Clayton & Concord:Marsh Creek-Deer Park-Briones Valley Rd

[cgstrommer]

I took a quick little 70 mile round-trip this afternoon near home. I went from home in Concord out to Marsh Creek rd in Clayton. Followed that for about 18 miles and went left on Deer Park heading towards Antioch. I got about half way there and turned around due to some pretty strong wind gusts pushing me and the mighty strom all over the road. One the way back on Deer Park, I detoured a little on Briones Valley Rd (which dead ends 3 miles down the road) which is where I took these pictures. Nothing spectacular, just wanted to share. OF note on this ride, I saw a LOT of police on Marsh Creek rd, almost hit a cow in the middle of Deer Park rd and saw a flat bed truck pitched over the side of Marsh Creek with a load of wood. About a 20 foot drop, driver was ok and waiting for a big tow truck to pull him out.

[Hi Busa]

Joel-
Great pictures.

That's one of my favorite loops!

Morgan Territory as well.

You don't happen to live down the street from me do you?
Treat and Oak Grove

There's a Strom in a garage that I've never seen anyone ride.
How weird would that be?

[pashnit]

Great lookin' little valley there. Understanding how close that is to all the folks in the bay area, always neat I've thought to be able to escape into those deserted grassy valleys along the edge of Mt Diablo. Great pics Joel - looks like you're trying several different angles in the spot which is a great learning technique!

This one is very Steve1962esque.



The steve pic - or rather one of many.

[cgstrommer]

Mike,

I ride that little loop a lot. Morgan territory as well. I live off of Willow Pass at the Naval Weapon Station housing. (I'm in the CG). Last couple times I've ridden out Marsh Creek I've seen a lot of cops. It's not like I blast through there at 80 mph, but I've just never noticed before. I also enjoy taking the little loop out around Martinez on Alhambra Valley rd and such all around San Pablo Reservoir. It's good for about 70 miles and a couple hours.

Tim,

I have a Canon SD400 and my display is busted. I never know what setting the thing is on, so I tend to push buttons and take a bunch of the same picture and at different angles in hopes of finding a usable few. I was kind of hoping for more of an effect like the one of steve1962's that you posted. I'll try again when my wife lets me borrow her Fuji next time.

[Steve1962]

Nice work with the photos , I like them all - looks like a lovely place to ride too .
Thanks
Steve

[pashnit]

Copying someones style of photography, or at least trying to replicate their shots is a great learning tool. I often look at shots and think, now there's something I've got to try the next time I'm out and about! Once you sit down the finished pics, can refine it later one with a 2nd go around. I've done this repeatedly where I finally felt like I got the shot on the 4th or 5th time out.

[Hi Busa]

Originally Posted by cgstrommer

Mike,

I ride that little loop a lot. Morgan territory as well. I live off of Willow Pass at the Naval Weapon Station housing. (I'm in the CG).

No Kidding!

We were invited and spoke to a large group on CG Island (Alameda) earlier this month.
We started with a full inspection tour of the MSST group, the Anti Terrorist Unit of the CG.
Man, those guys have ALL the toys! (Even the bomb sniffing dog had very cool toys).
Not being a military guy, maybe I was easily impressed with the firepower.
I particularly liked the ROV unit, the HazMat divers and the bomb sniffing dog.

We then had lunch, spoke to 100 or so and then they took us out on the bay.
We went out under the bridge then came back in to do some "maneuvers".

Not only are these boats fast (two Honda Supercharged V-Tech Motors on the back), they turn on a dime. We would be zipping along and then turn 180 and be right back up to speed.

They brought a crewman in to stand between us so we didn't body slam each other. Poor kid. Even though he was wearing his full body armour, my 240 Lbs of inertia had to hit him pretty hard.
My shoulder is still feeling it.

I've been on fast boats before.
Built a Hydro for the nationals back in the late 70's.
Nothing like these though.
Imagine going 50 miles an hour on the freeway and doing a u-turn using just the throttle. Now imagine doing this all using only your lane and the 1/2 the lane next to you! Small radius turning they called it.

All that and they have two big 50 Cal. machine guns to boot.

We should go ride sometime.
I'm a M - F worker with weekends off.
It's hard to get away during the week.



Linky

[cgstrommer]

Mike,

The MSST's get quite a chunk of the budget to beef up our littoral capabilities as well as HLS. On my last ship out in New Hampshire, we had one of the teams from Chesapeake fast rope down to our flight deck out of a CG HH-60J and simulate taking over the ship. It was a demonstration for a couple Admirals during the DNC in Boston. In short, it was pretty impressive to see the CG with that capability after being in 15 years and seeing it progress from basic maritime law enforcement to something like what you'd hope as a taxpayer that the CG had the ability to do all along.

ANyway, I'm stationed on one of the big white ships there that you zipped past on your way out the estuary. I'm inport for another month or so. Let me know when you go out for a ride. Barring a monsoon, I'm usually game.

Glad to hear you were impressed with the fine organization I have the privilege of serving in.

Joel

[Bandit66]

Beautiful pictures. I went up there today and enjoyed every miles of it.

Lame pics compared to my fellow strommer.

[ssbarbich]

Originally Posted by Bandit66

Beautiful pictures. I went up there today and enjoyed every miles of it.

Lame pics compared to my fellow strommer.

I thought your pictures were great and I like the way you put them on. It made it nice for us that live in the boonies and can only get dial up.