couple of rest stops.  Probably one in Calistoga (AM/PM @ Petrified Forest Rd.) and one in the Santa Rosa area, either @ Farmer's Lane & 12 or West of 101, someplace where there is a mini-mart/gas station so everyone can stretch and hydrate.  I also figure to stop and top-off the tanks in Bodega Bay.

The route is subject to change after input from the "locals", but the destination is set in stone.

Sacto Valley riders, should we meet at the "normal" Chevron in West Sacramento @ 0800?

Are you ready for this?

The semi-official list:

Madmike2

I'm really, really, really going to miss The Highlanders

Wheelie Dave (Moto Guzzi LeMans) & Dorinda (FZ-6)

Pegscraper & MsNascar

Jerry Routsella (sp?)

Rogdebs [SIZE=8pt](We'll believe it when we see it!) [/SIZE]  

Bluestreeks

OrangevaleFJR & Joyfulgirl (the official photog!)

Weekend Rider

Bike Effects (I can't believe I left him off the list)

Painman (on the Harley) (?)

FJRVTX1300s--on the cruiser(?) FJR=Tick Fix

Rick-in-Sac & Den Mother

FJRobs

Anthony (Ninja 500) (?)

Skyways

Nightshine

rcsnclh (I gotta ask about that handle!)

The Managers

Coyote

Tinker

Toecutters (in our hearts because the bike is in for the "tick-fix)

TWN (just because I felt like adding his name, knowing he'll be posting here!)

SilveradoSlicks (would rather go to Florida???) :bleh:

Would like to join the group somewhere on hwy 12 as I live in Santa Rosa.

 

[madmike2]

Yay! The Rogdebs really are going to join us. :clap: So Roger, you wanna lead the "rabbits"?

Rontoride, there are others from Santa Rosa who are riding over to Moskowitz Corners (Pegscrapers and Jerry), but if you'd rather join us enroute, its not a problem. I've sent you an email to give you a timeframe to join in. You've been added to the "semi-official list".

Attention: For those setting their GPS routes, there is a small route change. Rather than trying to ride through Calistoga (stopsigns, signals, tourists, etd.), we will be turning left on DUNAWEAL, about 3 miles short of Calistoga. It is just past the curved section of Silverado Trail and goes about 1/2 mile West to Hwy 29, just North of the Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. Then its a straight shot North to Calistoga, Left on Petrified Forest Rd. (the 2nd stop sign).

ALSO: There are no services @ Moskowitz Corners, just a coffee shop. I know this will be a mixed group of bikes, please be gassed up before you get there. The closest gas is in Calistoga, 30 miles up the road, Santa Rosa another 20 miles. For those who may have limited gas range, please let me know and we'll plan on one group stopping so you can fuel up. (W. Sac-Occidental-Bodega Bay is roughly 150 miles)

 

[rogdeb]

Could I keep up with a Red FJR? I doubt it!

@ Orangevale (Andrew)

I don't think anyone will have trouble keeping up with this red FJR :lol:

@ Tinker (Tim)

Be good to see you again.

Hey!! Be good to see you all again, and meet new faces.

@ MMMMMMMike!!

I haven't led since I retired and want to keep it that way

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

and 40 pounds of pasta later, they rode home with enlarged guts and smiles on their faces

 

[madmike2]

Clever riders will want to bring a small cooler so they can keep the leftovers in the sidecase.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Clever riders will want to bring a small cooler so they can keep the leftovers in the sidecase.

What about me?

 

[Fastfar]

Count me in, and thanks to OrangevaleFJR for giving me the heads up! I will meet at the Chevron in West Sac at the appointed hour.

I had fun last year on the one madmike FJR group ride I attended...I think it's time to sign up again. I have been riding/leading lots of groups from the 'pashnit dot com' forum as well as frequent solo outings. But I haven't been over in the Occidental area since last July and hopefully the coast will be sunny for this ride.

My family has been making yearly journeys to the Union Hotel and Negri's for many decades, the food is always sensational...nobody leaves hungry... B)

After lunch, I will likely split off and head north on 1 to Stewarts Point for a dash over Skaggs Springs Rd back to Geyserville on 101, and ride home around Berryessa back to Winters/Davis enroute to Georgetown.

