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ADV/DS ride Lake Berryessa/Knoxville OHV/Rayhouse Rd.

Well, after rushing home 'cause I thought I had to, I found that other people had changed their plans (instead of me for a change) and I was home alone...well not completely alone 'cause there was a nice note from a female person who shares my life pointing to a nice bit of Shepard's Pie in the cold box.

So, I was able to give the bike a bit of care in the form of a quick rinse-off, chain clean and lube and air filter clean/oil.

That was followed by a nice hot shower, then the Shepard's Pie accompanied by a large Boddintons. So, now I'm sitting here with an Irish Coffee reflecting on the day.

Obigatory low quality mobile phone photo from the dam:

1110131254-00_zps17723c44.jpg


For a day that started with nobody but Scott and I (well and maybe Paul who was having difficulty committing), we ended up with Seven riders.

Which reminds me....Seven is also the capacity of the fuel tank on Dmitriy's KTM. We all heard the number 7 quite a few times today. And, enough of that "aww shucks - big toe in the sand" thing, Dmitriy, you can ride that bike just fine...even when it wants to lead with the rear wheel.

Crazybrother(and here's another story)George brought up a beautiful plated 450 Honda that we didn't see much of...well at least I didn't riding clean-up in the back. He swears it's all totally legal but after his fender bag fell off the bike (for the third time, I think) I'm pretty sure I spotted a voodoo doll wearing a DMV shirt peeking out from the corner of the pack.

So a few observations from the rear:

...If you want an exciting ride, stay behind Cabin Cruiser. The only feral herbivore that we encountered all day let 4 riders go by before deciding to dash across the road right in front of Scott. Couple that with the CHP encounter some months ago and you know following him will NOT be boring

...Quad riders (and I use the term loosely) certainly do not feel the need to yield even a few inches of roadway when oncoming....what is up with THAT.

...Everyone was very competent today with no falls and only a few brief incidents with that tail swapping KTM.

... Paul is the happiest guy on a 250 that I've ever seen. Always willing to ride it to wherever....Reno was it?

... Scott, Hope you enjoyed Sand Creek Road. Apologies for the dust. The road is almost worth the drone down 99 down south.

... Oh yeah....Dmitriy has a 7 gallon tank

That's all until December. Maybe we'll have some water in the creeks and a few locked gates to make things more interesting.
 
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Had a fantastic time. Road 41 was great even with the dust and more atv's. Amazing views of the valley. Everyone road really well. I feel like I become a better ride every time I ride with the group. Hope to be able to go next month. Will try and post video. I really hope I got some of the oh sh•• moments.
 
Had a fantastic time. Road 41 was great even with the dust and more atv's. Amazing views of the valley. Everyone road really well. I feel like I become a better ride every time I ride with the group. Hope to be able to go next month. Will try and post video. I really hope I got some of the oh sh•• moments.
 
That's just Cabin Cruiser's way of proving that he really IS computer challenged.

Right now he's wondering how he doubleposted.


Scott...I'm really glad I spotted those two Quad jerkoffs coming up the hill before we met them mid corner (with them totally sidways thinking that they are the only ones on the road).

I think I'm developing a simmering dislike for Quad users (you're not a RIDER unless your machine falls over without you holding it up when it stops).
 
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I'm home! Thank you ALL for such an amazing & fun ride! My ass is still puckered to 11 from my rear trying to outrun that front! Only casualty of the ride was my trail light socket that needed some adjustment to make sure the light worked on the way home!

I really want to come back when its a bit more damp out! :drool:Port :rolleyes
 
Glad everyone made it back safely. It was fun riding/meeting all you guy's... Oh guess what, my fender pack fell off... again on Morgan valley road... I'll fix that for the next ride. Funny you mention a couple of Quadtards... We saw a couple too, on our little jaunt/exploration trip... But they weren't an issue. Drew and I found some fun singletrack and awesome views from the peaks just south from where we left you guy's. It was an extra 14 miles of fireroad that led to a deadend, (no gate) as was mentioned by one of the other riders...
Here are a couple of pics:












Where we split up.




From on top of the ridge.




Lake Berryessa in the background.


Looking West.


Looking North.




And where the road ended. There was a hiking trail that said Cache Creek 8.1 miles...
 
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That's very odd. I distinctly remember that road winding through a nice stand of short black oak, dropping down into a little valley and ending at a gate.

