as Bill CC's it
a Vision for You

Get ready, this is another long one but it's well worth it. We'll head out HWY 80 through Vallejo into Napa via HWY 37.  We'll top off our tanks, then drop down HWY 121 towards Lake Berryessa and a quick left onto HWY 128. We're just getting warmed up! keep your eyes open, just over that narrow bridge is Chiles Pope Valley RD and it's a hard right watch for the ride leader here. This leads onto Pope valley rd which turns into Butts canyon RD. AT Middletown HWY 29 we make a left and a quick right onto HWY 175. You're going to like this road. we start to really twist up into the hills. Then down into lakeport / Clearlake for lunch and fuel. The best is yet to come, we Leave Clearlake on HWY 175 up and over the mountain and down into Hopland a great ride! Through town we find Mountain house RD. a great little fun road. 10 miles and we're turning left on HWY 128 and maybe the best part. As we enter Booneville were going to find Mountain View road and turn left and get ready. It'll start out a little small but it's going to open up and it's fun. Just when you start to get the hang of this road we're at HWY 1 on the coast. Fuel and rest stop in Point Arena and down one we go!

A ride inspired by one of our own

This isn’t a race; though to the untrained eye, it may on occasion appear otherwise. We travel at a brisk pace that an experienced rider should enjoy. But don’t worry there’s room for less seasoned riders. We always wait at ALL turns on the ride route for the group to re-form and verify we haven’t lost anybody. Individually, we should always travel at a pace that’s within our capabilities and comfort level for the current conditions. If you’re holding someone up, don’t stress, we’re all friends. WAIT for a straight away and wave them past. If someone is holding you up IN THE CORNERS, Wait and give them a little space, than pass them safely in the straight.

    

			Here in the Napa Valley, there are many, many roads in this area north of San Francisco and due west of Sacramento.  Much of it is crowded and congested as the area grows faster than the roads have room for.  Several roads are intense though, especially for sportbikes.  For cruisers, the area is wonderful to kick back and just ride. Hwy 121, east of Napa, on the map looks like any other little line.  Only a short ride of about 12 miles, yet it's one that will leave you exhilarated!

			An off day = Road all to yourself!
	the road is a screaming up and over 20 minute ride up to Hwy 128 that will have you whooping and hollering with the adrenaline pumping through your veins.  I will never forget the very first time I rode this after years of riding past it across Hwy 128.

The entire ride looks like this!

riding this full tilt is the ultimate thrill.

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"The Phenomenal Ride!!" This 17- mile up and over ride connects Clear Lake and Hopland. While you will have to gamble with all the traffic- if you do get lucky enough to ride in-between the traffic- this is a phenomenal ride and one you must put under your belt.

We're spoiled- Aren't we

For those of us who live-work-play in Northern California- we are a bit spoiled to have an area like this is our backyard.  I doubt we really appreciate what wondrous roads we have and Highway 175 is the perfect example of this.  What we Californians don't realize is that this terrain style is actually quite rare and not found anywhere else within the United States.  The range between Hopland and Clear Lake is called the Rock Mountain Ridgeline.  Another north-south mountain range with low elevations and sparse populace.  However, on either side of the range are multitudes of people- especially on the east side along the borders of Clear Lake- one of the few spring-fed natural lakes here in California. The lake is about twenty miles long and six miles wide and about 70 miles of riding to circumvent around it.

 

 

Nowadays, Clear Lake as you might guess is a major population center and I would suggest that if you are traveling east-west, ride under the lake if you are in a hurry.  Highway 20 across the top of the lake is slow.

 

The Area:   If you are well traveled throughout the Rock Mountain Ridgeline (which runs north-south)- It does start to all look the same- a function of elevation- as to what the terrain, vegetation, and temperature will be like.  The uniqueness of this area of California is a combination of climate- being close to the ocean (less than 100 miles away)- and of course elevation. Mountains that crest at 2000, 3000, and top out at 4000 feet create these wondrous rides for us that we take for granted.  It's the non-Californians- those who have heard of our wealth of amazing motorcycle specific roads that are truly amazed. We just all take it in stride. Oh yeah- another great road.

