Thursday, Jan 2 2014
Chris writes
Six early risers met for breakfast at Pete’s Henny Penny this morning (1/2/14), Rob Hyman (Marco’s youngest brother), Don Theile, Randy Hendricks, Simon Hanson, Brent Hansen and yours truly, Chris Weld. This ride was planned for the benefit of Simon who, alas, is not yet retired. Rob Hyman was between jobs but only able to ride to breakfast.
Five stalwart riders hit the road. They jogged, left, then right, then left and eventually found themselves riding past the USGS training facility en route to Two Rock. They wended their way for Tomales and turned west for Dillon Beach but prior to arrival, turned north for Valley Ford. They rode Joy Road up into the redwoods and turned west on Coleman Valley for California’s scenic coastal route, CA Hwy# 1. The presence of the ocean dictated a turn and north it was. The group rode for and through Jenner at the mouth of the Russian River, where people were watching a large shovel open the sandbar for salmon wanting to spawn. (For those not in the know, we are ‘parched’ out here with only 18% of normal rainfall to date.) Today’s temps rose into the mid 60’s along the ocean and one could see ‘forever’.
Once through Jenner we climbed the spectacular hills and once at the top (for Hwy’#1), turned NW to climb some more on Meyer’s Grade. We worked out way up to just outside the two-building community of Plantation and opted to climb some more, this time for Tin Barn Road and eventually reached the Stewarts Point-Healdsburg Road where we turned toward ‘home’ (read ‘east’). We did backroads (Eastside, Westside, Wohler [across the Russian river]) for gas in Forestville. Don Theile (married), had to dash for home given the current cost of divorce while Brent Hansen said there’s this great diner down the road in Sebastapol, Mr. D’s Diner. This had the ‘ring’ of reality as Brent lives in Sebastopol so it was agreed, new leader Brent Hansen. (It’s noted that Brent, recognizing Don’s wisdom, called Sue, his housemate to meet at D’s Diner. She did; we did.
It was all Hwy #121 to Stoney Point Rd, which we left just prior to our breakfast meeting place and shot home for the Golden Gate Bridge via US Hwy. #101.
It was a great ride, with great company this in spite of the MIA’s (wwwobble, Marco, Zunkel, Smith and Hampton) to name but a few.
Chris rolled-in having knocked-down 261 miles on day. There are only a few pictures given the absence of our many photographers, that and loss of battery power for Chris. Oh well! Next time..
Pictures from Chris
E/R Tomales
E/R Tomales#2
#$%$ Sun
CA Hwy#1
Had the world to ourselves
Stretch-Coleman Valley
Carmet (end of Coleman Vly Rd)
Stretch (above Plantation)