Back roads to Livermore

[Loki]

First of all, I want to thank everyone who rode today. I had a lot of fun. And, it was nice meeting all of you. Ken, thanks for the lunch. It hit the spot.

I started my leg of the journey from Clovis. I met with Larry at the Riverpark mall Starbucks around 0815. We left Starbucks and rode to Coursegold on highway 41. We arrived in Coursegold at the intersection of 41/Rd415 where we met Matt and Steve. We all took a vote and had Matt take the lead since he lives in the area. Matt set a nice, comfortable pace. Rd 415 was fun. Ben Hur was another story. There were potholes, gravel and sand. About halfway up Ben Hur, we stopped for photo ops.

We continued our journey up Ben Hur dodging potholes. Oh, Steve. Don't forget your backpack. We arrived at Mariposa. We stopped again for another photo op of a stream. Steve decided to soak his dad's t-shirt with water from the stream to help him stay cool. Yeah Steve we know. You and Matt were having a wet t-shirt contest. There was one thing Larry did notice. Matt's shirt did not soak up water as easily as Steve's shirt. Larry also made the comment, one of the shirts had been laundered.

We then traveled west on 140. What a nice road. Well maintained and sweeping turns. We stopped at a gas station where we met some people riding BMW motorcycles. They were all going to Sonora for a BMW event. One couple rode from Monterey on a 1200GS.

We left the gas station and took Hornitos rd. This is a fun road. A lot of turns and changes in elevation. It was like riding a roller coaster.

Under Larry's leadership, we ended up in Merced. Now, we decided to take 99 to Turlock. From Turlock, we rode to Patterson where we met Ken. He was waiting for us at a Subway sandwich shop. There we decided to have lunch. Since we were in Ken's territory, he paid for our lunch. I hope to return the favor someday. After lunch, Steve decided he would leave the group to go to Stockton. After saying our good byes, Larry, Matt, Ken and I continued our journey on 130.

We stopped at the Junction store. Took a few photos and compared digital cameras. From there, Larry continued the ride to Livermore. He had an agenda. He had to go the Aprilia dealership to return a turn signal light. It was the wrong part. The rest of us decided to return home.

It was a great day for a ride. Weather was nice.

Here are some of my photos from the ride.

[chief]

Looks like we posted our threads within seconds of eachother Jim. Here's the one I started.

The other thread

[Jester]

Dudes!! I got it! I got the signal!! There was one sales guy (Kevin You Rock!!) there who said he had just boxed them up, but he dragged them out for me anyway! Major props to California Speed Sports for being so right at the right time!! http://www.speed-sports.com/ (Shameless Plug) Right signal and everything!......and I didn't even have to annoy anyone!!

Thanks for the great company Y'all. What a thoroughly enjoyable ride today! Got to meet Matt and Steve and Ben Hur Road. Steve that poor bike has been through hell and back but you ride her well!!

That truck on 415 could have pulled over at least a dozen times before she did. Do you think she knew we were even back there? That was a nice stopping place at Mormon Bar Crossing Matt. Great Whop-de-do's on Hornitos Road. That one uphill with the left just after the crest told me to slow the pace on roads you don't know! Fun though!

I still don't know how we wound up in Merced??? Next time I'll study the Maps more. Don't tell anyone we went on a freay. I'll never live that down. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality Kenny. Good Lunch Bro!

Kenny lead the pace up Del Puerto Canyon and Mines Roads. You are right Kenny, a little gravelly in the corners. Your Digital Rebel Rocks!!

How was your ride back?

[chief]

Glad you got your part man! thanks for including me in the ride everyone.

The ride back down was pretty cool I only scraped my pegs twice (darn 5 degree lean angle ). Next time I'll take the Blast. For those of you that don't know, DPC Rd. is where me and my Buell found the gravel and then found the ground so I was a bit nervous on a few turns

[that_guy_you_know]

So Larry, did you charm 'em or did you annoy them until you got what you wanted? Had a blast today man, we'll have to do it again!

[that_guy_you_know]

Oh, Steve. Don't forget your backpack.

I'm never going to live this down...

[Loki]

Originally Posted by that_guy_you_know

I'm never going to live this down...

[Toyuzu]

Cool! two threads for one ride, or was it two rides? I posted a few pics over in the one Kenny started. http://pashnitforum.com/forum/showth...4126#post14126

[Jester]

Originally Posted by that_guy_you_know

So Larry, did you charm 'em or did you annoy them until you got what you wanted? Had a blast today man, we'll have to do it again!

Na Steve, I didn't even have to work my "charms" on him. He even let me come in for a pit stop and a refill on my H2O. I'll be doing more business with them in the future. They've got those levers I want. http://www.speed-sports.com/shop/pro...roducts_id=655

Kevin directed me to the 580 and I joined the stop and go migration across Altamont Pass. By Crow's Landing I'd had all I could take of that so I hopped over to the 33 for the rest of the trip South.

Great riding wit Youse Guys!

[Strega 51]

I still don't know how we wound up in Merced??? Next time I'll study the Maps more. Don't tell anyone we went on a freay. I'll never live that down. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality Kenny. Good Lunch Bro!


Uh well, what you guys did was Hornitos Rd. to Merced Falls Rd. J16, to Snelling Rd. When you got the the first intersection in Merced you could have thrown a rock and hit my house. Glad you guys got a good ride in if I could have gotten away today I would have signed up.



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