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by Catfish Photos by Glen Coddington & Catfish Weather can have quite an effect on a motorcycle ride. Last year, we advertised and had great weather with an incredible turnout. This year we got a real winter & only 6 hearty souls braved the elements! Jim Carnes, Catfish, Glen Coddington, Pete Slote, and guests Scott & Ben. Most had rain & wet roads to get to Walnut Creek. There was a big blue spot to the north in Walnut Creek that urged our fools onward! Hubcap's had a sausage-patty breakfast special on the sign out front, so I knew what I was ordering before I reached the door! They were GOOD too, and I thanked the owner personally for today's special! I usually order the Louisiana hot links 'cause patties aren't on the menu.
The ranger at the Mt. Diablo Northgate Entrance was the same old guy with the same annoyed expression as always. You can tell he REALLY likes us to come visit his park. He said there was a little ice at the summit. The climb up Diablo was free of rain, traffic, & rangers! Only wet pavement until the final 500 feet as we entered the cloud layer. It was 37F up top and no sign of ice.
Ben headed to other places when we got back down to Walnut Creek, so we were down to five. Morgan Territory Rd. had a few minor mud flows and pea gravel to loosen things up a bit. Everyone, including the ride leader, get through safely!
The clouds to the south looked ominous at the Livermore gas stop, so we took a break and waited for them to move along. We searched in vein for Valley Machine stickers in the beer garden. Earl needs to start marking his territory again! By the time we got to Mines Road, the weather has just left and only wet pavement remained. We had a nice brisk ride to the Junction! There were two water crossing, and the second was major! Shame Glen wasn't standing there for the photo when I went through!
We caught and passed a lifted, yellow jeep on Mines Rd. and realized Earl was heading to the Junction for a visit with US! Beth was with him too. They'd driven through the weather (heavy rain, then sleet & hail!) that we just missed.
It was 36F when we arrived at the Junction. There were two wet bike riders at the table in front of the wood stove, and a few locals at the warm end of the bar. I ordered a hot chocolate and a bowl of chili with onions and cheese to warm me up. A few good shakes of Tabasco helped too. The rain came & went a couple times while we ate lunch, so I finally put my electric vest on for the rest of the ride. Pete headed back to Livermore & home, so we were down to four foolish friends vs. Mt Hamilton. Just as we left the Junction southbound, we got to this...
Its always been a tradition to ignore these road closed signs and go tackle the mountain. We've hit snow & a little ice many years, but always made it over the top. The sheriff holding traffic back on the San Jose side really HATES it when we ride down from the mountain to his road block. We were going for it again! San Antonio Valley Road was wet, but relatively clean. The pace was brisk up the valley, over the ridge, and thru the next valley. About halfway up the mountain, we were seeing snow on the side of the road. Then it started snowing on us as we climbed. As we started seeing snow accumulation on the road, we also noticed recent car/truck tracks thru the snow. We start riding in those tracks as the snow deepened.
The road was looking treacherous. I was down to 2000 rpm in first gear as I rode the right tire track through the snow-covered curves. In each straight, I'd whack the throttle open momentarily to test traction. Only the last test spun the rear tire up a little. I carefully balanced my way thru the next right curve, and at the exit ... WOOPS!!!
An Italian mistress is an unhappy girl when she has to look up to see her shoes. She landed rather softly in the snow though. Jim and I wrestled, grunted, and slipped on the snow & ice with her for a while. She was a little dizzy, but glad to be standing again. I panted the thin mountain air for the next ten minutes.
Only a half mile from the top and too much ICE under the snow! DRATS!!! This was a first for this ride! We tucked our tails between our legs and skied back down the mountain. My dash temp said 31F.
Once we were out of the snow zone, traction and rain returned. Some of the rain was heavy & cold. We got back to the Junction just as the SuperBowl was starting on the TV above the bar. The dash temp still said 31F. BURRRRR!!! We were the only customers in the place, so we surrounded the wood stove and ordered more hot chocolates. Scott said he was freezing. We watched as he wrung the water out of his gloves and set them on top of the stove. Next he pulled off his boots & socks, and poured a few ounces of water out of them. We discussed waterproof gloves and boots as everyone slowly warmed up. Feeling almost human again, we remembered the BIG water crossing ahead of us on our return to Livermore. We all agreed we needed another photo op. 
The 2nd Mines Rd. water crossing
The rain was gone and the clouds were breaking. Mines Road was drying more the further we went. A FUN, empty piece of heaven was enjoyed by all!
We parted at the Chevron station in Livermore. Great Ride. There was just enough light left for me to hop on Morgan Territory Road back towards Concord. About 2/3s the way thru, I came across a LARGE female boar slowly, kinda crossing the road. Flicking high beams, beeping horn, & revving the motor did NOT make her look this way or change her slow pace. I stopped and waited for my turn. Catfish ... |
