tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89227292024-02-03T06:36:16.173-08:00VSP's MusingsSFBA VROC is the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Vulcan Riders and Owners Club, an International group of Internet Kawasaki Vulcan enthusiasts. The SFBA Chapter is a misnomer of sorts since it includes Northern California, Northern Nevada, Southern Oregon and Utah.VROC #5569-rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274212568028416317noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922729.post-1134500362424296542005-12-13T08:56:00.000-08:002006-03-20T17:49:03.853-08:00Polar Bear Ride - 10Dec2005{Click on photos for full size images}<br /><br />Friday afternoon 9Dec2005, Sky and I leave Stockton heading to Novato. It is the fog season in the Central Valley and we decide to stay overnight in Marin County to make the Ride Start at 10:00 AM on Saturday. I was hoping that Nite Lite would be there to lead the Ride, but he had to cancel out with a bad back. So it looked like I became the default Ride Leader and needed to be there early.<br /><br />Saturday morning it is a short 15 minute ride to the Bon Air Shopping Center. We gas up at the Chevron station at the center then head over to Noah's Bagels. Darcy and Jim E. are already there at 9:30. The sky is clear and blue and the temperature is already in the mid 40s.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/399BonAir.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/399BonAir.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Blackheart and the crew from Fremont arrive. Blackheart has the lowest VROC number (744) by a long ways for this Ride. One of the Riders, Tom G. has had a VROC number (18624) less than a week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/398BlackheartArrives.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/398BlackheartArrives.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I had gotten a phone call from Top Dawg as he left home in Atwater some 125 miles through the fog from the Ride Start. That was shortly before 7:00 AM. He phoned from the road at a gas stop in Livermore and told me that his GPS said he would be here at 10:15 AM. So I tell the people that we will delay the Ride Start a few minutes to wait for the Dawg.<br /><br />So we have a chance to visit and check out the bikes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/402DonB_JimE_ErnieW.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/402DonB_JimE_ErnieW.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/404NiceBike.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/404NiceBike.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Top Dawg arrives all bundled up on his VN2000 at 10:16 AM. His GPS was fine. He just went to the western end of the Shopping Center and had to double back to Noah's Bagels.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/405TopDawgArrives.0.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/405TopDawgArrives.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />We line up 17 bikes for our Ride. Heading out onto Sir Francis Drake Blvd is a bit problematic with that many bikes. The Christmas shoppers are filling the main east - west thoroughfare through the quaint towns of Marin County, one of the highest priced neighborhoods in the country. After getting through the towns and villages we head into Samuel Taylor Park. The road through the Park really needs to be repaved. At the rest break I find out that a slow moving cage had broken the Ride into two sections. The lead group is moving along at a nice clip through the winding roads of the Park. The rear group was being frustrated by the cage for a long time before the driver finally pulled off to let them pass. The road then Ts into Hwy 1. We make a qiuck right and a quick left to get to the Visitors Center for Point Reyes. <br /><br />Check out the sky in the following photos. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/406RestBreak.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/406RestBreak.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/408RestBreak.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/408RestBreak.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/407RestBreak.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/407RestBreak.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The original Ride plan which was merely in my head was to head north on Hwy 1 to Bodega Bay and lunch at the snack shop at Lucas Wharf. Now that works if you have a small number of bikes. The snack shop has seating for maybe 12 people. With this many bikes and people we (was there a vote?) decide to head to Negri's in Occidental. Also it will be 11:30 by the time we get back on the bikes. So we will head up Hwy 1 with a bike check at Tomales straight to Occidental.<br /><br />On the road we pass a ton of bicyclists. In front of us are a few cars moving along at above the speed limit so we get to ride at a reasonable clip on the twisting Hwy 1. At Tomales we still have 17 bikes. So without getting off the bikes we head on. At Valley Ford we take the short cut to the Bohemian Highway. Man what a rough road. We get to the Bohemian Highway, which is a neat road that has an occasional canopy of trees where there are sections of the road that never see daylight.<br /><br />We make it to Occidental, a town that was built as a railroad stop for hauling out redwood logs. It is not a town that you will accidentally run into.