4th Annual B4thesnowflies ride, Nov. 1/2 SouthSierras

[GTS_Rider]

Ok, looks like the majority that responded are in for Nov. 1/2 so now that's the official dates.

Here's most of the details:

Official Hotel for Saturday night is the Comfort Inn: http://www.sequoiahotel.com/

Official Restaurant for Saturday night eats is Serrano's Mexican Restuarant.
http://gts-rider.info/serranos.jpg

It's across the street and a block up from the hotel. Settle in, put on comfortable
clothes and walk to dinner. I'll be giving them the heads up advance notice
on the numbers as the date gets closer.

Details for Socal Saturday Ride Up:

Meet at 14/Sand Canyon Denny's for breakfast at 7:30 am. Kickstands up at 8:30.

The big building square in the middle of this shot is where the dennys is: http://tinyurl.com/3mjbl5


Here's the Saturday route from Denny's to 3 Rivers: http://tinyurl.com/5dhjk7

If the weather cooperates and we get to run the big group ride on Sunday here's what's the plan. A/B/C is the group part. C is the lunch stop. NorCal riders can escape North after lunch on Dunlap Rd., it doesn't suck, unless you're opposed to 100 turns in a few miles of road...

http://tinyurl.com/6lo4tt

Here's last year's thread:

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,14202.0.html




 

[GTS_Rider]

Geez, don't all reply at once, it makes the thread sooo confusing.
I know some of you are likely mulling it over. I'm working the LABiker crowd for this one on the SoCal end. I seem to remember SoCal beat NorCal for attendance last year.

Here's a couple of quotes and a pic from last year that might spur you into the commitment range...

"I'm planning a ride and you're a pussy asshat if you don't come!  And if you say you're going to be there and you flake, I'll pipe bomb your house."  Ed/Goldylocks

"Anyways, this is a posted ride, and thus a good excuse to 'plan' for some 'actual' sport-touring. End of the season for the destination. What more do you need? Come on you lurkers, suck it up and ride!" Me/GTS_Rider

Come on NorCal, you know you want to. Favorite NorCal rider's pic from last year:

[DogBoy]

Here's my usual "interested but unable to commit" reply.  

[Orson]

"Anyways, this is a posted ride, and thus a good excuse to 'plan' for some 'actual' sport-touring. End of the season for the destination.

California has a season?    

[DogBoy]

California has a season?    

The SoCal guys think so.

[GTS_Rider]

California has a season?    

Yes, but you need to ride to experience the seasons. My spring ride took me from 100+ degrees in L.A. and Central Valley to getting snowed on in Walker on 395 and going over Monitor Pass. All in the space of a week. Also, the first time in something like 15 years it rained in Porterville on Memorial Day Weekend.
Riding is like a box of chocolates...yeah, you know the rest...

[M.Brane]

Who's interested? How about Nov. 1st/2nd ?

 

 I could be in for this if the bike holds up. I'm currently scheduled to be kidless that weekend.

[ScottysB12]

i could be in for the 1st...wifes bday on the 2nd....

[JoelCool]

Waiting to get my (MSF) teaching schedule... and the all clear from the Events Coordinator.

[Tar Snake]

California has a season?    

Four actually: Fire, Flood, Earthquake, Drought  

[jpred]

Just got back from John Day and i'm ready for another one. Put me on the list.

[M.Brane]

 I was just informed that my kid has football every Sat. from now until mid November. I would probably ride up with the SoCal crew, bug out into Visalia for the game, then rejoin at Three Rivers for the evening's festivities, and the Sunday ride.

 Now all I gotta do is get my tank fixed before then. It's leaking again. My soldering job didn't hold.

 Time to bust out with the sheet metal, and the MIG. Screw the paint. I'll ride it primered if I have to.

[goldylocks303]

Out.  I was looking forward to this too     My girlfriend and I are celebrating our anniversary a bit late so that weekend is totally out.  Ya'll have fun now, ya'hear.  

eD

[bluepoof]

Ooh, I'm in! I was just thinking about this ride the other day.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

considering it... let me check with Bombauer  

[bluepoof]

Here are a couple of my pics from last year's ride.  

Mooo!



San Joaquin River:



Bikes at the hotel:



The big middle finger of Sunday's weather:



Bear Mountain Pizza at Squaw Valley:



I met friends on my detour home:



A nice road my GPS found for me:

[Explorer]

I might make this ride

[Bombauer]

considering it... let me check with Bombauer  

Hey don't make me 'that guy'!  

It looks like I'm gonna need some decent rain gear.  Or some garbage bags.

[DogBoy]

Hey don't make me 'that guy'!  

It looks like I'm gonna need some decent rain gear.  Or some garbage bags.

Decent rain gear will work better but won't look as cool.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

It looks like I'm gonna need some decent rain gear.  Or some garbage bags.

... it sounds like you're interested in going  

[GTS_Rider]

Hey don't make me 'that guy'!  

