The 2012 WCRM, Sonora CA June 9th & 10th

[Andrew]

Well it's that time of year, time to plan out the WCRM.  
At the last WCRM it was adopted that all in attendance had a vote on the next years WCRM location. Sonora was chosen as this years location. If you wish to vote on the 2013 location just attend the 2012 WCRM.

 This years meet will be in the Sonora area on the weekend of June 9th & 10th. (exact location still in flux I will update this post when an exact location has been chosen)

The general location is Sonora CA, If you have a favorite hotel or know of one please post in. Hotel will be chosen by general agreement (maybe even a poll )
 Keep in mind that some of us are cheap bastards (speaking of myself there) so the Ritz may not work for all of us. Camping close by is always a plus. Proximity to a place to eat/drink is a Big Plus.

Let the planning begin  

P.S.
If you plan on being there Please join in and be a part of it.
If you don't plan on attending (track day, cleaning tooth brush, washing the dog, what have you) please don't F up this for everyone else.

[bluepoof]

OMG I love Sonora.  Will probably be incredibly otherwise occupied in early June, however.  

[miles]

That weekend sounds great to me.

See you in Sonora!

[Nodaclu]

Any reconnaissance required for this mission, I'm more than happy to take on.  

Also....I'll repost this from the other thread, though I agree, it may be a bit pricey unless we can fanagle a group rate out of them...

---------

The Best Western Sonora Oaks Hotel is well regarded at Tripadvisor.com, and you have to like any motel that shows photos of their hotel with bikes in front of it!  

May be a little spendy though....I'm seeing $100/night for that weekend.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g33108-d82194-Reviews-BEST_WESTERN_Sonora_Oaks_Hotel_Conference_Center-Sonora_California.html

(Courtesy of Tripadvisor.com)

[Nodaclu]

I'm mapping out a to-do list to go exploring in the area....maybe as early as next weekend:

1. Reasonable accommodations
2. Food nearby (brewpub type of place?)
3. Ideally, camping nearby
4. Great roads nearby (a given in that neck of the woods)

What else?

[Andrew]

Outstanding Nodachu  

I have been beaning to get up there all year, but alas with moving & work, what little time I had has gone.

The BW Sonora Oaks looks great! and right off 108


Up 108 and back down 4, now that's is a fun ride




Edited for spelling

[viffergyrl]

Hey y'alls... M.Brane and I will check our calendars - but we should be good with that date.

Can't wait to see you all again and meet Mr. Sunshine!  

[Nodaclu]

One thing to keep in mind...there's a 50/50 chance the passes will still be closed that weekend. It all depends on how heavy the winter snowfall is. I've seen years where everything was open by mid-May, and other years where they struggled to get the passes open by the 4th of July.

But there are plenty of awesome foothill routes below the snowline if we run into that issue. I'll spend some time working out routes for both scenarios.

If the passes are open, I'm envisioning an northern loop option (108 to 395 North, lunch at Walker Burger, then 89 to 88 to 49 and back to Sonora), and a southern loop option (108 to 395 South, lunch at the Whoa Nellie Deli, through Yosemite on 120, to 49 and back to Sonora).

Loops through the foothills are endless. I'll put together some options there as well. Even if the passes are open, this route could be for those who want a more leisurely pace that doesn't cover 9,000 foot mountain passes and narrow, tight twisty roads.

Of course, I might end up being the only person on that route.  

Forgive me if I'm stepping on toes. If so, I'll gladly step back. I've just been wanting to attend one of these since 2005, and this is the first time I'm going to get a chance to take part....and it's in an area I pretty much grew up in.  

[Mr Sunshine]

Me likes Sonora.....its on my want to do list for next year.  

[coho]

[Shizoku]

Well it's that time of year, time to plan out the WCRM.  
At the last WCRM it was adopted that all in attendance had a vote on the next years WCRM location. Sonora was chosen as this years location. If you wish to vote on the 2013 location just attend the 2012 WCRM.

 This years meet will be in the Sonora area on the weekend of June 9th & 10th. (exact location still in flux I will update this post when an exact location has been chosen)

The general location is Sonora CA, If you have a favorite hotel or know of one please post in. Hotel will be chosen by general agreement (maybe even a poll )
 Keep in mind that some of us are cheap bastards (speaking of myself there) so the Ritz may not work for all of us. Camping close by is always a plus. Proximity to a place to eat/drink is a Big Plus.

