Paso Robles.

We finished up our riding in Healdsburg with an early morning ride on the West Dry Creek Road.  Everyone wanted a little exercise before our 4 1/2 drive to Paso Robles. The unsettled weather continued and all of us (there were 3 differnet groups with different ideas as to where to ride) got to experience a short, 20 minute rain shower. We were so lucky that the other days were threatening, but we managed to ride between the rainy periods.

We then split up into our 3 vehicles, said goodbye to Katrina who was flying back to Seattle after an afternoon with a friewnd who lives in the area, and headed south To Paso Robles.

There was a light traffic, and some early showers (we picked a good day to drive). But an easy ride overall.

Paso Robles welcomed us with 3 days of sun. We had another 2 full days of riding and then a final half day this AM, with clear skies and sunny weather.

And then it was over.  :-(

It was great to get together with old friends again (Gary Lind and Elian rode with us one day as well). No injuries. Enjoyable times over beers after the rides.  No lost riders (at least for more than half an hour).  And many great meals.

For trip pictures (all of which you cn download) from the trip, go to this google album. Email me if you have problems.  rrafoth@gmail.com

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UNslpW05cXDKhVZA2

Unsettled weather.

The weather has been unsettled the last two days. Cloudy, cool, and some drizzle each day. But we have been able to plan the days riding around the raindrops.

A few pictures of the riding....

...and a  coffee stop is a daily essential.













Today we found a back road that led us through redwoods into Guernville, but with several pitches with an 18 percent grade. It's been a long time since everyone had to walk part of a climb.



















































WEeall look forward to a beer (or two) at the end of the ride, compliments of Skip, and dinner with the group.

Tomorrow we head for what we hope will be the real California spring weather in Paso Robles.

First Day!

Today we ride!!

We woke up to blue skies and warm weather (a high of 75 was predicted). We headed for Healdsburg, parked at the Best Western, and were on the bikes by 10:30.

We headed out into the Alexander Valley and dod our favorite Chalk Hill Road route.

Stopped for an occasional picture - this was at the Soda Springs winery...

....this is a selfie at one of our regular routes at an old bridge over the Russian River.

It was a 42 mile day (longest of the year for me).  Then it was time to reconnect with old friends, and of course sample some of Skip's (Dr. Gambinus) home brewed IPA.

The weather tomorrow is suppose to be cooler and cloudy, change of some light showers. We have our fingers crossed that our luck will hold and the roads will stay dry.

Driving South

It's Thursday and time to pack up the "new" (actually 1 year old) Toyota Sienna for a road trip to warmer climes, and hopefully sunnier weather. It has been a cool spring in the Pacific NW and only a few days to get in a few miles in the bike.

In late May I'm doing a 2 week ride in Macedonia and Albania, and I need a few more miles on the body to be ready for the infamous climbs which are the hallmark of that area.

John Hemmen and I are leaving a few days before the "official" first day of the group riding to visit his sister and brother in law in Marin County.

I t was NOT an auspicious start. I put on the wipers as we left Seattle, and they were on all 750 miles. And it wasn't a drizzle, it was "car wash drive-through" heavy. They reported 5 inches in Larkspur (Marin) the 24 hours before we got there.

But we woke up to a dry Saturday AM and headed to San Francisco (via the ferry) to visit the Museum of Modern Art and then the DeYoung. I loved SFMOMA and look forward to the next time I can visit. Interesting and well curated exhibits. And the "topic exhibit" on the Age of the Machine in art was fascinating as well.

Today, Sunday, we did a 5 mile walk on Mt. Tamalpias 

and then had a late lunch in Stimson Beach.

Here you can see the effects of the deluge in the Stimson Beach State Park parking lot.

Tomorrow it's off to Healdsburg to begin a few days of biking, and, of course, the usual post ride camaraderie as we share stories and a couple of beers. 

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