Summertime, and the riding is easy

GB500guy

GB500guy

Well-known member
With 106 degree heat forecast for this weekend I took advantage of a cooler Friday morning to try out my new Aerostich R3 riding suit. Along the way I couldn't resist taking a few glamour shots of the GB500 in its native habitat. And I found as long as I was moving, the suit stayed surprisingly comfortable even as the day warmed to 95 degrees.

My route:

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Link to Google map of route

From home I headed up sun-baked Putah Canyon...

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...and past the imposing Devil's Gate at Monticello dam.

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It was a peaceful and almost traffic-free ride along Hwy 128...

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...and the usual wonderful roller coaster ride up and over 121 into Napa Valley.

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After a stop for excellent Mexican food at Villa Corona in St. Helena, I headed up through the little town of Angwin for dessert in the form of a magical ride down Ink Grade. Starting off in deeply shaded forest, the narrow little road winds alongside a steep canyon...

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...then soon winds its way down through dry oak woodland.

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Riding past the vineyards of Pope Valley I turned off onto always-wonderful and mostly deserted Pope Canyon road.

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Reaching Lake Berryessa the heat was building so it was time to head back home...

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...to my wife and happy hour. Life is good.

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-Bill
 
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GB500guy

GB500guy

Well-known member
two wheel tramp said:
Lovely photos as always!!!! Your bike is a real beauty.

You should grab your tiddler and we can hit Covelo some time. ;)
Click to expand...

Many thanks! But I'm not sure my wife would want me running around with a tramp. :laughing

SFMCjohn said:
god bless Honda ... :gsxrgrl

your ride reports encouraged me to discover
Lower Chiles Valley Road and Chiles Pope Valley Road
on my way to Knoxville OHV, last time I went ... :thumbup
Click to expand...

Cool John! Next you must try Ida Clayton Rd. if you haven't already.

Grissom said:
Excellent as always :thumbup
Click to expand...

Thanks for coming along!

-Bill
 
navy8ret

navy8ret

USN Retired
Love these ride reports, reading and seeing the photos - Top notch :thumbup:cool
 
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budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
That reflection shot on the tank is magical. :thumbup

Always good stuff to be had by clicking one of your ride threads.
 
GB500guy

GB500guy

Well-known member
Thanks all, I hope the pics inspire others to enjoy the roads that are our local treasures.

-Bill
 
M

mobileninja

Member
Beautiful bike and a beautiful ride =) Definitely had me thinking the entire time .... man do I have to go do that ride more.
Thanks for sharing!
 
ScottRNelson

ScottRNelson

Mr. Dual Sport Rider
I was thinking of this subject today, but in a different direction.

I can get out early enough that it isn't hot yet, ride for hours in the hills at nice temperatures, but coming back down into a hot valley is always a bit of a drag. It was like that when I lived in Folsom where the last ten miles were always hot and I had to ride quite a few miles of city streets with stop lights to get home. A little less of an issue when I lived in Pleasanton, but coming back from Mines Rd through Livermore was often hot. Here in Idaho it's similar, but at least I have a route back from riding in the mountains to the east that only has stop signs, so no sitting and baking at traffic lights for minutes at a time.

I guess heading down Del Puerto Canyon from The Junction into Patterson is also in that category.

At least around here it will only be hot for another month or so. The Central Valley stays hot for an extra month or two.
 
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