Waterloo RTE - Sat 10/01/11

 I hadn't been able to get away and go ride much since the Markleeville RTE due to a deathly ill mom cat, kittens needing to be bottle fed, kittens getting sick and dying one by one... Ah, well, that is a sad sad story better left for another time...

Anyway, it was a nice day for a little ride to try some BBQ at the Waterloo...

I was not real good about taking pictures or remembering names... It was just good to be out for a few hours.

Trip total: ~172 miles

Markleeville RTE - Sun 09/11/11

Dave, Jay, & I decided to make a camping weekend out of the RTE so on Sat we met at the Starbucks in Angels Camp to ride over Ebbetts Pass to Markleeville and then on to the campground at Grover Hot Springs SP.

On Sun morning we rode to South Lake Tahoe so I could gas up and we stopped for coffee and a light breakfast to kill some time before the RTE. 

On the way back to Markleeville we stopped to take some pictures.

We made it back to Markleeville about 45 minutes early for the RTE so I spent a few minutes walking around the town taking pictures.

Paul (Fireball) arriving on his interesting STeed... It definitely gets noticed.

Jim, Ken (?), Paul, and I shared a table.

Dave, David, Jay, and Vince

After a tasty lunch I headed over to the little market to find some firewood and something easy to fix for dinner... I wanted steaks but settled for cheese, crackers, and salami. As I was leaving the market it started to rain and I was glad I had decided not to go riding the passes with the rest of the guys.

Monday morning it was time to pack up and head for home.

I had my GoPro camera running for the ride through Ebbetts Pass but I have not yet edited the video. When I get that done I will get it uploaded and provide the link. There was still snow on the ground up there... 

I had to stop for this photo op...

Trip total: ~496 miles

Woodside RTE - 08/21/11 Alice's Restaurant

It turned out to be another nice and not too hot Sunday in the Bay Area - perfect for riding. The plan was for several of us to meet up at the gas station on the corner of Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road & Hwy 9 at 10:15am to ride up to Alice's together. We hit the road with Rudy in the lead at about 10:35am.

Alice's was busy as usual but we were able to snag enough tables around the back to seat us all without having to wait.

Mike, Jay, and Travis (Mike's son) snagged the cozy little table.

John, Vince, and David

At the Harley table: Russ, Lou, Rudy, and Rhonda.

Ben, Dan, Mike (Squirrel Hunter), and Ken

Khris and Mike

After lunch (breakfast for some like me) we visited for bit while Larry gave some of the STeeds some pre-load adjustment TLC.

Dave and Suzie

Flip couldn't make it in time for lunch but he made in time to visit. Unfortunately that was cut short by a work call and he had to go make some money.

Larry working his pre-load magic on one of the STeeds. He fixed up the pre-load for both Mike (aka Squirrel Hunter) and David's STs.

Once Larry was done working his magic Dan led us down Skyline Blvd to Bear Creek Road to Summit Road and onto Hwy 17. Then we took Hwy 1 south to Watsonville, headed toward.... You guessed it! Gizdich! For pie.

Mike (970mike) and his son Travis waiting to order

This time I tried the strawberry shortcake. I was so good. And so big that I could not eat it all, especially after a big lunch. I tried my best though!

Ben and his dad Dan getting ready to head back home to Salinas

Rudy, Mike, and Khris watch while Larry works his magic on Mike's STeed

After goodbyes Larry and I headed over Pacheco Pass to Watsonville Road to Uvas Dam Road and then on toward home. I waved to him as he turned off Hwy 85 and I continued on.

This RTE and pie run was a great one. We had a great turnout with folks coming from Folsom, Berkeley, Fairfield, San Jose, Gilroy, Salinas, Lompoc, Simi Valley, and Yosemite. The weather was excellent as was the food and pie, or shortcake. I can't wait until the next one!

Trip Total: ~151 miles

Saturday Area Ride 08/13/11

Saturday was a beautiful day for a backroads ride with new and old friends. We met up at Pete's Coffee on Camden in SJ. After introductions and a cup of coffee Rudy led us on nice ride via the backroads to Uvas Dam. We stopped at a park along the way for a break... and to get a few pictures.

Then we continued south to Hwy 156 east to Gilroy with a short hop south on Hwy 101 to Hwy 25 toward Hollister and then to San Juan Bautista where we stopped for lunch at a nice little Mexican restaurant.

Mike - the birthday boy - and Rudy waiting for us girls to get parked.



Janet, Mike, Elin, Rudy, and me

Elin, Rudy, and Rhonda

This was a tostada plate - a half order! I didn't even try to eat it all.

Meet George the rooster, the restaurant mascot. As Rudy says, he is a "cool little pecker of a cock" and he was all about begging for tortilla chips.

After a leisurely lunch we headed along Hwy 129 to Watsonville and on to Gizdich Ranch for some pie.

Once we were finished with our pie we continued the ride over Hwy 156 back toward the twisties taking Old Almaden over the mountains and eventually dropping us back onto Camden Ave and Pete's Coffee.

Sonora RTE 07/30/11 - Outlaws BBQ

Another beautiful and WARM day for a ride. A day of Daves as well...

I met David (#1) from Salinas at the gas station close to my house and we hit the road around 9:30am. The weather started out in the 70s in the bay area and when we arrived in Sonora it was around 97F - only about 15 degrees hotter than my tolerance for heat wants to allow.

The restaurant was pretty busy so we grabbed a few tables where we could.

Dave (#2) from Muir Beach and Jay at their cozy little table for two :)

Dave (#3) from Linden and Jeff... Somehow they got a spacious table for two.



I got to share a table with David (#1), Vince, and Dan

Fortunately for you, dear reader, I did not take photos of my mouth watering baby back ribs... so you will not be tortured by them!

The faithful STeeds awaiting our return.



Jay, Dave (#2), and Vince standing near his STeed formerly owned by Ruben White (RIP).

David and Dan

Gigolo and ST friends trying to soak up some local culture...

After lunch several of the guys went on ride around the area. I headed home as being tired, a full stomach, and hot weather do not make a good rider in the twisties. I made it home by around 5:45pm.

Only later did I find out that Vince had a get-off during their ride. While his prize STeed with the most farkles ever was pretty much totalled he limped away with only a sprained ankle. Thankfully! I am glad I was not there to see the crash, it would have totally freaked me out.