ET
07-12-2004, 05:44 PM
I hosted bigbob, Saddog and Woodyww at Clear Creek from Saturday night thru this afternoon. As it worked out, we all got the Clear Creek around the same time on Sat. evening. After camp was set up we headed out on the first ride, a three hour tour with headlights. We started about 8:30 PM and worked our way out to Santa Rita Peak where we had a great view of the lights of the Central Valley as well as a bunch of shooting stars. From there we went to the hillclimb bowl where I demonstrated how to hillclimb in the dark with only a headlight. Next stop was San Benito Mountain for another view of the valley followed by a series of fire roads back to camp.
On sunday morning we started the ride with a test to check rider skill. After a three mile ride up a main road, I turned off on a Quicksilver trail that wound thru the brush and then dropped off a rock outcrop. I waited at the bottom of the trail to evaluate the boys. bigbob cleaned the section but Woodyww, stopped, looked over the edge and was heard to say "This is not Woody!" After some muttered words not fit to print he also said "This is just what I expected". Now, this made me feel really good to have picked a trail that met his expectations.
Since this was not exactly his "cup of tea", we proceeded to ride less challenging trails (at least I thought they were less challenging). It was hot but there was a good breeze on the ridgetops. We took several breaks at different points of interest, like the B17 crash site and a fun little hillclimb.
After a short break on top of Santa Rita peak and some refreshing water at Agua Buena spring we headed east towards Spanish Lake and the trails below. After about five hours of FUN, my companions were ready to head for the barn. When we got back it was around 95 in the shade. After food and water, the eyelids got very heavy and bigbob found a shady spot to stretch out with Boomer (his dog) while Saddog proceeded to fall asleep sitting up is a camp chair.
Since Saddog and Woodyww had not originally planned to camp, they had not brought a gas can. After some relaxation, they headed to Coalinga around 4;30 with bigbob's gas can to get gas and something to eat. When they had not returned by 8:30, bigbob and I became suspicious. We had seen a CDF helicopter fly over camp heading towards Coalinga. We had also seen a CDF firetruck heading down the road in the same direction. We hopped on our dual sports and proceeded to head towards the smoke we could see rising over the distant hills. We met up with them about 15 minutes later on the road. They had been held up about 45 minutes by CHP as the fire was right next to the road. Bigbob and I proceeded to head towards the fire that was burning on a hillside adjacent to the road. It was an awesome sight to see the fire march through the dry brush and ignite the trees.
This morning the boys suggested that we break into two groups, with me being one group ant the three of them being the other. They then proposed that I should go first and they would try to follow. I took this as a sign of mutiny but eventually persuaded them that I did know some trails that Woodyww would like so they let me ride with them.
It was hot again but with a strong breeze. We rode maybe 35 miles on relatively mild trails, stopping at the green fire mine to look for green garnets and then at the hillclimb bowl for some daylight hillclimbing.
The boys are now in Hollister for round two of their mid-life crisis tour of the best dirt riding that northern CA has to offer. Tomorrow Hollister Hills, Wed. Forest Hill and I am not sure of the rest of the agenda. Perhaps bigbob can fill in some more details.
On sunday morning we started the ride with a test to check rider skill. After a three mile ride up a main road, I turned off on a Quicksilver trail that wound thru the brush and then dropped off a rock outcrop. I waited at the bottom of the trail to evaluate the boys. bigbob cleaned the section but Woodyww, stopped, looked over the edge and was heard to say "This is not Woody!" After some muttered words not fit to print he also said "This is just what I expected". Now, this made me feel really good to have picked a trail that met his expectations.
Since this was not exactly his "cup of tea", we proceeded to ride less challenging trails (at least I thought they were less challenging). It was hot but there was a good breeze on the ridgetops. We took several breaks at different points of interest, like the B17 crash site and a fun little hillclimb.
After a short break on top of Santa Rita peak and some refreshing water at Agua Buena spring we headed east towards Spanish Lake and the trails below. After about five hours of FUN, my companions were ready to head for the barn. When we got back it was around 95 in the shade. After food and water, the eyelids got very heavy and bigbob found a shady spot to stretch out with Boomer (his dog) while Saddog proceeded to fall asleep sitting up is a camp chair.
Since Saddog and Woodyww had not originally planned to camp, they had not brought a gas can. After some relaxation, they headed to Coalinga around 4;30 with bigbob's gas can to get gas and something to eat. When they had not returned by 8:30, bigbob and I became suspicious. We had seen a CDF helicopter fly over camp heading towards Coalinga. We had also seen a CDF firetruck heading down the road in the same direction. We hopped on our dual sports and proceeded to head towards the smoke we could see rising over the distant hills. We met up with them about 15 minutes later on the road. They had been held up about 45 minutes by CHP as the fire was right next to the road. Bigbob and I proceeded to head towards the fire that was burning on a hillside adjacent to the road. It was an awesome sight to see the fire march through the dry brush and ignite the trees.
This morning the boys suggested that we break into two groups, with me being one group ant the three of them being the other. They then proposed that I should go first and they would try to follow. I took this as a sign of mutiny but eventually persuaded them that I did know some trails that Woodyww would like so they let me ride with them.
It was hot again but with a strong breeze. We rode maybe 35 miles on relatively mild trails, stopping at the green fire mine to look for green garnets and then at the hillclimb bowl for some daylight hillclimbing.
The boys are now in Hollister for round two of their mid-life crisis tour of the best dirt riding that northern CA has to offer. Tomorrow Hollister Hills, Wed. Forest Hill and I am not sure of the rest of the agenda. Perhaps bigbob can fill in some more details.