June 2010

Day 1 of 3
June 8, 2010 - Manteca, CA to Tonopah,NV

Cranky and I are headed to Cortez and the WWR. We are meeting at the Fruit Stand just east of Manteca, CA on Hwy 120. From there we will take Hwy 120 to Hwy 6 to Tonopah, NV for this first day.
Cranky posing at home for his start


Me getting ready to leave the Fruit Stand

No photos from Yosemite.

We ride the "giggle road" to Benton Hot Springs just a couple of miles before the eastern end of Hwy 120 at Hwy 6.
Here is the old General Store


We get to the intersection of Hwy 6 and stop for a break at the Benton Station.
Gasoline prices are actually 60 cents a gallon cheaper here than at Lee Vining

I really wanted to buy a Benton Station bag but Cranky talked me out of it. :-)

A lot of nothingness as we travel into Nevada.
A deserted truck stop where Hwy 6 and Hwy 95 merge together until Tonopah.

Typical scenery along our ride in Nevada

That is Hwy 6/Hwy 95 with Tonopah in the distance

~end of Day 1
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Day 2 of 3
June 9, 2010 - Tonopah, NV to Beaver, UT

We are heading over to the Extraterrestrial Highway, Nevada 375 and a stop at Rachel, NV.
From there we will gas stop at Ash Springs, NV and back track 5 miles as we head to Caliente, NV. We will eventually get to I-15 and stop at Beaver, UT.

In keeping with the theme of this Blog no real scenic photos will be used. But on this day there were no real scenic photos to be taken.
Amazing we find a Nevada Rest Stop on Hwy 6, that has facilities. Most just have a picnic table, trash can and nothing else.

We did miss the sign about 8 miles out of Tonopah on Hwy 6 that states "No Gas Next 163 Miles".

Now my AAA map as well as Google Maps shows this spot where NV Hwy 375 intersects Hwy 6 as Warm Springs, NV. Well, below is a photo of Warm Springs, NV
Time to update your maps AAA

Here it is the north end of the Extraterrestrial Highway.
This is 50 miles east of Tonopah where the last gas station was

About 60 miles down Hwy 375 is the town of Rachel,NV.
Is there life in Rachel?????

The obligatory Flying Saucer pic

Who is that peering over Cranky's right shoulder?

On to the next obscure location Caliente, NV.

This is the old railroad station which is now being used for government offices

Cranky decides to cut up. He did not think that I would post this one.

Another obscure joint only about 30 miles west of Cedar City, UT is Newcastle, UT

Then there is Beaver, UT.
They just had a Parade

This is the Beaver Fire District - watch out for burning Beavers

~end of Day 2
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Day 3 and Last Day
June 10, 2010 - Beaver, UT to Cortez, CO

Today I ran out of old buildings, so you get our Food Stops.

Breakfast at Beaver, UT was a wonderful bacon and eggs with cottage fries and toast.
At the far north end of town, but about a half a mile in from I-15 is the El Bambi Café

Beaver, UT is only 144 years old

Here I am waiting for my bacon and eggs

Since breakfast was at 6:15 AM we stop in Salina, UT at Moms Cafe for their version of a scone and coffee.
Cranky posing outside of Moms

This shot is down UT Hwy 89

Salina was at the intersection of the Old Lincoln Highway, US Highway 50 and Utah Hwy 89 and was a bustling town until I-70 replace US Hwy 50.
The old Salina 5 and dime

Cranky and I each have a Utah scone and a cup of coffee.

These are not scones as the rest of the world knows them...I just call them Utah scones. They're basically like frybread, sopapillas, elephant ears... Delicious and completely unhealthy. Best served with honey, jam, or the topping of your choice.
from: http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/utah-Scones-Deep-Fryed-350400

Moms serves them up with a butter and honey flavored topping

As Noon approaches so does Green River, UT which means a stop at Ray's Tavern for a charcoal broiled hamburger.
Cranky, the door to Ray's is the other direction

Ray's specializes in burgers so check out their prices for PB&J and Grilled Cheese sandwiches.
The price is the same without the fries :-)

Here is half a Ray's burger with coleslaw instead of fries

We visit the Arches NP and head on over to Cortez arriving around 5:30 PM
Here's Cranky in Cortez a bit worn out

~end of Blog
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Apr 17 - Cantelow Road

Apr 17 - Cantelow Road

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Today's Ride started out as a NCTRF Ride, but I decided to invite the NorCal VROC folks.
There were four VROCers. NiteLite, Makini and two members of both VROC and NCTRF, me and Phil T. In total we had 10 bikes including one guest of Eric B riding a Harley.

