TIM-n-MIKE's Excellent Adventure

[Mike Sisson]

Well, not really an ADVENTURE....just a ride.

So, I meet this guy Tomatocity on this here Tenere' forum...and we decide we should head out somewhere. I mean, for christ-sakes....we got these Adveture bikes...right? He's got a plan for some excellent roads. Even does all that internet magic crap with google maps and such!!! ???

So, the morning dawns...and it's a bit nipply...(to us VERY happy Californian's.... ::025:

No worries! Layer up and we're off!

As per the "plan"...we meet up in Winters (California) at the Putah Creek Cafe. TomatoCity is a retired (BASTARD!!) Park Services guy...and rides...a LOT!!!

He has (sadly) chosen Blue.... :'(

No worries. I'm a forgiving guy....

Anyway...we have a GREAT breakfast and he picks up the tab.... The start of a good day!!!

Tanked up and we roll!!

Quick stop by Lake Solano...

Headin' up to Lake Berryessa....

We arrive at the 121/128 convergence....and then a quick break...hell, we just rode about 20 miles... ::025::

I whiz....as per normal.....

...and off we go!!!

We head on down to Knoxville/Berryessa Rd.....Over the bridge...

 

[Mike Sisson]

So we head down the Knoxville/Berryessa Rd and come to the "rough" part. Here's the warnings to keep you SAFE!!! ::025::

Now....I can say that is quite true...but at the end of summer and now fall....no worries...

Looks pretty dry from here.....

Really couldn't ask for a nicer day....

 

[Mike Sisson]

So we roll on up the road....still no water crossings. Stop here for a break...

Notice the Black one in front.....

Looking North....or maybe South....who knows.... ::025::

So, off we go!!

"Water crossing"....

Rolling on....

Road is quite pot-holed but nice scenery and no traffic!

Uh-Oh!! A wet spot..... ::025::

Rolling on following Tim....

Start climbing....

...and come to "The Racetrack"!!

 

[tomatocity]

This was a good day. Clear weather, good food, less traffic, new roads, and making a new friend that can ride the piss out of his Raven Super Tenere. Mike is a fun person and easy to travel with. Waiting for the next adventure.

 

[Mike Sisson]

Now if you know Knoxville/Berryessa Rd you know there was a big gold mine that shut down about 6-7 yrs ago (IIRC). Based on that the road near the mine was kept pristine by the county. This a a long, smooth rolling set of sweepers that few know of and little patrolled... ::26:: Almost no traffic....never seen an LEO there....nice!!!

Oh...and the tunnel.... Tomatocity poses....

On we go!!!...

to be continued.......

 

[Mike Sisson]

This was a good day. Clear weather, good food, less traffic, new roads, and making a new friend that can ride the piss out of his Raven Super Tenere. Mike is a fun person and easy to travel with. Waiting for the next adventure.

No...I just have to piss a lot.....

Feel free to put some of that Google Map magic in amigo!!!

I will continue this story in about two days....gotta go do some looooooooooong shifts....

 

[TNWalker]

Lucky Devils.... Looks like a great ride. ::001:: ::022::

 

[tomatocity]

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Putah+Creek+Cafe,+Main+Street,+Winters,+CA&daddr=CA-128+W%2FCapell+Valley+Rd+to:Berryessa+Knoxville+Rd%2FKnoxville+Rd+to:Berryessa+Knoxville+Rd+to:Seigler+Canyon+Road,+Lower+Lake,+CA+to:Big+Canyon+Road,+Lakeport,+CA+to:Middletown,+CA+to:Butts+Canyon,+CA+toope+Valley+Road,+Angwin,+CA+to:Chiles+Pope+Valley+Road,+Angwin,+CA+to:Sage+Canyon+Road,+Napa,+CA+to:6003+Monticello+Road,+Napa,+CA&hl=en&ll=38.657633,-122.317657&spn=0.623054,1.352692&sll=38.446443,-122.196792&sspn=0.002441,0.005284&geocode=FbLMSwId8uW6-CEix05lru4HdylP8QBZi9-EgDGve41QWD0xnw%3BFUumSgIdZmy3-A%3BFf5tSwIdk722-A%3BFUSQUAId5dW0-A%3BFYmbUQIdtqaw-ClBbS6VmXWEgDHuXBArGM6SGw%3BFfb6UAIdzSqw-Cm1W281wHOEgDEb9w8k_hmlig%3BFZRQTwIdNwux-CkNFeR-bW6EgDGXut-MwB6QlQ%3BFaZ4TgIdEa2z-ClL1rKMy2CEgDFV-OMVQFhWew%3BFXF4TQId0pSz-Cmb8lJKVViEgDHSZonHgqGhYQ%3BFXtoTAIdGae0-CndPKBbPFiEgDE_He56DiOlAw%3BFYxQSwIdRW-1-CnDjk51xviEgDEFDvrn9r4rSg%3BFVKlSgIdvG-3-Cl3tyk4oAKFgDElPPP6zWuCPQ&vpsrc=6&mra=ls&t=m&z=10