Eh, too late. Don't be a pussy!  

Anyway, updated the top of the thread to make the dates official and posted the intended Sunday NorCal/SoCal group part of the ride. Last year the week before the 10/11th was 80 degrees and sunny. So I moved it back a week for this year. Likely I fooked myself and it will be the reverse this year. Eh, still good-times last year, so I'm not too worried on how it turns out. It's all good!

[GTS_Rider]

Too be more specific, here's the proposed combined Nor/Socal bit for Sunday in more of a zoomed view. It's picking up 245 all the way and then down to Cedar Grove Kings Cyn., then back out via Hume Lake and back down 245 a bit just south of Badger for lunch.

Socal participants will escape down Dry Creek on exit route, and like I said I encourage Norcal's to brave Dunlap Rd on the NorthWest track...


http://tinyurl.com/6lo4tt

[bluepoof]

Woohoo, Peter and I are in for sure!   We're considering taking two days to get there as a little mini-vacation    and would then ride with everyone on Sunday.

[M.Brane]

 Are we really slabbin' it all the way to 198?

 Yeah I know 65 isn't slab, but it's still boring/straight/LEO infested. It's not even scenic this time of year.

[GTS_Rider]

 Are we really slabbin' it all the way to 198?

 Yeah I know 65 isn't slab, but it's still boring/straight/LEO infested. It's not even scenic this time of year.

I didn't know it was scenic any time of the year.  

No slab on Saturday Route up : http://tinyurl.com/5dhjk7

Maybe some slab on the last half of Sunday back: http://tinyurl.com/5tm73f

By the time we do the Kings Cyn yoyo and have lunch I figure folks will want to make some time getting home on Sunday eve. Though I maybe open to hitting some more twists on the way out, depending on how much time left in the day...

[M.Brane]

 Ah, that's more like it. Got any idea on a departure time? I got's a schedule to keep ya' know.

 65 is scenic in the spring when everything's nice 'n green, but it's still boring/straight/LEO infested.

[ScottysB12]

why ya gotta bag on the fastest way from porterville to bakersfield?
65 is lovely ...where else can you see 150,000 acres of orange trees, some of the worst smog in the country and get to hwys 198, 190, and 155?

[GTS_Rider]

 Ah, that's more like it. Got any idea on a departure time? I got's a schedule to keep ya' know. ...

Meet at 14/Sand Canyon Denny's for breakfast at 7:30 am. Kickstands up at 8:30.

Same as last year's schedule, only this year we have one more hour of daylight, so we might actually arrive before the sunset.

Last year I believe we were all done with breakfast and ready to go by 8:15, but I held off departure till 8:30 as stated. I will do the same this year. Though, if you show at 8:35, don't expect to see anybody.

Breakfast is encouraged, whether you eat at home or at Denny's (though the Dennys meet is a good chance to meet your new riding buddies before the ride). There is no official lunch stop for the ride up. There will be one extended break before we hit 155 at Lake Isabella where you can get gas-station snacks like corn-dogs ect.

The big building square in the middle of this shot is where the dennys is: http://tinyurl.com/3mjbl5

[GTS_Rider]

why ya gotta bag on the fastest way from porterville to bakersfield?...

Because it's radar alley and there's too many breaks in traffic to hide behind cagers all the way. Plus there's no median wall to prevent CHP's to flip a U and chase you down in an instant.

[M.Brane]

Though, if you show at 8:35, don't expect to see anybody.

 Yeah you'll probably be halfway to Spunky by then.

 I'll have to break off probably around 155. Gotta be in Visalia at noon. Does that sound about right for somebody as slow as me?

[ScottysB12]

depending on which way you GET to visalia you willbe fine....

[M.Brane]

 I've never been through that area (Isabella) so I'm just making a WAG. Knowing Rick's pace we should be there around 10:30 I would think. I'll just have to play it by ear, and make a beeline for the 99 when time gets tight. I can make good time there even if it is boring.

[GTS_Rider]

 I've never been through that area (Isabella) so I'm just making a WAG. Knowing Rick's pace we should be there around 10:30 I would think. I'll just have to play it by ear, and make a beeline for the 99 when time gets tight. I can make good time there even if it is boring.

My pace has nothing to do with it. This is my version of a 'group ride' , though the slinky-effect will be in place for for the faster bits, we'll be waiting at the major turns for a full group re-collect several times along the way.

My version of a group ride differs from the the cruiser rider version. In that, everyone rides their own ride though I make every effort to not get anyone lost. IE, the actual riding part is not actually in a group. This brings in my previous comment about the slinky-effect. What this basically means is when a turn is made, the last rider that arrives at the turn where the previous few riders left waits for following riders to show the way. In otherwords I lead the ride, but leave it to following riders to look out for the following riders behind them.

As such, there's no telling a time schedue. It depends on the riders that attend. Though, I encourage even newbies to attend the ride, because we're still likely to kill 300 miles by sunset even with the slowest riders in attendance.

