California 2010 Susanville to Santa Rosa

The California 2010 Susanville to Santa Rosa ride was the first full California leg of the Summer 2010 ride. It was from Susanville to Santa Rosa around 300 miles. This was the start of a loop going South west to Santa Roasa and returning North on the coast.

It was also my first ride using my new GPS, along with Microsoft Streets and Trips and a laptop PC. Throw in the Destination Highways California maps and what more could I ask for. I had planned a slightly different start to this ride by using Hwy 36 and looping South at Lake Almanor. However the night before while looking at my route and the DH Map I saw a couple well rated motorcycle roads to the south. Jamseville Grade and Indian Creek Rd going by Antelope lake. So it was easy to remap in Streets & Trips and download to the GPS. What great tools.


View Larger Map

We got an early start in some great California sunshine and headed south on 395. I think I probably had the song California Dreaming going in my head. It is always a treat for me at least getting started on 4 or 5 days of straight good weather riding. The road quickly turned into some fun twisties and great scenery. There was no thought of work in my head. We stopped an one over look at Antelope lake.





California Janesville Grade to Antelope Lake. from NWBikers.Com on Vimeo.



From there we were looking for Indian Creek Rd south. I did manage to miss the turn heading towards Fruit Growers Rd. That would have ended up in the same place but I was unsure if it was paved so we turned around and stuck to the route. Indian Creek was another great ride. 2 great roads and we are just getting started. Life is good.


Indian Creek Rd, Ca. from NWBikers.Com on Vimeo.



We were now entering the winding canyon that would follow the Feather River as it headed South West towards Oroville. I have been looking at this road on a map forever. It seemed built for me. I love a high speed LONG twisty highway with no hairpins. Quick sweepers and S curves for me. That is my heaven and I would not be disappointed.


California hwy 70 from NWBikers.Com on Vimeo.



Scenery, high speed twisties, no switch backs, good pavement, and light traffic. What more could you ask for. Well maybe no flat tires. We were lucky however that it did not go down fast. Don was getting a flat tire. Which as it turned out would not be his only mechanical issues on this trip.



A little real world on road repair video. For most it is not if you are going to have a flat but when? We got the tire repaired and continued down the road.


California Hwy 70 Part 2 from NWBikers.Com on Vimeo.



We started to approach 99 and my original route was to bypass Oroville. But I did not see and was not sure we would be finding any gas stations. I was ok as my bike is super tanker by motorcycle standards. But Doug and Don may not have much more gas left. So we headed into Oroville. It was time to eat anyway so we grabbed some lunch as well.

The next leg of this ride was to get across the some what motorcycle desert of the I5 corridor. So there would be boring stretches of road for a few miles. Even for me who normally can enjoy the scenery there is not much to look at. We did however cross some kind of interesting farm land just before hwy 20.

Once we got to hwy 20 we were back to some better motorcycle roads. 20 is a hwy but for me does offer some twists along with the highway. Heading South in the clear lake area we were on our way to another great motorcycle road of  Seigler Canyon Rd.


California Seigler Canyon Rd from NWBikers.Com on Vimeo.



Riding thru there was what I thought a typical great California motorcycle road was. Hwy 70 was a great hwy Seigler was a great road. There were many great looking roads on the map around here but there is limited time.  I had selected Big Canyon road which was nice BUT it would turn out to be what I call an ST adventure road. It is not paved all the way and what is pave is not so hot. But most of it was fun.


California Big Canyon Rd from NWBikers.Com on Vimeo.



We are now closing in on Santa Rosa and the end of our day but Lake County Hwy 29 is still to go and it feature and huge set of S curves towards the bottom. We were however now getting into heavier California traffic. We would end up following traffic thru those curves. So while the look good you need to have a clear road ahead to truly enjoy. I think in the video ends around were the traffic started.

After Hwy 29 we would loop North for a loop around Chalk Hill. From memory it was a pleasant ride but was also rural residential and wine country so there was some traffic.






California Lake County Hwy 29 from NWBikers.Com on Vimeo.



It was a great day and we were to have many more. All without a drop of rain which is rather unusual for us.
Don would have some more bike issues. I think this may be the longest Blob post I have done. If you have watched all the videos you will have spent a long time here.