<br /><br />At Negri's we are greeted by Evelyn Negri. The Negri's own half the town and also have a thoroughbred race horse ranch up the road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/410EvelynNegri.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/410EvelynNegri.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />We have to wait a few minutes for the restaurant to set up our table. So we retire to the bar. It is a nice big bar and the wait is not too long.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/411NegrisBar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/411NegrisBar.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Negri's has been around for quite awhile. It was a fixture for vacationeers at the Russian River resorts. The Russian River is only a few miles north of Occidental and was the Summer playground for San Franciscans in the first half of the twentieth century.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/414Lunch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/414Lunch.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The food is plentiful, very good - not gourmet - and inexpensive. The two riders to my right at the table decide on an 18 ounce porterhouse steak for $11.95. I have fried chicken (1/2 a chicken) with garlic fries for $6.95.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/412Lunch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/412Lunch.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/416Lunch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/416Lunch.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After lunch we were suppose to ride Coleman Valley Road over to the coast then to Petaluma. But it is too late for that. So we head straight to Petaluma.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/427MadMa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/427MadMa.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I talk Neil "the Saint" to lead us back to Petaluma, since that is his home. Neil misses the short cut back to Valley Ford. I am riding second and as he slows to maybe make a u-turn I wave him on. We will get to Hwy 1 and it is only a few miles longer, plus the road is smooth and my belly is too full for a rough road.<br /><br />I think the last few riders took the short cut and beat us back to Petaluma. I know I saw Tiny and Top Dawg at a gas station. They had beaten me to Petaluma.<br /><br />Darcy and I are the only ones to get to my regular gas stop at Petaluma. It is the Chevron station just east of Hwy 101 on Washington. We did wait for a few minutes at the driveway to the station for any other riders.<br /><br />Darcy and I ride the back roads to just south of Sonoma, around Napa, through Fairfield and into Rio Vista where Darcy takes Hwy 160 back to Antioch. I continue east on Hwy 12 to Stockton.<br /><br />Got to meet a lot of new VROCers. I hope this bodes well for VROC rides in 2006.<br /><br />Name................................Hometown........Bike................VROC#<br /> <br />Don "VSP"......................Stockton........EN500................5569<br />Larry "Sky" D.................Stockton........Nomad...............14153<br />Robert "Top Dawg" A...........Atwater.........VN2000..............12939<br />Darcy S...........................Antioch.........Sportster 1200......10620<br />Doug "Tiny" R.................Pinole..........VN1600...............4685<br />Don "Silverstar" H............Petaluma........VN1500..............12621<br />Tom G.............................Mill Valley.....VN1500..............18624<br />Vicki S...........................Fremont.........Goldwing 1200<br />Brad "Blackheart" N...........Fremont.........Yamaha RSV............744<br />Peggy G...........................Fremont <br />Max M.............................Fremont.........Drifter 800..........7197<br />David "Sasquatch" C...........Fremont.........VN1500...............5801<br />Paul "Jazzhound" I............Berkeley........Nomad...............15466<br />Debbie I..........................Berkeley <br />Neil "The Saint" St. A........Petaluma........VN800...............18357<br />Ernest W..........................Alameda.........VN750...............16697<br />Don B.............................Saratoga........Nomad...............18406<br />Marcia "Mad Ma" B.............Santa Rosa......VN800...............17110<br />Jim E.............................Rio Vista.......VN800A..............18153<br />Roy C.............................Castro Valley...VN1500..............16477<br /><br />Sorry if I missed someone who was there.<br /><br />-- <br />Don "Very Short Person" Inamasu<br />'93 EN500 A4 "Mighty Mouse"<br />VROC #5569; TWVROC #13<br />HSVROC_2006 Web Site:<br />http://www.norcalrat.com/hsvroc/<br />Stockton, CA 95219VROC #5569-rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274212568028416317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922729.post-1128199384527931312005-10-01T13:06:00.000-07:002005-10-02T15:36:59.966-07:00Jelly Belly Oct 1, 2005Cat rides up from SoCal to Nite Lite's home. SFBA VROC must have a Ride. We are to meet at the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield, CA at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 1, 2005. <br /><br />We have a really good turn out to greet and ride with Cat and the Sublows. Top Dawg from Atwater, Sky from Stockton, Rocket Rod and Cindy from Lincoln, Jazzhound from Berkeley and I just show up to take photos at the Jelly Belly Factory.<br /><br />Nite Lite will lead a Ride over Trinity-Oakville Grade Road and on to Occidental for lunch at Negri's.