If you push back your Visalia arrival to 1-2 pm, I think you can run 155 out from Isabella to 99 and burn it up there in that time-frame. From past experience, a 12pm arrival is overly optimistic.
(Don't let the light-mileage fool ya, there's too many serious twists and turns to count along the way...)

[M.Brane]

 I'm just teasin' you a bit. I know how your rides work, and they work well.

 My ex was supposed to send me the football schedule today. She sent me the email, but no attachment. Hopefully game time is later so I won't have to bug out too early.

 I'm definitely in for Sat. night, and Sunday though.

[bajajoaquin]

Call me "dense," but I'm not sure I get the schedule. It starts from somewhere in LA on Saturday morning. We ride 300+ miles to a place to spend the night. Then ride home Sunday?

[M.Brane]

 That is correct. I don't know how much of the Sat. ride I'll be able to run due to scheduling conflicts ( I'll definitely hit breakfast, and the first few roads) but my room is already booked for Sat. night. From then on I'm a free man.

[GTS_Rider]

Call me "dense," but I'm not sure I get the schedule. It starts from somewhere in LA on Saturday morning. We ride 300+ miles to a place to spend the night. Then ride home Sunday?

Yeah. I updated the top of the thread with all the details for the Saturday ride for SoCal departees.

[Viffer Vern]

You can possibly count me in as a definite maybe on this one.

[bluepoof]

Anyone else from NorCal going?  

[DogBoy]

I'm 90% sure I'm attending and bringing my ST.N lurker pal, ratpick.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Anyone else from NorCal going?  

Its on our calendar  

[jpred]

I'm in.

[Explorer]

More than likely I will be there to Should I plan a fun route?

[Chronic]

Oooooh!!   I could meet up with y'all and potentially put less than 45 miles on me M'cycle.  

All these roads from Hwy155 and north are VERY familiar to Jamileh and I.  Shoot, we'd be riding around up there no matter if'n y'all be coming or not.   If some of you Nor Cal riders want to bomb down to Visalia on friday, I'm sure we could find something comfortable for sleepage.   We could bop around some various foothill twisties and meet up with the So Cal contingent at Kernville, or Glennville, or Lake Isabella, or some such place there abouts.  Well, anyway that'll probably be our plan.

[bluepoof]

Should I plan a fun route?

Nah, let's do a boring route.

(though, again, we'll be meeting you guys there on Sat night...but we'll ride home with the rest of the NorCal group on Sunday! )

[DogBoy]

Just reserved my room.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Just reserved my room.  

Ooo - that's probably a good idea...  

[GTS_Rider]

Just reserved my room.  

Ohhhh, I'm impressed.  

No, wait, I'm shocked!  

Looking forward to seeing you and Ratpick.  

[DogBoy]

Ohhhh, I'm impressed.  

No, wait, I'm shocked!  

Looking forward to seeing you and Ratpick.  

I was afraid you would have a bad reaction. Will someone check on Rick over the next couple of days to make sure he recovers?

[GTS_Rider]

I was afraid you would have a bad reaction. Will someone check on Rick over the next couple of days to make sure he recovers?

Heh, just back from a 7 day road-blast. Did Heinee tell you about spotting me at the gas station in Walker as he streamed by in a cage with his new g-friend?

Here's my Part 1 / Part 2 route.

http://tinyurl.com/4xztbr

http://tinyurl.com/5ylmv9

[M.Brane]

 How many tires?

[GTS_Rider]

 How many tires?

 

Well, I had fresh tires with 10 miles on 'em when I left last Saturday. Pilot Road 2 up front and Conti Road Attack out back. I *almost* made it. Had to replace the rear in Hollister 1 day from the finish @ 2150 miles.  

Though, I'm impressed with the PR2, it's holding up nicely and looks like it'll make it for the b4tsfr...

[M.Brane]

 

Well, I had fresh tires with 10 miles on 'em when I left last Saturday. Pilot Road 2 up front and Conti Road Attack out back. I *almost* made it. Had to replace the rear in Hollister 1 day from the finish @ 2150 miles.  

Though, I'm impressed with the PR2, it's holding up nicely and looks like it'll make it for the b4tsfr...

You must be using a lot more throttle than brake.

[GTS_Rider]

Oooooh!!   I could meet up with y'all and potentially put less than 45 miles on me M'cycle.  

All these roads from Hwy155 and north are VERY familiar to Jamileh and I.  Shoot, we'd be riding around up there no matter if'n y'all be coming or not.   If some of you Nor Cal riders want to bomb down to Visalia on friday, I'm sure we could find something comfortable for sleepage.   We could bop around some various foothill twisties and meet up with the So Cal contingent at Kernville, or Glennville, or Lake Isabella, or some such place there abouts.  Well, anyway that'll probably be our plan.

