Mid-Week Rides: Lake Hennessey, Middletown, Kelseyville, Hopland, and home

13 March 2008

WWWobble writes:

WWWobble was not the latest to arrive for breakfast at the Seal Rock Inn up the hill from the Cliff House in SF. That honor goes to Simon who arrived moments after WWWobble to join for breakfast, but not for the ride. Erik never arrived at all, so technically he’s still late. Seal Rock is a good meeting venue, great service, room to stash gear, and reasonable prices.

From SF, thru the Presidio, onto GGB under low clouds and reasonably light traffic. Thru the Waldo tunnel, clearing sky, progressively lighter traffic and, uh oh, is that my fuel gauge flashing? I’m a big believer in arriving for rides with full fuel aboard and here’s why. Whenever you are the only rider who needs fuel, and two guys are standing there watching, making “helpful” suggestions, that WILL be the time the damn fuel dispenser won’t dispense. Marc and the Captain are dispensing all right. Cameras are out. Oh great! The credit card is good. “Please wait.” Try it again. “Please wait.” NO! No more waiting! Roll to another pump. At least it’s working, but my 3 minute pit stop cost 15 minutes and considerable abuse.

So, we’re on our way. Up the 101, Black Point Cut off, heading towards Sears Point to meet other riders eager to join this MWR. The Captain signals a left turn for the Raceway entrance and then proceeds down the highway. Since I was using mine, [it’s a good habit you know], I proceeded with the turn as indicated, into the Raceway assembly area, along with Marc, to discover no riders eager to join this MWR.
Of course the Captain knew this already which is why he kept going, still an indicated turn should be an executed turn, the only exception being when left on unintentionally, but, well, that’s a different issue.

Now we are rolling, up Hwy 121 toward Glenn Ellen where the Captain has found another large truck to follow, but this one entertains us by locking his trailer brakes, and then is unable to unlock them. Ah, the smell of burnt rubber. Great stuff. On thru Glen Ellen, onto Hwy 12, over the Oakville Grade into Napa Valley. Around Lake Hennessey, Chiles and Pope Valley, past Litto’s Hubcap Ranch (no mag wheels yet), into Middletown for coffee (thank you WWWobble), then over Cobb Mountain into Kelseyville for lunch (thank you Marco) and then the Hopland Grade to 101. You’d think the ride was over, but no, The Captain finds Mountain House Road to 128 (thank you Captain), 128 to 101 at Cloverdale, then Westside Road at Healdsburg, to Sebastopol, into Petaluma and over the GGB with 14 minutes to spare.

Nice weather, good roads, light traffic, no mechanicals or performance citations – a great way to spend a day MidWeek.

WWWobble