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pashnit.com/roads/cal/TrinityRd.htm">Trinity-Oakville Grade Road by Pashnit</a><br /><br />Now the Jelly Belly Photos<br /><br />Jelly Bean Attacks Linda "Homeless" Sublow<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0191.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0191.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />New VROC Beetle <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0194.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0194.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />New VROC Beetle II<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0192.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0192.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />A new water bottle?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0195.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0195.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Belly Flops<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0196.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0196.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Belly Flops are mistakes that are sold in two pound bags of assorted flavors. At a third of the price of the "good" bellies. Cat is selecting her three bags full.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0203.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0203.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Chocolate Jelly Bellies are Nite Lite's favorite.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0197.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0197.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Dawg, Sky, Jazzhound, Rocket and Cindy at the entrance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0205.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0205.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Jazzhound and Sky. Jazzhound from Berkeley has a new Nomad and this is his first Ride with fellow VROCers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0204.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0204.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Chocolates, Only Sold at the Factory. I tried a sample. Their chocolates are very good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0202.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0202.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Displaying the bags of Belly Flops.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0209.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0209.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Cat and Howard Want the Same Shirt<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0207.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0207.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Howard needs a bigger size.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0206.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0206.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Top Dawg Buying Beans<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0208.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0208.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Dawg Eating Beans<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0215.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0215.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Cat on a Shopping Spree<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0213.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0213.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Cat paying the piper for her shopping items.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0214.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0214.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The clocks in the upper right of the photo display the time for various international cities. The Jelly Belly guide book and Recipe book are printed in 8 languages and are provided free to visitors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0216.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0216.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The Group<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0221c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0221c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Rocket Rod Wants This Beetle<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0222.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0222.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Nite Lite Leads the Ride<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_0228.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0228.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Pulling out<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_02301.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0230.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Rocket Rod and Cindy<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_02321.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0232.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Who is that riding Tail Gunner?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_02311.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0231.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Gone Riding<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/1600/IMG_02331.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/821/625/400/IMG_0233.