Hope to see you along the way. If you want to plan to meet us near Woffard Heights, I'd guess something around 11:30. Can't remember if the gas stop is a Chevron/Mobil, etc., but it's the red-roofed place in the center of this map image...

http://tinyurl.com/43ala9

[JoelCool]

OK peeps, let's see 'em.

 

[Mrs. DantesDame]

OK peeps, let's see 'em.

 

 

[Chronic]

Hope to see you along the way. If you want to plan to meet us near Woffard Heights, I'd guess something around 11:30. Can't remember if the gas stop is a Chevron/Mobil, etc., but it's the red-roofed place in the center of this map image...

http://tinyurl.com/43ala9

Chevron, I believe.   We typically gass up there.  See ya there.

[bluepoof]

It's time for my annual "obsessively refresh accuweather.com about this ride" OCD!  

It's looking to be sunny and in the 60s the week before the ride.  

[JoelCool]

Never mind me... for some reason I thought it was the first weekend in Oct... I'll try to read more carefully in the future...  Sorrry.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Never mind me... for some reason I thought it was the first weekend in Oct... I'll try to read more carefully in the future...  Sorrry.

   This just means that you still have time to join us!

[DogBoy]

Never mind me... for some reason I thought it was the first weekend in Oct... I'll try to read more carefully in the future...  Sorrry.

Awww. Bummer. I'm putting together a pretty damn good route south if you can rearrange your schedule.

[JoelCool]

I'm teaching that weekend too.  The schedule was the first thing I checked when I realized my boo boo.  

Oh, I mean I'm coaching that weekend.  Wouldn't want to upset anyone by using the "T" word.  

[bluepoof]

accuweather.com claims "abundant sunshine" as far out as 10/22......

[GTS_Rider]

accuweather.com claims "abundant sunshine" as far out as 10/22......

Sweet!

Keep the reports coming!

 Though they're mostly meaningless, till about two or three days before the ride, they're still fun to read when the outlook is good.    

[GTS_Rider]

I finally booked my room last night. I took the last Handicap room. Is that wrong?

I'm thinking ground floor room plus extra amenities like a shower wand..

Hey, it was the same price and they didn't say what form of handicap. Mental or otherwise...  

[bluepoof]

Dood, no one wants to hear about your shower wand.  

FYI, the Sierra passes closed today...can we still call this ride "B4thesnowflies"?    (accuweather says sunny and 70 up through 10/25 now!)

[GTS_Rider]

Dood, no one wants to hear about your shower wand.  

You're not picturing it as I do...ground floor room, extra wide handicap doors, with the shower wand included I can pull my bike straight into the bathroom and give it a nice detail job  

FYI, the Sierra passes closed today...can we still call this ride "B4thesnowflies"?    (accuweather says sunny and 70 up through 10/25 now!)

Wow! I just got back from my California Loop tour a week ago. Did Monitor Pass and 88/Mormon Immigrant trail. The weather was balmy. Looked like we were a day ahead of a forthcoming storm as we left the Trinity Alps. Still, got coastal drizzle pissed on as we left south outta Fort Bragg till we gave up on the clearing and bailed from Stewarts Point into wine country. I'm kinda shocked the Northern Sierra passes are already closed. Most of our ride was in the low 90's and it was still 110 when we crossed Death Valley. It was two weeks ago when we left for that adventure...

Anycase, as I'm sure you know, the b4thesnowflies moniker refers mostly to a couple of roads included in this ride in the 'South Sierras' that are subject to winter closures. The first is Western Divide Hwy which leads to the mighty 190, some excellent riding closed for NorCals unless you're into insane mileage. The second is the road into Kings Cyn. which hopefully we do together on Sunday. All potential participants should be praying nightly to the weather Gods before you put your head to the the pillow.

I try to schedule this ride teetering on the edge of last chance. I'm feeling lucky....how about you?...

[heinee]

Dood, no one wants to hear about your shower wand.  

FYI, the Sierra passes closed today...can we still call this ride "B4thesnowflies"?    (accuweather says sunny and 70 up through 10/25 now!)

Yup. yesterday the new g-friend and I took her cage to see the fall colors change, and Monitor and Ebbetts Pass were closed. There was a car that had slid off into a ditch over Carson Pass. We had to re-route through S.Lake Tahoe to get home and it was snowing there as well. We saw a low temp reading on her cage's dash of 24deg.

There were some folks out riding and they weren't looking like they were having much fun..

[M.Brane]

 I rode up to Visalia Sat morning, and over 41 to Paso Robles in the afternoon. Hit some roads around PR this morning, then over 58 to 33, Cerro, and home. It was quite chilly in my new perfed jacket.

 I hate to think how cold it was in the upper elevations today. Maybe I need to start looking into some electrics.