I'll have to go back down there to discover what's wrong with my HD.

Also, Drew was carrying enough for an overnight campout. I kept forgetting (see memory) to ask him why?

Thanks for the photos and map.
 
Glad I finally was able to make it out on one of these rides again. Great group and hopefully I can come next time
 
Also, Drew was carrying enough for an overnight campout. I kept forgetting (see memory) to ask him why?

LOL yeah, I'm prepping for the LA Barstow Vegas ride. I heard it's really cold in the morning then really hot by noon so I wanted to see if I could carry all my cold winter gear with me comfortably. The small blanket is for insecurity (like Lionel from Peanuts) :laughing Just kidding, it's to lay out if I need to change a tube... don't like my bearings etc full of dirt.

Hey George, the video came out pretty good. I put it on CD if you want to swing by for a copy.

Awesome time riding with everyone, see you at the next one. :ride
 
That's very odd. I distinctly remember that road winding through a nice stand of short black oak, dropping down into a little valley and ending at a gate.

I'll have to go back down there to discover what's wrong with my HD.

Also, Drew was carrying enough for an overnight campout. I kept forgetting (see memory) to ask him why?

Thanks for the photos and map.

Ray, I think you may have taken one of the right turns off the main road... By looking at the Google Map it seems there was another route about 2 miles in...
 
Nope, finally remembered.

It was the road that goes left (rather than the right that we took) at the first intersection on the FIRST off-road loop that we did.

I had to study google earth (fantastic thing that) to remember.

Apologies for misleading you two but it looks like you had fun anyway.
 
Dru,

I use a Gerbing heated jacket. Not too much bulk and really warm.

I'm sure the DR could handle the electrical load.

I also have heated gloves.

Both are available to you if you want to borrow them for the B to V ride. The jacket would probably fit...the gloves may be too big (2XL).
 
+1 on the heated vest and I'd say run a wool underlayer to block out some more of the wind. With those two you'd be good, then you can unplug or take it off as the weather gets warmer with out needing 5+ layers
 
Dru,

I use a Gerbing heated jacket. Not too much bulk and really warm.

I'm sure the DR could handle the electrical load.

I also have heated gloves.

Both are available to you if you want to borrow them for the B to V ride. The jacket would probably fit...the gloves may be too big (2XL).

Thanks for the offer, I've definitely thought of going that route but I don't want to deal with that much electrical stuff and it's just one more thing that can go wrong. I do a lot of moto camping (even middle of winter) and have found layering is the best for me because I can sleep in the same gear that I rode in and layer according to the temp. Everything I have is full zip off (even my thermal insulating long johns/pants that I put over my motocross pants) so I can adjust with the temp when riding without having to take off my boots. The electrical stuff can be heavy to... I know the back pack looks heavy but it's not... It's all just fluffy insulating layers etc. That day it also looked extra big since I had my Subway sandwich that I never ate and a Churchill cigar I was going to burn down but I ran into you guys instead! :ride

BTW if anyone is interested in doing the Rayhouse route on a Saturday afternoon then camp over night let me know. It's fun to head up there and explore from base camp. We could meet up with the other group riders the next day on Sunday. I usually camp at the little lake at the top of Rayhouse/Fiske Creek Rd. I haul up enough water for drinking/cooking (mini alcohol stove & freeze dried food) but then filter the lake water for cleaning/washing. It'd be fun to put together a group ride/camp. Camping makes adventure riding more... "adventurous" :teeth
 
Dru, that sounds like fun to me. Moto camping is one of my absolute favorite things.
 
Dru, that sounds like fun to me. Moto camping is one of my absolute favorite things.

Awesome, let's see how many others are interested... maybe tentatively plan something in the next few months. Gate might be closed but we can help the bigger bikes around if needed. Although I just remembered me and my wife are expecting the first week in January so it might be hard for me to get away depending on the actual birth date. For me I'm thinking the second Saturday/Sunday in March. The road will be nice and gnarly by then and plenty of new/fresh water in the lake. I would go the second Saturday/Sunday in December but I think I'll want a break after doing the La Barstow Vegas ride.
 
Oh Yeah

Count me in for the moto-camp.

I can bring the big bike and come up from the east side where gate are not a problem.

Keep me posted on dates.
 
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