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now for Top Dawg's report:<br /><br />Here's the short report:<br /><br />Yesterday I went up to the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield where I met <br />Don VSP (had to split and was absent from the rest of the ride), Nite <br />Lite and Linda, Rocket Rod and Sindy, and a new member Paul from <br />Berkeley. We went up to Santa Rosa, lunch in Occidental, over to Bodega <br />Bay, then down Hwy 1 where we split up to get home our separate ways.<br /><br />I took Hwy 1 to Stinson Beach and then south to Muir Beach (which I <br />erroneously called Jones' Beach although I think there was a nudist <br />beach in that area called that 40 yrs ago when I lived up there) to <br />visit an old haunt and then Hwy 1 into S. Mill Valley and into SF via <br />the GG.<br /><br />SF was clogged as hell downtown due to the Bay Bridge ramp closure on <br />1st St so everybody had to go up Mission to the 6th St ramp - talk about <br />a mess. Anyway, got back here around 8:30 very glad to be home. Total <br />for the day (for me only) was about 430 miles.<br /><br />I'm sure Nite Lite will have a little more detailed info, including his <br />time-saving(?) detour around some stop'n'go traffic on the freeway in SR.<br /><br />All in all, a great ride, Sure wish you coulda been with us Don. Howard <br />hogged all the waitress action at Noni's - we could've used you to keep <br />him in check.<br /><br />{ arrrgh....I forgot to mention CAT who was the guest of honor, and Sky! <br />Damn CRS strikes again - so sorry you two...that's what happens when I <br />try to do a ride report this early in da morning. }<br /><br />----<br />Robert "Top Dawg" Alexander<br /><br />***************************<br />Now for Rocket Rod's Report<br /><br />What a great ride this was!! Howard did an excellent job of<br />leading us through some outstanding roads and quite an mc<br />adventure! We were rolling through tree canopy covered shaded<br />twisties and zooming right past big redwoods, then climbs and<br />descents and climbs and descents, and the next thing I knew<br />I felt like I was Luther in Excalibur riding through the foggy<br />dragon's breath high a top a narrow trail overlooking ... over-<br />lookin ... well, hell if I know what it was over looking(!) it<br />was so foggy ... I just remember Howard sending back a message of<br />caution which Top Dawg passed to me about the single narrow road<br />and free roam cattle up ahead and down around the next turns ...<br />WHOOHOO! WHAT A BLAST!! Then, next thing I knew we were out in<br />civilization again; well a small coastal place ( Bodega Bay ) for<br />a gas stop and a few digital shots of the ocean. <br /><br />After we gassed up, we headed off toward Petaluma. Sky had departed <br />for Cloverdale from Occidental, and then at some point Top Dawg <br />departed the group and headed off toward SF ... then a few miles <br />later Night Lite, Linda, and Cat turned off down some side roads while <br />Paul and I headed straight into Petaluma. Upon arriving in Petaluma and<br />traveling east bound on the 116 we saw Night Lite's group at an<br />intersection and turning onto the 116 too. A short ways down they<br />turned off and Paul and I continued down the 116 to the 121 and the<br />12, which dropped me out in Fairfield onto the 80. I headed east<br />toward Sacramento and Paul headed west toward Berkley from there.<br />I was home in Lincoln just in time to ride in while watching the<br />sun set! What a great ride!! I put a little over 300 miles in for<br />the day :) Thanks for a wonderful ride, Howard ... and Cat,<br />for getting it pulled together! :) Hope you had a great reunion,<br />Don--but, we missed having you there with us on the ride :(<br /><br /><br />Rod<br />-- <br />VROC #10853 Zen #408<br />2001 Kawasaki 800 Classic<br />Lincoln, CaVROC #5569-rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274212568028416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922729.post-1099035000180641782004-10-29T01:04:00.000-07:002004-10-30T17:58:09.706-07:00Tiny Leads RideTiny's SFBA VROC Ride - April 25, 2004
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<br /><P ALIGN=Center><IMG SRC="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/VROC_4_25_041.jpg" border=2> </P>
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<br />Lorin, Deputy Bob and I arrived at the Jelly Belly at 10:15. Nite Lite and wife were already there buying candy. TC shows up on his yellow V-Strom but needs gas so we send him off to Fairfield to the nearest gas station. Tiny arrives on his VN 1600 with Van on his ZR1000. Topdawg gets there on his VN 1600.
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<br /><P ALIGN=Center><IMG SRC="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/Lorin1.jpg" border=2> <IMG SRC="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/VROC_4_25_042.jpg" border=2> </P>
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<br />Tiny leads. Nite Lite is riding tail gunner. The eight bikes head off for Mankas Corners. Vineyards, farmland and orchards are on both sides of us as we get to Mankas Corners and turn onto Suisun Valley Road/Wooden Valley Road. We twist and turn our way along this road in the Coastal Range Mountains until we intersect with Hwy 121. A pick-up towing a boat lets the back half of us pass at that intersection. Hwy 121 is a winding main road from Napa to Lake Berryessa and is heavily travelled. The road needs to be repaved. After a fashion we get to the Corners (Moskowitz Corners), which is a gathering spot for motorcyclists. It is located where Hwy 121 intersects Hwy 128 and has a lot of parking.