When do we start planning the Foothills Ride? (April/May?) The Passes? (June/July?) :clap:

 

[madmike2]

Well, you just missed out Superbowl Sunday ride. Check the "Norcal and some bikes" thread under ride reports.

I s'pose we could try and reprise the "Flying Low" ride from last year but ride more Southerly as we just did Sutter Creek Rd.-Volcano. Maybe we can get Skyway to show us some back roads near Sonora.

"Open Passes'" will be after Memorial Day weekend (May 27-29) when Caltrans traditionally gets the passes clear and open for the holiday RV'ers.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming: You are added to the list, sir, and welcome. If you would like, send me an email through the forum and I'll add you to my list of those who don't often visit the forum, so I notify by email.

This is getting better and better....I'm starting to miss the Highlanders already!

 

[HIGHLANDER]

Looks like this is building to a bigger ride than the one we put together last year!! :clap:

And we miss ya bums too! :friends:

 

[SilveradoSlick]

We had to push our Florida trip forward in time (leaving tomorrow) so it looks like we're in. I've bicycled these roads before, but no real time on a motorcycle. The hills should be easier.

Highlander,

Good luck. Everybody I've known (including Catherine) has been much better after going under the knife. Not perfect, but much better.

Steve,

Yeah, ya need tickets to get into Florida these days. It's the Disney effect. Pretty soon there'll be long lines that take hours to get through. I guess there already are at the airport.

 

[twowheelnut]

Hey, Mikey? Can you suggest a cheapie hotel like Motel 6 or Super 8 near the meeting point?

 

[madmike2]

There's nothing "near" the meet point. I tried looking in Cordelia and Fairfield, but no luck. Napa might be closer and there's an Econolodge and a Discovery Inn that are not far from Monticello Rd./Hwy121 that goes 16 miles to the meet point @ 121/128.

I wonder if there are Motel 6 or Super 8 websites that could direct you. If I get a chance to run out to Fairfield on business in the next week, I can look. I know they are there...and I was in that area today, but who knew?

Uhm, hop-a-long, are you going to be able to shift? :huh:

So, while adding Charles and Catherine to "the semi-official list" should I also change your status? Now Mr. Smooth will really be sorry we're going to miss him!

 

[twowheelnut]

Eh, I figgured you'd know of one off the top of your noggin. I'll Google. As far as the shifting, TurboDave is gonna let me break in his AE...

Edit to your edit: There is very little that will stop me from coming at this point - just rain. :lol:

 

[madmike2]

Possible Route Change

I am currently discussing some options with a local rider who knows the area. It may be that we will take some Northerly secondary roads after leaving Calistoga and thus bypass the snarls in Santa Rosa and Sebastopol. Still the same time frame, just prettier scenery and no stinking traffic and signals.

TWn and SilveradoSlick, your status on the list is changed. Yee-freakin'-haw! :clap:

 

[Bluestreek]

Fairfield off I 80 Econo lodge

and Vacaville motel 6

 

[madmike2]

From the EconoLodge, Suisun Valley Rd. North becomes Wooden Valley Rd. which "T's" into Hwy 121. Turn right about 6 miles to the meet point on the left. A great morning wake-up ride. Lots of fast food, coffee shops and gas stations at that off-ramp area.

Also easy access as 680 merges onto I-80 East, stay in right lane 1/2 mile and get off at Suisun Valley Rd.

 

[HIGHLANDER]

We have stayed at both the Econolodge and also the Holiday Inn , both in Fairfield. The Holiday is definately the better choice of the two.

 

[twowheelnut]

Tanks, guys!

 

[madmike2]

ROUTE CHANGE: Please go and check the original opening post as I've changed the route from Calistoga to Occidental. We will now be bypassing Santa Rosa and Sebastopol to the North, that way we'll not be riding through traffic, tourists, signals and junctions. Whew!

 

[joyfulgirl]

Less traffic is good! Photos without cages are much better! THANKS!!!