Thank You
Randy

Memories. Teresa we (I) miss you.

Oh Teresa what a gal. I found Teresa in Spring 2009 (I think). I was leading a group of riders to Run 21 in Berkenfeld Oregon. We were gathering in Olympia Washington. My first site of Teresa was her riding by me to the end of the line on her Valk. The Valk is a huge Honda with a flat 6 cylinder engine. It is something special.
As she road by me my thought was "Man that is a big bike for such a little girl". LOL I was to be educated later. Teresa was tall and skinny. A very attractive lady. But on that bike at first sight she looked very small.

We road at Cruiser pace the Clatskanie Or and the start of Hwy 47. I told all the cruisers that this was a very nice road and very twisty. As I was riding Sport Touring I said I was going to ride a a quick (I never say fast) pace. They were welcome to follow at pace if they wanted but not to worry about getting lost I would wait at the other end and there was no were to turn off in the middle.

So off we went. I took off and soon lost the main group but I could see a couple riders behind me. There was at least one other ST rider. Then we hit the twisties and my attention was all ahead of me. Seems to me in hind sight I might have thought I heard something behind me. But it the tight twisties I did not look back.

As we were getting closer to the end I again heard something and this time I looked back. I was greeted with a rear view mirror full of a big red and white Honda Valkyrie. Holy crap that LITTLE girl was laying that valk on its side grinding metal on both sides. She was right on my rear. So I watched the rear view a little more on those last few corners.

When we got to the intersection I pulled into the parking area and got off. I could see way back the one other ST coming But Teresa and the Valk were right there. I ran back to her and said holy shit you can ride that bike. I was thinking of adding "will you marry me" . She had a huge grin on her face. We were to spend the next couple days riding just her and I. She never wanted to stop and no route was to long.

Teresa road with our group for the next year or so then all of a sudden she moved to Alaska. We have not seen or heard from her for a long time. Teresa if you see this drop me or us a line.

Here are the 3 Chasing The Valk Videos.


Miami River Rd and Hwy 53 Oregon 2009 from NWBikers.Com on Vimeo.

The Story Of The Pelican Run (from the start)

With the Pelican Run just a few weeks away I was thinking about it and how it came about. I thought about writing up the story but it would be to long and I think these old nwbikers and blog ride reports would do a better job.

So in order here we go.

http://www.nwbikers.com/RDRW_PNWPelican07.html

http://nwbikers.blogspot.com/2008/11/pnw-road-riders-pelican-run.html

http://nwbikers.blogspot.com/2009/04/pnwrr-pelican-run-2009-0418-1909.html

http://nwbikers.blogspot.com/2010/04/pelican-run-day-one-saturday.html

http://nwbikers.blogspot.com/2010/04/plelican-run-ride-home-042510.html

Did not write anything up for 2011. Anybody have something for that.

Saturday Morning at the Shop and 1st Ride

Hmm was this my first ride of the year? I really don't know? I cannot think of another ride yet in 2012. It was pouring down rain pretty good most the morning. Enough I though I may need to cancel my service appointment for today. I had even been snowing.

But I need to get my rear tire, brake pads, and I think it is time for new bearings at 87K. I don't want to get hung up if the sun comes out because my tire is bad. So I really need to get it done. I head out around 9:15 to the garage. The roads are wet but it is only misting a little. So I am off to Everett Power Sports. EPS is only around 5 miles away. So we will leave the Gerbings at home. It is around 45 degrees so a little cool but man it is nice to be on the bike going somewhere. I got there around 9:30 they open at 10. But as usual the door is open so I walk right in.

Normally one of the Gold Wing guys who are there every morning have the coffee on. Today one of them is just getting it going. It is around 9:50 when the service writer  is behind the counter. He is new and I am afraid he does not know about my special pricing for tire mounting. He writes up my order and says "and they tell me you get the special pricing for mounting internet tires". I smiled and said yup I guess I spend enough money here.

