11 December 2007
Marc writes:
A short (less than 150 miles from garage to garage) mid-week ride started after breakfast in Albany. Randy joined us for breakfast and helped advise on the after breakfast route, but could not join Chris, Eric, Bill, Dick, and me (Marc) for the ride. Under blue but slightly chilly (50F) and breezy skies we took Marin to Grizzly Peak, to Wildcat Canyon, to Camino Pablo where there was a short detour and stop to scratch heads and figure out where we were. Once the maps were put away we got back on Camino Pablo to Moraga Way, to Canyon Road to Pinehurst where we took another break to take a peak at the Upper San Leandro Reservoir. Then it was on to Redwood road into Castro Valley were we jumped on Castro Valley Blvd for a short way to Palomares Rd. Dick reports he’d never been on Palormares Rd before.
Palomares ends at Niles Canyon where we headed east to Sunol and the obligatory stop at the Sunol Water Temple. Google it if you want to know more. After taking some pictures at the water temple we stopped for coffee (thanks, Dick) before taking Calaveras Road south along the Calaveras Reservoir where we stopped to take some more pictures.
Calaveras took us to Felter which turns into Sierra Rd. That more or less ended the ride save the 680/280 freeway jaunt home. I left my house at 8:30 and got home at 3:30. Wow, I averaged about 20 MPH for the ride!
Imposing Figure
Chris was playing with his new (to him) camera when he snapped this picture of Dick at the Restaurant. It only took him about 4 minutes to figure out how to do this, during which he kept telling Dick to stop moving!
Plan A
Plan B
Leaving the restaurant Randy gives some advice before going off to give someone a music lesson.
Plan C
After a slight detour, mentioned above, an alternate route is selected. I can’t really blame Chris or Randy for this change in plans… the road we wanted to take through Tilden park was closed.
2 lb tripod for 2 oz camera
No Electrics
Almost Dry Lake Down
Pinhurst road stop
The road ahead of us
The road behind us
The above pictures were taken at the first stop on Pinehurst road (I think). Dick tried to get us together for a group shot but it didn’t happen. It would have to wait until the Sunol Water Temple stop seen in the next set of pictures.
Sunol Water temple
Sunol Water temple
Sunol Water temple
Sunol Water Temple
Bikes at the Water temple
At Sunol Water Temple
5 Riders_6 at breakfast
waterboy
mw riders
coffeemen
free coffee
This was the coffee stop after visiting the water temple. Free coffee tastes good. Freshly brewed free coffee tastes better. Too bad Chris got the dregs from the previous pot.
The Calaveras Road stop gave us a chance to find skulls of small animals, the remains of what could have been a road side oil change, and used condoms. Apparently Dick has an affinity for such trash… all was found within 10 feet of his bike.
Calaveras Reservoir
real
Neat Road Find Anything
Caleveras Road stop
Caleveras Road
pigs or cattle
hondaharley
I rode ahead when Chris stopped to take some pictures as we were coming down Sierra Rd. That gave me a chance to take some action shots as the group rode by before hopping on the freeway and heading home.
San Jose 3 Miles Distant
So End SF Bay
10X Pic from SJ Hills
He can smile, my bike
Rd Hight Rt, San Jose lft
MWR riders
Chris
Bill
Eric
Dick