[socalgtrider]

On Sunday afternoon I rode back to So Cal after visiting Mom in Sonora.  Took a sanity trip off the 99 up 190 and The Great Western Divide.  Pavement in great condition; minimal traffic on lower part of 190 (only one of the three trucks slowing me down wouldn't pull over), and as usual no traffic on GWD; a little chilly tho--would have been more comfortable with one more layer underneith the 'stitch.  No white stuff like further north.  Should be a great ride early November.

[bluepoof]

67F and sunny on Monday 10/27!  

[GTS_Rider]

... I hate to think how cold it was in the upper elevations today. Maybe I need to start looking into some electrics.

Heh, I'm still holding back on electric for So-Cal. I just busted the bank to throw down for these gloves:

http://www.leeparksdesign.com/eshopprod_cat_530-3637_product_148851.DeerSports_PCi_Black__Tan.htm

I run the regular un-lined normally which are generally good to the 40's for me. I've got an XXL down jacket that fits right over my normal riding gear up top and keeps me toasty-warm into the 20's (it's a perfect pic for michilan man, but I don't care).

Anycase, I'm done spending for this ride. I think I'm good to go...

[M.Brane]

Heh, I'm still holding back on electric for So-Cal. I just busted the bank to throw down for these gloves:

http://www.leeparksdesign.com/eshopprod_cat_530-3637_product_148851.DeerSports_PCi_Black__Tan.htm

I run the regular un-lined normally which are generally good to the 40's for me. I've got an XXL down jacket that fits right over my normal riding gear up top and keeps me toasty-warm into the 20's (it's a perfect pic for michilan man, but I don't care).

Anycase, I'm done spending for this ride. I think I'm good to go...

 Them's some nice gloves.

 I think if I get something to go over the jacket to keep the wind out I should be fine. A cheap windbreaker with the hood cut off should do the trick. I don't care much about appearances either as long as I'm comfy.

[bluepoof]

Uhoh, down to "Mostly sunny and cold" for Thurs 10/30! (highs ~55F, low ~30)

[bluepoof]

BTW, just made Peter's and my hotel reservations.

We'll be in Paso Robles on Friday night and will meet everyone at the Comfort Inn in Three Rivers on Saturday night.  

[GTS_Rider]

Saturday, Nov 1
Mostly cloudy with a shower Low: 38 °F High: 61 °F

Sunday, Nov 2
Mostly sunny Low: 37 °F High: 60 °F


Eh, still sounds better than last year at this point...

[bluepoof]

Looking better today!

Saturday, Nov 1
High: 58 °F
Sunny

Saturday Night, Nov 1
Low: 33 °F
Clear and cold

Sunday, Nov 2
High: 57 °F
Partly sunny

[GTS_Rider]

Ok, Calling all NorCal and Local area attendies.

I need a head count to feed an expected number to the Saturday night restuarant on the number they will be feeding.

For the SoCal group I'm including M.Brane and it looks like we're at a baker's dozen.

For the NorCal group I've got:


The girl with the formally bluepoof + Peter.
Dogboy and Ratpic
DantesDame + that guy ?
jpred (barely NorCal, but I'll give him to your side, lol)

Since your numbers are lacking I'll throw in Shawn flying in from New York to San Jose + Kelly , both from the GTS list. Shawn will be on a FJR, but Kelly will actually be on a GTS. Say, isn't there some other GTS riders in the Bay Area?

I saw some other more local riders respond. We'll throw all those into the NorCal contingent too, just let me know if you plan on showing/staying for the Saturday night dinner.

Jim, Explorer has been silent lately, though he's a good bet to pull in more numbers from Norcal. What say you Jim?

Sorry if I missed anybody, just did a quick scan and I'm drink, nothing personal.

Anycase, set me straight. Who's in, and more importantly in the short pre-ride term, who's eating dinner Saturday night in Three Rivers?

P.S.

The weather is getting better:

Saturday, Nov 1
High: 68 °F RealFeel®: 70 °F Sunny

Saturday Night, Nov 1
Low: 43 °F RealFeel®: 46 °F

Sunday, Nov 2
High: 68 °F RealFeel®: 70 °F Sunny

Sunday Night, Nov 2
Low: 44 °F RealFeel®: 44 °F
Mainly clear

[bluepoof]

You beat me to the weather report! I'm liking this whole "sunny" trend.

[DogBoy]

Dogboy and Ratpic

We'll be there.

[jpred]

You can put HHHCH45 (Jim) on the list. He sez he's to damn busy to read our thread.

[Explorer]

count me in reservations made.  

[M.Brane]

 Definitely in for dinner Sat night.

 I'll probably have to split off around Tehachapi on Sat. I'll try to find you guys later in the day, but I'll be at the hotel by sundown for sure.

[jakieboy]

This looks like fun!  I wanna go too!

[GTS_Rider]

This looks like fun!  I wanna go too!

Shall I add you to the dinner list?

VifferVern down in your neck 'o the woods expressed some interest too. Haven't heard back...