And we had a pleasant surprise at the start point in Dixon. Lockup formerly known as David J. stopped by to say Hi. David is a brand new Correctional Officer who is working long hours up in Susanville. His home is still in Woodland, but he had to get back to work later this afternoon.
Lockup and I think that NiteLite is doing his mind reading act

Lockup, NiteLite, Makini and Stan K

Eric B, Jess H Eric's Triumph Legend and my Triumph Legend

Here is today's planned Ride Route:

View Larger Map


The weather is perfect cool and partly cloudy. The first nice road we ride is new to all but Makini. It is Cantelow Road in Vacaville.
This is the wide part of the road

Too bad it is only 5 miles long, but four of those miles look like this

Then we head north on Pleasants Valley Road to Hwy 128 to The Corners. The General Store is closed again.
Well there are well watered bushes behind the building now

At least there is a big parking lot

One more pit stop where Knoxville-Berryessa Road and Pope Valley Road intersect.
Stan decided to ride his Valk with the bald front tire today rather than his Triumph. And Makini's distinctive Vulcan.

Tom P. was late as usual, but not the last one today and Jess is checking his cell phone.

Pdub, Eric's friend from work and Eric B

Phil T. and NiteLite

We continue to Pope's Valley then to Angwin and along Silverado Trail to Buster's Southern BBQ.
Now the Ride gets a bit confused. As I ride through the parking lot the tables are full and there is a long line waiting to order. So I decide to continue the Ride and eat in Glenn Ellen. But ......

Anyway NiteLite and I are the ones that continue the Ride Route.

I have only ridden Brush Creek Road in Santa Rosa a few times, but the homes up on the hills continue to amaze me in their opulence. Brush Creek Road goes through a residential neighborhood but much of it is along Brush Creek and the road is very rustic and a thorough fare.

NiteLite and I decide not to eat at Glen Ellen and head into Sonoma to eat at the Black Bear Diner, instead.
My small portion Chicken Fried Steak

NiteLite's French Dip

Getting ready to take a bite

I had NiteLite take my picture in front of the bears to show off my new Joe Rocket mesh jacket

NiteLite and I part company since he is heading west back home and I am headed east.

I gas up across the street and said "I may as well make the last two stops on the Ride Route". So I head over toward the Chocolate Cow. As I turn into the parking lot entrance I notice that Phil's Nomad, Pdub's V-Strom and Jess' Sprint are parked on the street just at the entrance.
Sure enough they had ridden Hwy 29 to Hwy 12 to get to the Chocolate Cow from Calistoga

There were a few others that were suppose to make the Ride to the Chocolate Cow, but they either lost touch or decided to head back home along with some others that needed to head back.
I get my gelato although I really did not need to after my big lunch

The only on road shot today as I lead the group back to Hwy 12

The scheduled end point of the Ride was the Jelly Belly Factory. So I stopped there as the other three continued along I-80 back to Sacramento.

I accosted someone in the parking lot to take my photo under the sign

This one is for Cranky. Six dollars worth of licorice Jelly Bellys. {I had the cashier take this photo :-) }

~end
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March 26, 2010 - Yuma

Sherm leads the First "Lettuce Ride".
At 9:00 AM this is Sherm heading out for a brief tour of Old Town Yuma and then over to visit the Territorial Prison State Park.

The second wave of riders.

The third wave.

The fourth wave.

Cranky and the stragglers.
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Here are three pics of the afternoon Lettuce Ride.

Where are the Lettuce Fields???

People snap pictures from the weirdest places.
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After the Ride Macguy, Sledge and I ride over to Algodones, the Mexican Border Town about eight miles from Yuma.
Sledge and Macguy walking toward the border

Looking for the nearest Dentist :-)

We wander around the village looking for stuff and just checking out the place.
Sledge crossing the Main street

We had to wait in line for about a half hour to get back into the US. Macguy and I have no problem as we show the officer our Passport/Passport Card. Sledge on the other hand is taken to the Interrogation Room. He is delayed for another half to 3/4 of an hour for something he is not sure of. Eventually, he is allowed back into the country. Meanwhile after waiting about 15 minutes, I has asked if he minded if we left. I could bet no closer than about 30 feet of the Interrogation Waiting Room which was pretty crowded. But he waved to say "Go Ahead".
He told the story of his questioning, but I will wait to see if he wants it in print.
Almost there

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Saturday morning, March 27, 2010
It is really quite windy out as we head out for our Saturday morning Ride.
I had planned only to go to the first stop and then return to Yuma.
It is a short Ride to a Date Grove for a Date Shake and to pick up a Yuma souvenir.

