George's Rides

It was clear here in Sacramento today, with the temps forcast to be in the 60s. I hopped on the bike, noting that the temperature seemed a little cool.

I headed south on the levee highway, Cal route 160. I have reported on this road before, it follows the Sacramento River south through the Delta to the Bay. When I say it follows, I mean it follows, with long, sweeping curves, right on top of the levee most of the way. Quite a few bikes out today, and there were a few boats moving on the river. There were even a couple of Jetskis out, the riders were fully dressed.

After a short wait at the Threemile Slough drawbridge for a passing tug, I took 160 all the way to Antioch, where I hit 4 east toward Stockton. As I went by the Union Point Marina I noticed they were doing a booming business, with about 15 bikes parked out front. I would have stopped in to check my fluid levels, but there were other fish to fry today.

Rolled into Stockton to the Elks Lodge, where I met up with a DOF, a Saint, and TNFH. A real stroke of timing had us arriving at the exact same time. The only reason that happened was my skill at taking a 40 mile ride down the Interstate and turning it into a 110 mile back road adventure.

At the Elks, we enjoyed some really good jazz performed by the Natural Gas Jazz Band, and the DOF shared some Earthquake McGoon's memorbilia with the members of the band, some of whom played there and one of whom helped produce a book about the place. For those who don't know, McGoon's was a jazz club in San Francisco where the DOF and the Saint used to spend time. The doors from the Pier 39 location were obtained by said DOF, and are slated to be the Saloon doors.

After an utterly enjoyable, and utterly too short a time, I had to take my leave, to attend a Super Bowl party hosted by a coworker. I left Stockton and blasted north on Rt 99. I would have stopped in Lodi, but was afraid I'd be stuck there, so I kept going. I turned off of 99 onto Grant Line Road, taking that all the way to Folsom, to my coworker's house. I was late for the kickoff, so I listened to the start of the game on the Electra Glide's radio.

I left his house when the fourth quarter started, so I could pop home before the parties let out. Just a straight romp down Rt. 50, north on 5, another stop for gas, and put the bike to bed.

Close to 200 miles, nice, enjoyable day. The inner fairing temperature guage did reach 60 degrees, when I left the bike parked in the sun.