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<br /><P ALIGN=CENTER><IMG SRC="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/Corners.jpg" border=2> </P>
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<br />A rest stop. Water break. Change to summer jackets. It is getting hot.
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<br />Tiny leads us out with Van, Lorin, Bob, Topdawg, VSP, TC and the Sublows following. We ride along the west side of Lake Berryessa. There are a lot of people out this weekend since it is a sunny day in the high 80's with little wind. Boaters and water skiers are on the Lake. We leave the Lake at Pope Canyon Road and get caught behind an RV. But it takes a turnout and off we go. After winding our way up and down the mountains we blast along Pope Valley. Until we exit onto Howell Mountain Road heading to Angwin. This is a slow very twisty road for a long stretch. We get to Angwin and pass Pacific Union College, a Seventh Day Adventist school. There is some function going on today since the place is full and cars are parked along both sides of the road. <span style="font-style:italic;">{note: Hi Don, When you went by PUC in Angwin last April that was Alumni weekend. We were there for our 40th reunion. Rod}</span>
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<br /> We get to Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley and get to Calistoga. A lot of tourist in town. Lunch stop at Buster's BBQ. Boy are we hungry.
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<br /> <P ALIGN=CENTER><IMG SRC="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/VROC_4_25_044.jpg" border=2> <IMG SRC="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/Lorin2.jpg" border=2></P>
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<br />BBQ chicken or tri-tip was the choice of most. Was it that good or was I really hungry. It hit the spot. TC had to have his dessert:
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<br />Now we are ready for the last leg of the Ride. Over Petrified Forest Road to Calistoga Road to Hwy 12 to Arnold Road at Glen Ellen. From there Nite Lite will lead to the Sonoma Cheese Factory (in Sonoma) and the end of the Ride. Nite Lite's son is working there this afternoon.
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<br />The Sonoma Cheese Factory is along the town of Sonoma's Town Square. The Square was jammed with people and cars. So the Ride kind of ended in the street. I headed off with TC to show him the way out of Sonoma. Bob was off to visit his brother who lived close by.
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<br />Don "VSP" Inamasu
<br /> '00 VN 750
<br /> Stockton, CA 95219
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<br /> VROC #5569-rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274212568028416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922729.post-1099033127738518902004-10-28T23:22:00.000-07:002004-10-29T09:43:11.170-07:00Nite Lite's RideSFBA VROC Ride - March 14, 2004
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<br /> <center>Start at Jelly Belly
<br /> <img height="360" width="480" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/86Start.jpg">
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<br /> VSP arrives
<br /><img height="360" width="480" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/87Start.jpg"> </center>
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<br />The weather was gorgeous. Low 70's and gentle breezes. Everyone should have been out riding. We saw a lot of motorcycles and a lot more cars today. The turnout was a little disappointing. Just the two of us bikes. The Sublows on the Nomad and me on my 750. I even had time to go into Jelly Belly and get a bag of Belly Flops.
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<br /> It was a really good Ride. We even found roads with little traffic. Here is the route except for the Hwy 12 and a couple of short cuts from Jelly Belly to Petaluma.
<br /><center><img height="400" width="560" src=" http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/Route.jpg"> </center>
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<br />We stopped in Occidental and had a nice lunch at Negri's. Saw a bunch of motorcycles come rolling in to town. Found out that Evelyn Negri's thoroughbred named after her needs to take $700 a month medicine. Rode past the Inn at Occidental, the only AAA Four Diamond and Mobil Four Star Inn north of San Francisco. <A HREF="http://www.innatoccidental.com/" TARGET=links>Inn at Occidental Web Site</a href>
<br /> We then went over Coleman Valley Road to the Coast. What a view as you cross the top of the mountains and see the Pacific Ocean come into sight. Took a coke break at the Tides Wharf and sat outside in the warm sun and salty sea air.
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<br /> A gas stop as we left Bodega Bay heading south down Hwy 1. We crossed into Marin County and Howard took one of his favorite lightly travelled roads, Marshall-Petaluma Road. Here are some photos taken at a nice little wide spot on the road.