This area is one of my favorite rides. E and F were new roads to Mike and I and they were beautiful and fun. There was a well maintained dirt / gravel section on Big Canyon Rd. H through K was fun fast and LEO free until the Knoxville Berryessa and Capell Valley intersection. He was between us and Mike was busy taking photos. Luckily he got bored with us and passed Mike. We stopped at Corners and found another friend there. Chatted for awhile and Mike returned 20 miles home and 60 miles for me. It was a good day.

 

[limey]

Nice you guys can still ride but 48F is T shirt weather up our way.

 

[Mike Sisson]

I WAS going to bring that up..... ::025::

 

[Venture]

Damn guys, great report. I haven't been on a bike in a few weeks now, this gives me the itch. Maybe I'll go for a jaunt tomorrow if it doesn't rain...

Mike, your Bill the Cat (and other odd farkles) always make me laugh. I'm thinking I might have to get my daughter to "donate" one of her "friends" prior to my next voyage.

 

[Mike Sisson]

Damn guys, great report. I haven't been on a bike in a few weeks now, this gives me the itch. Maybe I'll go for a jaunt tomorrow if it doesn't rain...

Mike, your Bill the Cat (and other odd farkles) always make me laugh. I'm thinking I might have to get my daughter to "donate" one of her "friends" prior to my next voyage.

Great idea....except you better get her parents approval...... ::025::


Ride report not done...just on hold for a day or so.... ::26::

 

[Mike Sisson]

Beer mug full... *check* Pipe.... *check*

Let's GO!

When we last left our heros ( ::025: they were heading up Knoxville/Berryessa Rd to Clear Lake....

Now heading into Lower Lake....

Neato small old town...



Bad shot of old church....

Through town and then on to the series of way back roads TomatoCity had googled.....

Some Resorty kinda place....probably get your Aura read and toes massaged here..... ::025::

And on we go....

Until we top a ridge and TC pulls over for a view....

 

[Mike Sisson]

The photographer sucks but it was a nice view....

We're going down there.....Lottsa curves later.... ::012::

BTW, parked up from the photog site you will note the bikes parked in their appropriate order.....ahem....

Rollin' on down....

Until finally......... ::012::

 

[Mike Sisson]

So we hit this dirt road that is better than most of the paved roads we've been on through the day. Well groomed and smooth. Time to open the girls up a bit....WOOT!!

I mean...not exactly Paris-Dakar.... But hey, we had FUN!!!

I decided on the initial # ::025::

Ugly guy self portrait....

And on we roll....

BTW....just wanted to point out to you Yukon (REM) and Colorado/BackEast guys....it was now hitting into the 60's..... ::025::

To be continued.....

 

[Mike Sisson]

So after a wonderful dirt road ride we pull over....and I whiz.....duh... ::025::

(Please note bikes yet again in proper order....... ::002:

Headed on down into Middletown and then on back towards Berryessa....

Lottsa nice sweepers and a warming, beautiful day!!!!!!

This guy has about a quarter mile of hubcaps....forget which road....TC can chime in here if he remembers....kind of a landmark for as long as I can remember......

Vineyards everywhere changing colors....

Beautiful day!!!!!

So as TC noted...we headed back to Berryessa.... What he did NOT point out that there was an LEO hot to nail me....but he would have had to pull out in front of TC causing a panic braking situation. Now, I ain't sayin' I was speedin'....THAT would be illegal.. ::005::... ::025::

I had slowed waaaaay down and was taking pics when he finally passed me....