Here is a 40 second long video of Sherm setting up his Group Photo at the Date Store.
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Feb 15 - Little Dragon

Feb 15 - Little Dragon With Canadian Visitor

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Today's original Ride was ambitious for February, but we had to modify it since we were down to two Riders, me and John from BC. And John was stuck in dense fog in Chowchilla whereas I in Stockton only had light fog with visibility around three miles. In fact it was not until Delhi that I encountered fog where the visibility was down to a quarter of a mile.

So I changed the meet time to 10:15 AM at Delhi, which was my mistake. Since Hwy 99 finally bypassed Livingston and Delhi, there is not an obvious meeting place in Delhi. Why Delhi? Because we could get on back roads immediately and head toward Snelling. We rode the Hwy 49 section known as the "Little Dragon", a 16.5 mile stretch of Hwy 49 just south of Coulterville, CA. For photos of the road see Tim Mayhew's pictures at: The Wow Factor, a Pashnit Motorcycle Tour.

The road is described by Tim Mayhew {Pashnit} of California Motorcycle Roads thusly:

Probably what makes this ride so well-liked amongst motorcyclists is the wide open spaces. Imagine if I could offer up a endless dose of curves, yet give you the see-through you've only dreamt about.

So our first pit stop {we are old guys in need of finding a "wash room", as the Canucks call them} is in Snelling.John's better side :-)

Our first real stop is to see the remnants of the building where Ghirardelli Chocolates got their start during the Gold Rush Times. {the company story now says Stockton, but the General Store was in Hornitos}

We parked in front of the Post Office and the bar owner next door was in his yard. He was kind enough to tell us some things about the big gold mines that used to operate around the area.
He also opened his bar to show us the interior.
Opening the metal doors

Great old bar and cash register

This is the remnants of Domingo Ghirardelli's General Store.

A close up of the plaque

From Hornitos we head to the southern Vista Point of the Little Dragon. Today I did not take any photos from the Vista because there are many in previous Blogs.

As we reach Coulterville we decide not to stop for lunch. But traveling any further north would make lunch too late. So I turn back toward the Valley onto Hwy 132 and head to La Grange. We stop at the La Grange Saloon and Grill for a tri-tip sandwich and a beer.
Heeeerrree's Johnny

The plaque outside

The tri-tip served French Dip style with fries was $10, tax included

A couple sitting and eating and drinking at the bar

There is also an outdoor area and stage through the back door

After lunch we get to the west end of La Grange and turn south onto La Grange Road to head back to Snelling and gasoline. There was no gas at La Grange. Basically Snelling is the end of the Ride. From just west of Snelling I will turn north and John will head south.
We gas up and say our good byes. It was a short 100 mile ride with many stops to BS and view the scenery. The weather was great as the fog lifted just as we left Delhi. There were a bunch of motorcycles on the road today.



View Larger Map


~end
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Feb 12 - Lunch With Canadian Visitor

Feb 12 - Lunch With Canadian Visitor

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A link to Cranky's Blog of today


Today Cranky and I had lunch with a Canadian visitor, John Sharhon, VROC# 16834 from Kelowna, British Columbia, a retired firefighter. There are three couples with John the only motorcyclist staying in Chowchilla, CA which is about 32 miles due east of Los Banos, CA.
So where else would I meet him for lunch. Of course the Wool Growers.
Cranky and John and my 1997 BMW R850R

We had to have a posed shot.

We met at 11:30 AM which is the time that the Wool Growers opens for lunch and were the first customers of today.
The soup and beans

John's first time at a Basque restaurant. He ordered the lamb chops.
My half a baked chicken is barely dented

Cranky had the pork chops so we had one each of today's choices.
Notice where the fries are

After lunch we did a front end pre-ride of Monday's Ride. The full ride will go the length of Hwy 25 then over to King City. Up Hwy 101 then over to Carmel Valley Road. Along Hwy 1 in Carmel and Monterey and then back over Pacheco Pass. Today we croosed over to San Juan Bautista via Union Road and had a short visit at the Mission San Juan Bautista where Hitchcock filmed Vertigo.
John at the Gift Shop at Mission San Juan Bautista

A coke break at the Windmill Market where we said good bye to Cranky. Then back to the Valley. A short 270 mile day for me.

~end
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