[bluepoof]

Saturday, Nov 1
Partly sunny
High: 66 °F
Low: 41 °F

Sunday, Nov 2
Brilliant sunshine
High: 65 °F
Low: 42 °F

 

[jakieboy]

Shall I add you to the dinner list?

VifferVern down in your neck 'o the woods expressed some interest too. Haven't heard back...

Yes, please!

Made my hotel reservation today!  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

DantesDame + that guy ?

"that guy" won't be attending and right now, I'm considering it. I was just in that area yesterday and will have to review my schedule to see if I can come back. I will keep you posted!  

[jakieboy]

Also talked a friend from work into making the ride, Dave K. will be attending dinner too!

[DogBoy]

"that guy" won't be attending and right now, I'm considering it. I was just in that area yesterday and will have to review my schedule to see if I can come back. I will keep you posted!  

Awwww...dangit.

[GTS_Rider]

Also talked a friend from work into making the ride, Dave K. will be attending dinner too!

Wow, this is getting interesting. Are you guys in for the breakfast meet as well?

From a loose last count we'll be over 20 riders strong rolling out of SoCal from breakfast.

Inching up on 30 for dinner...

The weather outlook is getting a bit more sketchy. Local news reports are threatening rain for next weekend. Accuweather is still on board for close to 70 highs and partly/cloudy/sunny. Weather.com, eh, not so much....says showers on Sunday.

[jakieboy]

Wow, this is getting interesting. Are you guys in for the breakfast meet as well?

From a loose last count we'll be over 20 riders strong rolling out of SoCal from breakfast.

Inching up on 30 for dinner...

The weather outlook is getting a bit more sketchy. Local news reports are threatening rain for next weekend. Accuweather is still on board for close to 70 highs and partly/cloudy/sunny. Weather.com, eh, not so much....says showers on Sunday.

Yes we are planning to reach the breakfast stop at 0730. Dave coming direct from Murrietta and I up the 5 from south OC.
Also saw weather.com saying 70% chance of showers on Sunday! But still time for it to blow thru overnight maybe?

[bluepoof]

Also saw weather.com saying 70% chance of showers on Sunday! But still time for it to blow thru overnight maybe?

Pffft.  Accuweather loves us more!

Saturday, Nov 1
High: 76 °F
Remaining warm with times of clouds and sun

Saturday Night, Nov 1
Low: 46 °F
Partly cloudy

Sunday, Nov 2
High: 67 °F
Times of clouds and sun

[GTS_Rider]

Here's my masterlist for attendies, let me know if I'm missing anyone especially for Saturday night dinner. I've got the Serrano's owner, Veronica, cell number. I gave her the heads up earlier today to expect a group of 25-30 on Sat. Nov. 1st and to schedule her staff accordingly. She sounded like a happy camper with that bit 'o news.

Oh, and speaking about Saturday night dinner, please have enough cash in-hand to cover your dinner/drinks + tax and tip.

I'm looking to do something in-between of taking the total bill and splitting it along the number of people (where more than a few that didn't drink and/or ordered low-dollar dinners feel ripped off), and forcing the wait staff to do a bajillion of individual bills.

My thought is that there will be paper and pens available for everyone to jot down the prices of their individual dinner orders + drinks and there will be a calculator available to also pass around so everyone can easily figure their bill + tax and generous (in the spirit of ST.N'rs on the road) tip. Hopefully by this method, we will be golden on the first try. Though if we happen to come up 30 short for the whole group, it's only 1 dollar each to meet the goal....

NorCal list:

bluepoof
Peter
Dogboy
Ratpic
jpred
HHHCH45
Explorer
Shawn (GTS List)
Kelly (GTS List)
DantesDame (Maybe)

Socal:

steve + diana
Dave J.
Cheese
Jan
Stephen
JohnA
Mark Drake  Breakfast/No dinner
Gary
Frank
Monique
Pam
Gail
M.Brane
Rick + Leah
Steve
Donny
Curt
Laurie
jakieboy
Dave K.
Richard L.






 

[Explorer]

I might have one or two more coming with me, I will know mid week.

[hhhch45]

You can put HHHCH45 (Jim) on the list. He sez he's to damn busy to read our thread.

Hey I have been busy, really.... really......Really , but I Will be there Saturday.  
Jim

[M.Brane]

Oh, and speaking about Saturday night dinner, please have enough cash in-hand to cover your dinner/drinks + tax and tip.

I'm looking to do something in-between of taking the total bill and splitting it along the number of people (where more than a few that didn't drink and/or ordered low-dollar dinners feel ripped off), and forcing the wait staff to do a bajillion of individual bills.

My thought is that there will be paper and pens available for everyone to jot down the prices of their individual dinner orders + drinks and there will be a calculator available to also pass around so everyone can easily figure their bill + tax and generous (in the spirit of ST.N'rs on the road) tip. Hopefully by this method, we will be golden on the first try. Though if we happen to come up 30 short for the whole group, it's only 1 dollar each to meet the goal....