Let the planning begin  

P.S.
If you plan on being there Please join in and be a part of it.
If you don't plan on attending (track day, cleaning tooth brush, washing the dog, what have you) please don't F up this for everyone else.

Hi Andrew,
It's been awhile since I've visited the board, but in the course of perusing the various links, I came across the link for next year's WCRM,
and I think I might me able to make it.  The days you have set are June 9/10, but wondering if anyone might be showing up early?  
Like on Thursday or Friday?  I usually work on Sunday's, so I might head up to Sonora on Thursday afternoon and then head out Saturday
afternoon, but no biggie, I could still see some old friends on Friday night.
Hope to see you in June!
Dave

[Andrew]

Yes Friday is a good day to show up, that's when I will be arriving at least.


In past years most arrived in Fortuna on Friday, road Saturday and returned home on Sunday. Seems like a good way to enjoy a weekend to me.

For me, from the Bay Area, arriving Friday means I can beat the "Friday end of work week" traffic and still get in some time up i the hills in the same day.

[Shizoku]

Yes Friday is a good day to show up, that's when I will be arriving at least.


In past years most arrived in Fortuna on Friday, road Saturday and returned home on Sunday. Seems like a good way to enjoy a weekend to me.

For me, from the Bay Area, arriving Friday means I can beat the "Friday end of work week" traffic and still get in some time up i the hills in the same day.

Sounds good, it'll be nice seeing you again...it's been a few years since I was at a WCRM.
We (the wife and I) may even come up on Thursday and get settled in and do a bit of riding on Friday before everyone starts showing up.
Really looking forward to it!  

[Rob707]

Since I actually get to ride to and from somewhere this year I might take a couple of days off work and make a long weekend out of it.

[Explorer]

Dam Shizzz where have you been? I would been good to see you again. I should be there on Friday as well.
Jim

[Shizoku]

Dam Shizzz where have you been? I would been good to see you again. I should be there on Friday as well.
Jim

Witness Protection Program...
It'll be good to catch up with you guys in June.
I'm hopefull we can make it, as of now it looks good.
We will try and make it up there either Thursday night or Friday mid day.
Really looking forward to it, as I haven't ridden much since the summer of '09.
Dave

[beatnikmike]

Camping?

The only nice campgrounds I know of around  Sonora are on New Melones Lake maybe 8 to 10 miles from Sonora.  There are two camping areas on or near the lake. They are the Glory Hole area and Tuttletown area.  I've stayed at the campground at Gloryhole, ironically called Ironhorse.  It's a very nice campground closer to Angels Camp than Sonora.  Tuttletown is maybe 8 miles from Sonora and very large with many different campgrounds within it's boundaries, including two group camping sites (group camping meet anyone?)

New Melones Lake, links:
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/photo_gallery/index.html
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/newmelones/camping.html


There is one little RV and tent camping park in Sonora that I know of and it's at the Fair grounds called the "Mother Lode Fair & R.V. Park"
link:
http://www.tcvb.com/showrecord.asp?id=357

The Fair grounds are only a couple blocks from downtown on Hwy 49 at Southgate Drive. I don't know much about the campground, someone want to go a check it out?  

Also, there is a motel across Hwy 49 from the Fairgrounds maybe a 5 minute walk from the campground called the "Gold Lodge"  prices are around $60 a night.
Here is a link to the Gold Lodge motel and some pics......
http://www.goldlodge.com/






One last thing.... there is an RV park with camping cabins and lodges that sleep 6 and tent camping but it's close to Angels Camp and it's called "Angels Camp RV" link....
http://www.angelscamprv.com/index.html

[5OUTTA6]

While I didn't make this years meet, I would have voted for Arnold . .......Hwy 4, not too far from Sonora.    

It has the :

http://www.snowshoebrewing.com/

I think there may be a snow shoe brewing outside of Sonora also.  But Sonora is a real zoo on weekends.........too many cagers & ridgerunners...................

and other lodging places plus campers could stay at   Big Trees state park.
 Here's a link to a motel close to the brewpub:

http://www.arnoldlodgeca.com/Lodging.html


just my .02 worth...

[Andrew]

Some real good suggestions posted up so far.

So far I am leaning to the Gold Lodge with Arnold Lodge a real close second almost a tie. I like Arnold real peaceful place and HY4 is  

[Galo]

(snip) If you don't plan on attending (track day, cleaning tooth brush, washing the dog, what have you) please don't F up this for everyone else.

Early June.....no can do as I will be in Puerto Rico watching my daughter walk after successfully finishing grad school.
Go have fun and be safe!