 

Nonstop corners- Yeah we got those!

The allure of Hwy 175 is its placement on the map. It's by all means a connector- a shortcut- a quick up and over from point A to B.  A way to get from one valley to the next. And while it isn't all that long- say less than 20 miles- it has some amazing curves if you can manage to muster a speed that'll get the blood plumping and your adrenaline level rising (in-between the cars that is). The Ride: In one quick left-right-left S curve- If I would've ridden straight- I'd have ridden right off into the canyon- a zillion feet below.  Think of the ride like that.  See the pic at left- Need I say more? Great views- but keep your eyes on the road.

Leave Boonville westward at Highway 128 and ride past the quaint little high school, the tiny airport runway- and up the hill in a bumpy one lane wild, tossing and rocking affair- this is what you expected right?  Up the hill in a 26% grade- steep- love that elevation change. While I expected this ride to be wild, patched and bumpy all the way to the ocean- if you ride it westbound - the road condition actually improves.

 

One lane bridge

Ride past the small park in a grove of Redwoods- do stop here if you need a break to stretch your legs on your ride- this is definitely the best place to relax along this stretch of road.  Over a one lane bridge and then up the hill. The first time through here I admit was rather slow

 

Break in the trees reveals this scene

 

Shadowed from the sun

The Mountain View You get a nonstop shot-in-the-arm dosage of intense picturebook vistas. These roads ride up to the top of the mountain and there you sit- staring off in amazement across the coastal mountains.  While much of the view is through the trees as the ride hugs the mountain side. Occasionally you may get a section in which you can see for some distance- the pictures here for example.

 

Another thing to be mindful of is when the foliage is so thick- you have to be ready if you're like me and like to wear a dark shield instead of sunglasses on a bright day.  Several 180 degree corners I found myself hurtling into and I could not see through the shade over the road.  An adrenalized handful of front brake to scrub some speed in a hurry and then into the corner.  Yet, if you lift the shield- you're going to get pelted in the face with bugs. Sometimes they can be so thick in these forests- I can feel them pinging off my helmet and leathers.  So raising the shield to negotiate these dark shaded areas may not always be a very good idea- especially if you don't have anything to cover your eyes.  Slowing down might work a lot better.

 

Looking off to the right

 

It has happened more than once that I've gotten a bug in my eye and had to slam on the brakes and peel my helmet off to get my eye working again.  Ah, the joys of motorcycling.  The bug in the ear also sucks. (Ever seen the several second clip of Jim Carrey in the movie Me, Myself & Irene- he's riding the motorcycle and covered in bugs…)

The homestead with the best view

 

I for one am always impressed by the little homesteads.  The tiny farms, the cows grazing alongside the road, the horses lazily swishing the fly and the patches of green hillside colliding with a carpet of green leafy trees.  Elevation has a lot to do the vegetation and I am always in awe of the greenery as you get closer to the ocean. This is a fun road to ride in either direction.  I have done both and even once rode Mountain View Rd in the pouring rain- that admittedly was not fun.  Another wild thing about this road is it has a 16% grade on either side much to the excitement of the motorcyclist but much to the chagrin of the bicyclists who traverse this ride.  Headed inland is probably the faster ride- many of the left-right-lefts you can see straight through and since this sightline equals more speed- you may find yourself riding the roller coaster.

Coming down the hill to Highway 1

Hmm, Which direction....

Once you've ridden it at least once- you get an idea of what to expect and can ride at a little more brisk pace- this I have to admit is wildly great fun.  Yeah, it's bumpy- but you let the suspension absorb the bumps and ride the rollercoaster. If you have a smaller displacement bike or lightweight bike- you will love this road.