 

 Yeah, no stingy tippers allowed! If you can't pony up a few extra bucks to compensate the help for dealing with a rowdy crowd of riders maybe you should just hit McD's, and skip dinner. You'll make us all look bad.

 Besides, if a poor bastard like me can tip 20% anyone can.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Ok, I'm going to officially decline. Enjoy and take good pictures!  

[M.Brane]

Ok, I'm going to officially decline. Enjoy and take good pictures!  

 It wasn't the whole tipping thing I hope...........

































 

[Mrs. DantesDame]

How'd you know???  




Nah, I just want to be close to home on Sunday. Got to get ready for the big First Day of Work  

[M.Brane]

 I hear ya. Up at 0430 for the next couple weeks. That's only 4 days per week though, and don't have to be back until the 12th on the second. Shift changes are good sometimes.

[GTS_Rider]

...Nah, I just want to be close to home on Sunday. Got to get ready for the big First Day of Work  

Probably a wise choice. Thanks for the update and good luck with the new job.  

Maybe next year...


 

[bluepoof]

Uhoh!  


Saturday, Nov 1
High: 65 °F
Mostly cloudy

Saturday Night, Nov 1
Low: 49 °F
Rainy in the evening; mostly cloudy

Sunday, Nov 2
High: 67 °F
Times of clouds and sun

[GTS_Rider]

Uhoh!  

 

Yeah, don't panic. There's too many lows and highs bouncing around right now for them to know wtf they're talking about at this point.

Still sounds better than last year...rain only Sat eve...

[jakieboy]

I will be at Dennys come hell or err, high water!!!

[GTS_Rider]

Me Too!

Is anyone gonna wimp out? I need to call the restuarant to confirm headcount...

[M.Brane]

 Bought a rain suit, and some warm Gortex gloves yesterday. Ordered a back tire too. Should be in tomorrow. Getting it mounted/scrubbed in Fri since I'm off work.

 Yeah, I'm still in.

[DogBoy]

Still in.

[Explorer]

Oh hell ya I'm still in! I got the bike back in perfect working order today. I'm just waiting for my break pads to come in tomorrow

[GTS_Rider]

Oh hell ya I'm still in! I got the bike back in perfect working order today. I'm just waiting for my break pads to come in tomorrow

Anyone else riding with you?

[Explorer]

Anyone else riding with you?

no I'm all by myself

[JoelCool]

Still in.

Careful ... leave that bike out in the rain and it might shrink.  You might loose it in the sea of FJRs and stuff.

[jakieboy]

Oh man, now there is a severe weather alert for Three Rivers...

http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/weekend/USCA1146?from=36hr_topnav_business

[GTS_Rider]

Oh man, now there is a severe weather alert for Three Rivers...

   That's the California definition of severe weather...30% chance of showers. Sheesh!

Besides, weather.com sucks. Accuweather is where it's at...

http://www.accuweather.com/us/ca/three%20rivers/93271/forecast.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=1&metric=0

[jakieboy]

   That's the California definition of severe weather...30% chance of showers. Sheesh!

Besides, weather.com sucks. Accuweather is where it's at...

http://www.accuweather.com/us/ca/three%20rivers/93271/forecast.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=1&metric=0

Ha,Ha, now that looks much better.   Hope they are right cause I'm going anyway...

[M.Brane]

 I usually go straight to the source.

 They tend to be pessimistic, and I like that.

[DogBoy]

Careful ... leave that bike out in the rain and it might shrink.  You might loose it in the sea of FJRs and stuff.

Its a chance I'll have to take. Are you still coaching in the rain?

[JoelCool]

Its a chance I'll have to take. Are you still coaching in the rain?

Yep...

[DogBoy]

Dangit.

[bluepoof]

FWIW, weather-wise, our ride from the Bay Area to Paso Robles today was great.  We did hit a couple of scattered showers but neither lasted more than a minute.  Nice and warm and it rained hard enough last night that the roads aren't slippery.

Now we're drinking Firestone on the patio of the Paso Robles Inn and watching trick or treaters.  

Happy Halloween everyone and we'll see you tomorrow!

[M.Brane]

 My tire scrub-in ride today was quite fun. Hit all the local twisty roads (150, South Mountain, Balcom, Stockton, Grimes, Guiberson) . The sky was threatening, but nary a drop. Warm too! I wore just a long-sleeve T under my perfed jacket, and was a little sweaty when I got home.

 Bike is just about packed up, and ready to rock.

[GTS_Rider]

Thanks for the updates.  

I broke down and finally bought a heated vest last weekend, though I don't think I'll even bother to spend the time to wire it up for this trip. Though, I did see snow levels down to 6,500-7k feet, that's gotta be at 3-4am, it's been really warm down here too.

See ya'll tomorrow. Still got 28 on the list for dinner and spoke with Veronica, Serranos owner this afternoon. It'll be interesting to see how that works out. It's a small restuarant, and 28 incoming will sure to be near overwhelming...

