Adventures By Guy

Up shortly after 5 and downstairs making pancakes. Bev was up early trying to copy my SD cards over to my portable drive. She got one cleared so I could use it. The other one was up to 70% complete but I didn’t want to wait almost an hr for it to finish so we pulled the plug on that operation. Said our goodbyes and I left around 7 am and the temp was 66. Ah, so nice but I knew it wasn’t going to last. I got on the road and traffic wasn’t bad as I was moving away from the towns and cities. Took what I thought were twisty back roads but they had homes all along them. Still very enjoyable at 35 to 45. The mist was quickly left behind and it was just overcast 15 minutes down the road. I was in Sonoma Valley and heading over the hills/mountains to Napa Valley and this road really climbed and twisted. I saw a road sign I have never seen before at the beginning of it. No trailers, no RV’s, no trucks over a certain length. Ok I have seen that. Then the next one… if you ignore the sign YOU WILL GET STUCK. That one was a new one for me.
Up I went and it twisted so much I missed the turn off and stopped about 20′ past it on a one lane newly paved road. I think I need to turn around… but this road looks so intriguing… so I went down the wrong road on purpose. Soon I am twisting and turning all over the place then I finally start coming down… some great views but I quickly realize that it isn’t Napa Valley I am looking at…it is Sonoma Valley again! I can see the fog hanging up on the western coastal hills. I eventually come out on hwy 12 again and go 4 miles north and get back on the original steep twisty road again. I twisted my way to the top and take the correct turn this time. No regrets, I had fun… except it took time and that means it will be hotter when I get to the Central Valley. I soon get to Napa Valley and the temps jump to the mid 80’s. I stop as the sweater is no longer needed. Work my way over to Calistoga and take 29 north. Fun road over the hills but on the other side the temp jumps into the 90’s and as I work my way towards the Valley they continue to climb. Soon it is 100°F and I emerge onto the Valley floor. No wind, just hot… I think about pulling out my cooling vest but it is in a saddlebag and I would have to dig it out. About halfway across 20 miles shy of Yuba City I get gas and I see they have a hose. I used it to wet my head and shirt down. Zipped my suit up and got on the road. 104° out now but I am feeling much better now that I soaked my shirt and head. I got over to Grass Valley and started winding my way up the mountains. I was hoping that it would cool off with the elevation change. Nope, stayed at 104 until around 4 pm then dropped to 100. Then slowly to 96. Amazing how good 96 feels after 104. I started out at 66. Quite the change. I got on 49 heading towards 89. What a nice road. Even has passing lanes. If you ride a bike you have to come out and play on it.

Along the way I see a bunch of 32 Ford Roadsters and I have to pull in for that. It’s a club out of San Francisco out on their monthly weekend trip. Gorgeous. The 4 door is the guys father’s car.

I continued on and took 49 until I got to Gold Lake hwy. I pulled off at the Sierra Buttes scenic Vista. Wow, one of the better ones. While I was there a guy comes over and talks bikes. Then says if I wanted a challenging ride about 4 miles up the road is a 4×4 trail and he describes it. No, I am by myself and don’t need to hurt myself or the bike as I am loaded very heavy. He goes, yeah and you’d need someone to help you pick that up too. No, I just have to take the dry bags off and I can pick it up. I’m used to picking up Goldwings. Oh, yeah… I guess that’s easier than a Goldwing. Yep. As I wind my way through the mountains I am following a river and it is so pretty rushing down through the rocks mixing placid pools and rapids along its path. People were swimming and floating on inner tubes when I got near little towns. I got to a little town called Downieville and stopped at The Two Rivers Café. Good food. The owners are thinking of moving to Texas. She didn’t like humidity… I laughed and said. You better think twice about moving to Texas then! Maybe west Texas would be low humidity. Eventually it was time to start looking for a motel as I sure didn’t want to camp in 93° weather. Got to Quincy and everything was full by 5 pm. Looked on my phone and everything was full all the way to Lassens two hrs away… except a few places at $250 a night. I said a prayer asking my Heavenly Father to help me find a place even if it was camping at a higher elevation.
About 20 minutes later I am thinking I may have to ride far into the night. I pull up to a flagman and he said. How’s it going? Fine except that I can’t find a place to stay for the night. Oh, if you go to Susanville you’ll find a nice room for $135. They have a casino there. Then he told me how to get there. Hey, thanks. And he turns the sign to Slow and off I go. 10 minutes later I pull up to another flagger. How’s it going? Fine. Trying to find a place to stay and the flagger back a ways told me about Susanville. Oh, you don’t have to go all the way there. He tells me about a little place 25 miles before Susanville. Then he turns his sign to slow and off I go.
I’m now on hwy 89 and I come down off of a mountain and there is this huge flat valley and it is just beautiful. It has cattle scattered as far as I can see out in the Golden pastures. To me that’s much more beautiful than a coastline. I told Loraine that I find I enjoyed seeing ranches and farm land up north compared to most other things. She said it’s the Midwest farm boy in me… This valley was very nice. I found the place I was told about and I wondered if I should keep going. Had to go next door to the little market to check in. I didn’t want to meet any deer so I pulled in. Got dinner and breakfast materials while I was in the market. Went next door to the room. I don’t think it’s been updated since the 60’s. Worst of all it had no AC! There’s a group of Mexican’s outside filling up water tanks on some trucks for the next day of work. I had started talking to one of them prior to going in the room. I come out… Hey, No AC. He said it would probably cool off tonight and I should ask the owner for a fan. Both his rooms had fans and it’s ok then. Thanks. I got a fan and it did cool off. All was good. We’ll see what tomorrow brings…