I had some coffee and donuts with the Gold Wing guys and several trips around the store to sit on and look at bikes and the new Vstroms. From behind me I here someone say "Randy". A fellow is approaching me and asking are you Randy from the pnwst. I said yea. He informed me his name is Vinny. He is a friend of Marcus and a member of the group. He is taking a friend around you is looking for a bike and they are there to check out an 04 ST 1300 that is there. While we are talking Jim walks in the door. He is a Gold Wing rider who used to be a regular with us. Lots of traffic today. Vinny's Buddie took the ST for a ride then Vinny did as well. They were on there way to Skagit after that to look at a FJR. Vinny said he almost made the Pelican Run last year but could not. I reminded him that this years Pelican is just a few weeks away and he still had time to get on board.

While I was talking to someone the service guy came up to talk to me. That usually is never any good. But he says my brake pads are still around 40% good and the bearing s feel ok. We walk back to the shop and he shows me my pads and the new ones and yup looks like I have some miles left. I told him however at almost 90K to go ahead and do the bearings anyway. So I think this is a sample of the great service you get there. They could have just replace the pads but they let me know instead.

It did take longer then normal today and it was after 11 before they pulled my bike out. So as we were doing the bill they told me that the bearings took longer because one broke up on removal and they had to cut the race out. So looks like a good decision to replace as it felt ok but was also ready to break up.

Headed home and topped up the gas. Might have taken a longer ride but the streets were wet and new rear tire. Maybe we will see some sun tomorrow and now I am ready to ride.

When will it end.

Winter that is. When will it give way to spring. This has been the same forecast for the last several months and shows no sign on changing. To be fair we did have around 7 hours of glorious sun shine on Friday and even a little on Thursday. A few hours now and then. But otherwise yuck.

Yesterday I was taken in by the great sun shine moment and forgot about the forecast. So I scheduled and appointment for today at my local Motorcycle Shop to get my rear tire and break pads replace.

It was sunny dry and warm then. Well this morning we are in the middle of a low so the air is swirling around us. The rain is heavy. So do I go or cancel? It is only around 5 miles to the shop. But I really hate the idea of coming out of the shop with freshly cleaned break calipers and immediately soaking them in crap weather?

Highway to The Sun.

There are 2 major rides on the calendar for 2012. The first one is called "Going to the Beartooth Sun". Sort of a goffy name. It was born from and idea to do a loop to the Highway to The Son in Glacier. But after some thought seemed like we should do more on a ride that far.

So we came up with a grand loop running clockwise covering Glacier, Hwy to the Son. the Lewis and Clark National Forest. Beartooth Pass and Yellowstone. Sawtooth Pass and the Hells Canyon area. Around 2000 miles of great roads and scenery.

I think the route I pretty much set right now however lots of time left for changes. As show the first day to point A (the start) and the last day from point H is open. The G to H leg could change.

Departure date is July 7th 2012

The misery continues.

The rest of the country is enjoying unseasonable warm and dry weather. Some global warming benifits? But we in the Northwest have not seen a nice weekend this year. A few hours here and there during the work week. but other then that never ending rain and snow.

The Weather Forecast for 03/14/13

"An approaching front is spreading increasing precipitation over western Washington this morning. Low snow levels combined with cool air at the surface should combine to allow it to start as a mix of rain and snow or just wet snow in many areas. Accumulations are most likely over or near Hood Canal (2-8" possible), inland hills (trace to 3", with more at/above 1,000'). Elsewhere, slushy accumulations of an inch or two are possible, but then the precipitation will change to rain almost everywhere by noon.  Winds will be breezy to windy at times late morning through early afternoon. Winds should ease in the late afternoon to evening. Highs will be mostly in the low 40's.

Another front will move through Thursday for rain at times and warmer temperatures with highs in the upper 40's to lower 50s. Winds are unlikely to be as strong as on Wednesday, but gusty conditions are likely.

A cold front moves through early on Friday changing the steady rain to intermittent showers later Friday and Saturday with highs in the upper 40s to near 50.

High pressure will build off the coast Sunday and Monday for clearing skies with only a few showers. There could be a few flakes mixed in on higher hills with snow levels back down to 500-1,000 feet. Tuesday will see increasing mixed rain and snow or wet snow once again before it turns to rain.  

Rich Marriott / KING 5 Meteorologist"