As Bill CC's It
the First Step
                                                                                                     

Map to lunch

Map from lunch

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Route to lunch

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This ride starts off as many as Bill CC’s it rides do heading out through Tilden Park and connecting to HWY 80 via Cummings Skyway and we head to Napa. We next ride out HWY 121 (an awesome little stretch of road) to HWY 128 many of you will recognize this road from our ride Spiritual Awakening. It’s a quick right onto Lower Chiles Valley Rd followed by another right to Chiles Pope Valley. Then it’s as simple as right onto Pope Valley Rd which changes into Butts Canyon Rd and right on SR-29. By now it’s been over 100 miles of riding and we’ll take a lunch break in Clear lake.

 

After lunch we’re off SR-53 to right SR-20 and another right at SR-16. We arrive t Wilbur Springs (the half way point) and here the Tahoe group takes off for home. After saying goodbye we’re off again and at County Road 40 [Rayhouse Rd] we take a right. And head back towards Lake Berryessa by taking a left on Morgan Valley Berryessa Knoxville Rd. right on Pope Canyon Rd and back into St Helena and home,

             



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



Highway 121  aka Monticello Road
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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!

Road condition is excellent except for a couple bumps in the corners, as always, watch the gravel in the corners.  Not to mention the blind corners and the idiots cutting into your lane.  The pavement runs (from Napa) up, down, back and forth as it winds up and over MT George (elev. 1877 ft.) and then up to Lake Berryessa in a narrow green canyon.  In the middle of this is Wooden Valley Rd (see below) which intersects and heads back to I-80.
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Highway 128
Sage Canyon Road




Power up the hill and pray you don't hit traffic in this short twisty section of very high speed curves which includes a 50+mph hairpin (not many of those around).  At the top of the hill is a small parking lot to check out the dam.		 The image “http://asbillccsit.org/road_pics/hwy128e-1.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.
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Lower Chiles Valley road



Chiles Pope Valley Road
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Headed north, the Chiles Pope Valley Road weaves back and forth gently cut into the hillside in a high speed relaxed ride across an endless stream of wineries.






A beautiful tunnel of trees beside the requisite stream and on up the hill you go with some really great pavement.  Cheek hangin' lean weaving back and forth on high speed corners.  No switchbacks here, this is just full tilt on up the valley.		 The image “http://asbillccsit.org/road_pics/chilespope2.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.


Butts Canyon RD
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Butts Canyon Road flows out of town and leaves civilization behind.  The ride is easy and smooth past ranchland and plenty of cows.  Homes are actually somewhat sparse while the pavement in the first portion is quite good.  No crazy corners to expect.

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ClearLake
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Main Street Cafe [14084 Lakeshore Dr, Clearlake, CA 95422,
(707) 994-6450
Lunch break in Clearlake
 Tahoe group breaks off and heads to Tahoe
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Morgan Valley RD
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the spray paint was
suggestive only

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DAM!!
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Triumphant as
usual
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Moto Gutzi








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When traction is sparse,
 the probability of survival
 is inversely proportional
 to the angle of lean.
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this is the only way
we could get James
to take a bath
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the road less traveld




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here they come
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wades through
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  makes it look
easy





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Learn from the mistakes
 of others. You won't live
 long enough to make
all of them yourself.
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cats don't usually like
the water