Breakfast was yummy and I learned Wendy & Bruce have an airplane!  So we started with Catfish, Doug, Wendy, Bruce, Laurel, Diter, guests Ben & I-forgot-already, Pete Slote, Jim & guest Mark, & guest Steve Wright.  Mt.Diablo was expensive, twisty, clear, and howling cold on top.  I-forgot-already left when we got back to Walnut Creek.

Morgan Territory was fun & gravelly 'til we met traffic at the other end.  I passed a KLR650 back there, and it pulled over at the end with us. Hey, that's Laurel's friend, Bob? and he joined us.  Pete & Bruce retired from the ride at Livermore.

Rode up the sweepers to the top of the ridge above Del Valle and saw a few folks flying their RC gliders & airplanes.  As we started down Mines Road proper, I had the dual headlights of an FZ1 in my mirrors. Mines road was a TREAT!  I arrived at the Junction with the FZ1 still in my mirrors.

Steve Hursh emerged from the bar and asked where everyone else was. Wendy giggled.  Then we heard the rest of the group roaring down the road!  The Junction was busy on this gorgeous winter day!

Laurel & Doug parted after lunch as we headed towards Mt Hamilton. San Antonio Road was fast and that FZ1 was in my mirrors again!  We re-grouped just before the diesel corner Steve had warned us about. Didn't see any diesel, but the remains of one or two moto crashes were lying around.

The climb up the mountain got sandier the higher we went.  Just before the summit we met Joanne on her KLR650.  She waved & turned around. More scenery & socializing at the observatory.

Dropping down the San Jose side was even sandier than the back side. Once the sand zone faded, cornering speeds became spirited again. Just as I was about to pass this slow car I see someone standing at the end of this short straight-away.  I hesitated and then noticed he was a CHP officer giving us the SLOW DOWN hand signals for the next right curve.

At the exit of the curve a small BMW had drifted off the opposite side of the road and had a wrecker trying to help.  In San Jose, many folks parted.  Only Joanne, Wendy, Jim, & Mark followed me up Sierra Rd for the final 3 twisty roads of the ride.  Felder and its wonder flowing esses were next.  The finale for the day was Calaveras road to the bar in Sunol.  Joanne peeled off for home at 680.

We got to the bar just 5 minutes before the only part of the SuperBowl I was interested in seeing; Bruce's half-time show.  We had Irish coffees & beers and a toast to a great day.  The bar had a nice FREE appetizer table with lots of yummy things, including deep-fried calamari!  Shame there were only four of us left to enjoy it all!

I led Jim & Mark down Niles Canyon Rd to the twisty Palomares Rd to get to 580.  :-)  THANKS everyone for making it a GREAT ride!

Catfish ...