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<br /><center><img width=640 height=240 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/91Petaluma.jpg">
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<br /><img height="360" width="480" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/92Marshall_PetalumaRd.jpg">
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<br /><img height="360" width="480" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/95Marshall_PetalumaRd.jpg"> </center>
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<br /> Howard and Linda got home around 4:30PM. I still had a two hour ride back to Stockton. Hope to see more bikes for Tiny's April Ride.
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<br />Don "VSP" Inamasu
<br />VROC #5569-rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274212568028416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922729.post-1099028416429239032004-10-28T22:32:00.001-07:002004-10-30T17:03:03.383-07:00VSP Leads Ride Along the River RoadsIt was a bright and sunny day. It was a terrific day for a ride. Thirteen of us on ten bikes arrived at Ernie's Saloon in Isleton from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM. TC on his Classic, Tiny on his 1600, NiteLite and Homeless on his Nomad, Darcy on his 1500 Classic, Dan Ritter and Ada on his Nomad, Paula on her 500, Paula's hubby and their two friends riding two up on their GS500's, Rick M on a Bonneville and me - VSP on my 750.
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<br /><center><img width=320 height=240 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/30_Tiny_Sublows.jpg">
<br />Tiny and the Sublows
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<br /><img width=320 height=240 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/32_Darcy_Ritters.jpg">
<br /> Darcy and the Ritters
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<br /><img width=320 height=200 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/33_Texas_Chilli_Omelet.jpg">
<br /> Sublows, TC and Rick M.
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<br /><img width=320 height=240 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/34_Paula_Hubby_Friends.jpg">
<br /> Paula, hubby and friends </center>
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<br />A few had to top off their gas tanks before the Ride. There is one gas station in Isleton and none along the Ride Route.
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<br /><center><img width=320 height=240 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/36_Outside_Ernies.jpg">
<br />Checking Dan's Nomad in front of Ernie's
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<br /><img width=320 height=240 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/41_TC_Tiny_Ernies.jpg">
<br /> TC and Tiny. Ernies in background </center>
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<br />Off we head over to Grand Island. Riding along the bumpy road taken only by locals and fisherman. Then we cut through the middle of Grand Island on SR 220. We reconnect with Hwy 160 at Ryde (see link below). Paula decides at the left turn that her bike needs a rest so lays it down. No injury. We manage to regroup at Walnut Grove our first of two rest stops.
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<br />We ride past Locke the Chinese settlement that is the home of "Al the Wops" (see link below). We then barrel along at 50 mph along the river to Freeport then to the McDonalds at Pocket Road in south Sacramento. After unloading some breakfast coffee, we head back to the river roads to Clarksburg. I almost miss the unmarked turn off to Clarksburg Road to ride the farm roads as a change of pace. Then back to Hwy 160 to turn off on the road to the Grand Island Mansion. After a quick look at the Mansion (see link below) we head toward ferry number one. SR 220 has a cable ferry to get across the river.
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<br /><center><img width=320 height=240 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/bikesonferry.jpg"></center>
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<br />The ferries are manned by CalTrans employees. On the other side of the river is Ryer Island. The roads there are seldomed travelled. No traffic and a few twisties along the levees of Ryer Island. A boat ferry takes us over the Sacramento River about three miles north of Rio Vista. End of Ride (three hours and 90 miles from Ernie's) at the Chevron/McDonalds in Rio Vista.
