I just completed a nice 550 mile loop this past weekend on my Triumph Bonneville. Left from Incline Village NV and cruised to the Bay Area via State Route 4. Returned via State Route 88. A really nice loop. For anyone visiting the area, you must try these classic western roads:
On the map shown above: O = Incline Village NV, N = South Lake Tahoe CA, C = Markleeville CA, D = Murphy's CA, E = Stockton CA, G = Walnut Creek CA, H = Rio Vista CA, L = Twin Cities CA, M = Jackson CA. So CDE = Highway 4, LMC = Highway 88
Below: Ebbetts Pass and and the non lane demarcated part of highway 4. Not a high speed road but many great hairpins and the road surface seems to be brand new and is pretty much pristine and perfect for motorcycle traction. The road is not even two car widths wide in spots. If they could shut this road down, it would make for an excellent road race course:
Below: Mosquito Lake on the west side of Ebbett's Pass is an beautiful sight to see. The water lillys are incredible and I was amazed to see them at 7K plus elevation:
Below: A Scene from "North By Northwest" in Brentwood NORCAL? Unfortunately, I don't look at all like Cary Grant.
Below: Marsh Creek Road on the way into Clayton CA is very fun and was deserted with traffic at the time I was there. The paving isn't that great but it is curvy. In my opinion, the area around Mt. Diablo is California Oak Tree and Grass Range Country at it's best:
Below: Along Route 160 on my way into Rio Vista in Sacramento River Delta. God it was windy there. Particularly on the high bridge crossing over from Antioch to the other side of the Delta. A few miles down the road at the junction of 160 and Route 12, there was a pool of oil about three feet in diameter that I could not avoid while stopping and I almost lost the Bonneville coming to a stop. She moonwalked about two feet to the right and then she held upright amazingly. Gotta love the Bonnie for stuff like that and being a forgiving type of girl. On many other heavier and fatter tired bikes, I would have been on the ground nursing a bashed up cycle and a separated shoulder. Love my Bonnie.
I am not sure I am going to travel on Route 160 again. Just bad karma for me:
Below: At Al the Wops with FattRatt's beautiful yellow BMW FZ1. I am SH****Y at parking the bike. Guess I don't hang out at Harley bars enough:
Below: The road home via Route 88 is awesome and a fast ride. Fast if you are heading east to Tahoe on a Sunday that is. It was magnificent up there:
View of Silver Lake on 88 near Carson Pass Summit:
For those with further interest in these excellent roads, I have a more long winded account and additional pictures on by web site. I am having some formatting issues for desk top displays but hope to have it cleaned up soon.
Anyone visiting out from the East or elsewhere has got to get a taste of riding Highways 4 and 88 through the Sierras.
-Chuck-
[ This message was edited by: ChuckofTahoe on 2006-08-29 00:20 ]
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