| Although we picked up Hans & Matt, we lost Roozbeh &
Steve Schurman to an early departure to get back to the bay area & John decided to get
a late start for an extended trip through Nevada and home a day later. We packed and rode up to Sonora Pass. After a brief stop for photos, I noticed that Joanne was the 1st to pull in behind me. So off down the mountain we go. As I slowly elevate the pace, she was right there. We charged down the mountain with almost no traffic & just a grinnin'! Re-grouped at 395 & droned north to Hwy-89. As we turn towards Monitor, Earl was feeling frisky & takes off on the R1 playing the rabbit. We played follow da wabbit over the pass, but somehow that Girlie-bike was the 1st to reach the Hwy-4 intersection! After a quick re-group, I led the troops back over the top of Hwy-4, now in my favorite direction. As we climbed out of Hermit Valley, I stopped at the locked USFS cabin that Earl & I call our Secret Hiding Place for a little break. We've never found anyone there and its a really cool spot. The creek cutting through the granite out back looks right out of a picture postcard. Continuing down Hwy-4, we met the only CHP running radar as he was chasin' a couple of bikes headed east. We took the little known Spicer Rd. out to Spicer Reservoir & back. A very fun little backroad out to this beautiful granite-lined lake that put a smile on everyones face. On down Hwy-4, we stopped at the ice cream parlor in Murphys for lunch with a big chocolate malt. Next was the gnarly little Sheep Ranch Rd. again, and then a right on Railroad Flat Rd. It was neither flat or showed signs of a railroad anywhere. It is a very fun little road with no traffic that leads to one of the gems of the foothills; Hwy-26 between West Point & Mokelumne Hill. What can I say? You have to ride this 17-mile section of road to fully appreciate it. We continued down 26 to Valley Springs for the last gas stop, & on to Stockton. Here we split up for our various routes home, all arriving safely & before dark. Mmm, mmm, MMM... what a nice weekend & ride! |
Northstars Classified Ads 1. NEW!! Mez-2 Metzler 160/60-ZR17 (Rear) $85 New, Red, '99 BMW R1100GS, for $13,800, that's a $1000 discount off dealer price for the bike as equipped; bags, heated grips, Givi windshield, & hand protectors. Only 258 miles! Contact Earl Minkler, (H)925-443-4004, (W)925-455-1266 Recent Northstars' email changes; Jim Patt <jop49@aol.com> Treasurer's Report: $1473 Send editorial comments, classifieds, ride/race reports, etc to Mike Chaplin <catfish@silcon.com>. Catfish . . . |