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<br /><center><img width=320 height=240 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/42_TC_Going_Home.jpg">
<br /> TC heading back to San Jose from Rio Vista
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<br /><img width=320 height=240 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/43_No_Skunk_Helmet.jpg">
<br />Nite Lite did not bring his skunk helmet </center>
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<br /><a href="http://www.grandislandmansion.com/history/index.htm" TARGET="links">Click For Information on the Grand Island Mansion and Spa</a>
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<br /><a href="http://www.rydehotel.com/" TARGET="links">Click For Information on the Ryde Hotel </a>
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<br /><a href="http://www.scrapbookpages.com/photoessays/Locke/" TARGET="links">Click For Information on Locke </a>
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<br />--
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<br />Feb 8, 2004
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<br />Don "Very Short Person" Inamasu
<br />VROC #5569-rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274212568028416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8922729.post-1099027530911932022004-10-28T22:23:00.000-07:002004-11-02T10:32:31.066-08:00Fogrider Leads RideFogrider Leads SFBA VROC Ride Along Left Coast Oct 12, 2003
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<br />It was a dark and stormy night...... No actually it was a terrific day for a ride. Five of us eventually arrived at the Starbucks in Pinole, Tiny on his new 1600, Fogrider on his Nomad, Paula on her 500, Darcy on his 1500 Classic and me - VSP on my 750.
<br /><center><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/image002.jpg"></center>
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<br />We had a bit of a problem getting to the same gas station to top off the tanks before we took off. But a cell phone call got us all to the same place. Then we took off to the Richmond - San Rafael Bridge. A short freeway ride up Hwy 101 and we are off toward the Coast on Lucas Valley Road. We pass more bicyclists than autos along the way, but then again this is Marin County where the bicyclists have chauffeurs to drive their cars. We wind our way to Point Reyes where the restaurant is too crowded with a too long hour wait for lunch.
<br /><center><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/image004.jpg"></center>
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<br />So we head north on Hwy 1 to eat at Howard's Station in Occidental. Although there are a lot of people at all of the places we stop at and pass along the ride, the traffic is really light. In fact, the only thing that slowed us up was our desire to take in the scenery along the ride.
<br /><center><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/image006.jpg ">
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<br />Lunch takes awhile to order. Howard's Station is a popular breakfast place serving that meal until 12:30 PM. But we arrive at 1:00 PM just as the last of the breakfast patrons are finishing up. The place is crowded.
<br /><center><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/image010.jpg "></center>
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<br />After lunch we were suppose to head along Coleman Valley Road over to Bodega Bay. But we take a left fork along Joy Road instead of the right fork that keeps us on Coleman Valley Road. But what the heck no one has ever ridden over Joy Road, no wonder since a lot of it is a one-lane road through the old Redwood Forest. From there we head over to Valley Ford Road to take us to Petaluma and home. Now Nite Lite rides that road at about 80 mph, but he rides with all the cops that patrol that road. So we take it at a leisurely speed limit. At the gas station in Petaluma we split up to head home. Darcy and I head over to Hwy 116 as the rest head down Hwy 101. Fogrider will continue over the Golden Gate Bridge to the City. Tiny and Paula to head back over the Richmond Bridge to Oakland. The only traffic that Darcy and I find all day is after Hwy 12 leaves Napa County and merges onto I-80 for about two miles. The 8 to 10 lane super slab is at a stop and go pace. It turns out that there was an accident that shut down two of the five lanes. A Senior soda (27 cents)for me as Darcy has to pay full price for his drink at the Fairfield McDonalds then back onto Hwy 12. Darcy heads off on Hwy 160 as I continue toward home on Hwy 12. A nice 10 hour day on the bike. All in all a great day.
<br /><center><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v457/VSP/blog/image012.jpg ">
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<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">10/12/03
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<br />PS:
<br />Hee hee, Don, If you got home before 5:30 you beat me. (I got home at 5:45 PM - VSP) We had total stop and go on 101 from Lucas Valley Rd to the 580 turnoff. Seems there was a car on fire or something on the Golden Gate bridge, I guess a bunch of people were trying to head over the Richmond Bridge instead. Tiny and Paula took 580. Traffic cleared a bit on 101 but stopped dead at Marin City. I got off and poked around Best Buy for 30 minutes, hoping it would clear. Nope. Lane split where I could, even Park Presidio on the other side of the bridge a mess, took local roads and it still took me an hour, should have been about 20 minutes. -
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<br />Fogrider Ken
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<br />--
<br />Don "Very Short Person" Inamasu
<br />VROC #5569-rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14274212568028416317noreply@blogger.com0