Whew! Thanks for that one, TC!!

Anyhow, as noted by TC, we stopped and then rode our separate ways back home. Thanks for a GREAT day, Amigo!!!! ::001::

 

[tomatocity]

Beer mug full... *check* Pipe.... *check*

Let's GO!

When we last left our heros ( ::025: they were heading up Knoxville/Berryessa Rd to Clear Lake....

Now heading into Lower Lake....

Neato small old town...

Bad shot of old church....

Through town and then on to the series of way back roads TomatoCity had googled.....

Some kind of a Resorty kinda place....probably get your Aura read here..... ::025::

And on we go....

Until we top a ridge and TC pulls over for a view....

After passing through Lower Lake, nice photo Mike, we turned onto Seigler Canyon Rd then onto Big Canyon Road. New to both of us. These were fun roads.

 

[tomatocity]

So after a wonderful dirt road ride we pull over....and I whiz.....duh... ::025::

(Please note bikes yet again in proper order....... ::002:

Headed on down into Middletown and then on back towards Berryessa....

Lottsa nice sweepers and a warming, beautiful day!!!!!!

This guy has about a quarter mile of hubcaps....forget which road....TC can chime in here if he remembers....kind of a landmark for as long as I can remember......

Vineyards everywhere changing colors....

Beautiful day!!!!!

So as TC noted...we headed back to Berryessa.... What he did NOT point out that there was an LEO hot to nail me....but he would have had to pull out in front of TC causing a panic braking situation. Now, I ain't sayin' I was speedin'....THAT would be illegal.. ::005::... ::025::

I had slowed waaaaay down and was taking pics when he finally passed me....

Whew! Thanks for that one, TC!!

Anyhow, as noted by TC, we stopped and then rode our separate ways back home. Thanks for a GREAT day, Amigo!!!! ::001::

Middleton has a good deli in the grocery store and patio tables outside. This valley is full of vineyards, restaurants and newly paved roads. Butts Canyon is less traffic with long smooth twisties and beautiful scenery. Hwy 29 is now very smooth, has more traffic though a five mile section of killer twisties if you can get the traffic to move over. Guaranteed where ever you go it will be beautiful with a lot to see. Lake Berryessa is always a good place to start and end a ride. Now about riding to the Coast!

 

[Mike Sisson]

Lake Berryessa is always a good place to start and end a ride. Now about riding to the Coast!

1st...any of you heading ANYWHERE around Berryessa....the LEO's can be THICK and waiting for you. AVOID weekends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lottsa squids (bad news there....) and radar traps EVERYWHERE!!!


Now, on to the Coast....I am SOOOOO there!!!! I have ridden the California coast from SF to Crescent City a LOT since 1973. LET'S GOOOO!!!!!!!!!

A 3 day (mid-week ride would be ideal) to include 36, Redwoods, Lost Coast, Hwy 1 down to Fort Bragg.....Naaaa wait....about a 5 day ride to hit all the good roads..... ::015::

BTW, people come from Europe to ride this area on guided tours......

 

[tomatocity]

1st...any of you heading ANYWHERE around Berryessa....the LEO's can be THICK and waiting for you. AVOID weekends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lottsa squids (bad news there....) and radar traps EVERYWHERE!!!


Now, on to the Coast....I am SOOOOO there!!!! I have ridden the California coast from SF to Crescent City a LOT since 1973. LET'S GOOOO!!!!!!!!!

A 3 day (mid-week ride would be ideal) to include 36, Redwoods, Lost Coast, Hwy 1 down to Fort Bragg.....Naaaa wait....about a 5 day ride to hit all the good roads..... ::015::

BTW, people come from Europe to ride this area on guided tours......

162 will give us some NF dirt roads from Stonyford to Laytonville.
After that is Branscomb Road to Hwy 1 and followed by Leggett or this can be reversed.
Etna to Somes Bar. More than one way with all busy and beautiful. (one of them would be new to me)
Weitechpec over Bald Hills Road to Orick. (new to me)
96 to Scott Bar via Scott River Road to Fort Jones.
NF1 between 36 and 299 (new to me)(have missed it twice because of snow in May and June)
Indian Creek Road between Happy Camp and O'Brien OR (again missed it because of snow)
So many more.