[M.Brane]

 Cool. Looks like less attrition than I thought due to weather.

 See you at Denny's in the AM.

[DogBoy]

What time is everyone meeting at Serrano's? And by everyone, I mean you, Rick.

[GTS_Rider]

What time is everyone meeting at Serrano's? And by everyone, I mean you, Rick.

The target time is 7pm, though I gave Veronica a window of 6-8 pm. By 7pm target I'm trying to allow for late-arrivals, plus time to settle in *and* parking-lot-roaming-beer-drinking-tire-kicking-post-ride-meet-and-greet-wind-down. It's also kinda tied to weather. I still see reports of rain coming in after 8pm or so. It'll be a tuff fit to get 28 of us 'inside' the restaurant. Though, there's enough of an overhang on the westside of the place that we could still be in a big group outside and not get wet if it starts raining (eh, I think..). Heh, it'll all work out and sure to be interesting...

[bluepoof]

The bikes are starting to really pile up outside of the Comfort Inn here in Three Rivers!  

[DogBoy]

Got home about 2:15 after wandering out of the foothills and slabbing all the way up Hwy 99. Ride report to follow this evening...or when I get around to it.

Thanks Rick and everyone for a great weekend.  

[hhhch45]

Made it home about 2:30, thanks to all for another great get together.
Jim

[M.Brane]

 To steal a line from Hunter S. Thompson: man, what a ride!

 No snow, but plenty of rain, mud, wet leaves, etc. Sat. Today was beautiful though. Real glad I didn't bail out when the going got tough.

 It was good to see some of you again, and meet the rest of you. Hope you all made it home safe 'n sound.

[jakieboy]

 To steal a line from Hunter S. Thompson: man, what a ride!

 No snow, but plenty of rain, mud, wet leaves, etc. Sat. Today was beautiful though. Real glad I didn't bail out when the going got tough.

 It was good to see some of you again, and meet the rest of you. Hope you all made it home safe 'n sound.

+1 on that, what a ride! Saturdays ride on the "cow trails" was one to remember! Thanks Rick for putting this together. And the dinner at Serranos was fantastic, even though they had to put us outside! Sorry I didn't get to say good by to all this morning but I had the itch to ride since the sun was shinning! See you all next time!

I didn't get many on the road pictures due to the rain but I posted a few in my Picasa web albums below.

[M.Brane]

+1 on that, what a ride! Saturdays ride on the "cow trails" was one to remember! Thanks Rick for putting this together. And the dinner at Serranos was fantastic, even though they had to put us outside! Sorry I didn't get to say good by to all this morning but I had the itch to ride since the sun was shinning! See you all next time!

I didn't get many on the road pictures due to the rain but I posted a few in my Picasa web albums below.

 Yeah, I didn't want to ruin my new camera just yet. I decided to hang for a bit to see what Rick had up his sleeve for today. I was not disappointed:

[Explorer]

Got home at 6:30 after a nice long ride home, on some nice side roads. Thanks to all for a great time

[Orson]

guess we'll hafta rely on da poof for pictures  

 

[GTS_Rider]

guess we'll hafta rely on da poof for pictures  

 

Haha, ehh yeah,...this is true. Least, for the really good ones. There was one really awesome picture in the making coming down into Bodfish/Isabella from Caliente. The whole valley where Isabella lake resides was socked in with low-lying cloud cover. We were above the cloud cover and off in the distance one big peak was poking through the clouds.
Hey, my waterproof gloves were soaking wet and it was too much of a hassle to stop and dig out the camera stashed deep inside some bag to protect it from water damage. In other words, you had to be there...    

Another epic adventure completed. Ok, epic might be an overstatement, but fooking a' , we got seriously drenched and we're from SoCal. Though, it seems the B4thesnowflies moniker for this ride was exactly on target. Saturday night it snowed on Sequoia National Park...

[bluepoof]

guess we'll hafta rely on da poof for pictures  

 

I took about 250 pics.  They're uploading now.  

Peter and I had a great time.  Our weather was just fine!

[Explorer]

Here are a few photos from this weekend

[DogBoy]

guess we'll hafta rely on da poof for pictures  

 

I took around 50 pics. Maybe 10 are worth viewing. Sarcastic captions coming in promised ride report.

Link to "B4thesnowflies" album

[Jeff N]

I see this pic



and that bike with the clouds overhead and I'm thinking the mountain and I want to rail it.

[bluepoof]

My pics are taking forever to upload    so here are a couple of teasers.  I'll try to have the writeup done this week.  

[GTS_Rider]

Frank Filips from LABiker caught a couple of pics from the scene I painted earlier. He was about a half-hour behind, mostly because I fail to communicate (but I won't go into that), so the lowland valley cloud cover was breaking up a bit at this point. Still, some cool shots here...

[atypical1]

Looks like fun!

 

james  

[JoelCool]

 

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I love this picture!!!