Ordered breakfast and had a nice talk with Matt.  Just after my breakfast arrived, Earl Minkler pulled up in the convertible and sat down beside me.  We got into some great discussions about Earl & Matt at the last Burning Man, but never actually seeing each other while there.

Nicky, a friend of a Ben (Benjava at Advrider), introduced himself and joined us.  He was riding an old Yamaha XS400 Special II.  The really special (CHEAP!) one with the drum front brakes!  Next was a couple on a 2008 Yamaha R1. Can't remember their names, but he had stumbled across our web pages and wanted to join our ride.  He lived in Danville, I believe, and said he was quite familiar with all of these roads.

Benjava arrived as we were finishing up and asked where everyone was. This was his 4th 2-Mtn ride in a row and remembered the BIG crowd we had in 2007.  His other friend, Kevin on a newer KLR650, arrived next.  This was Kevin's second 2-mtn ride.  Last, but not least, Pete Slote joined us outside.

During the rider's meeting, the R1 guest said the Mt. Diablo entrance fee had gone up to $7.  I put $7 in my arm pocket for easy retrieval. 8 folks on 7 bikes headed towards the Mt. Diablo Northgate entrance. Our favorite frowning ranger was at the gate again and informed us that the entrance fee was now TEN DOLLARS!!!  WTF!?!  I whined and fished for my wallet.

The ride up the mountain was mostly clear of traffic.  The roads were clean with only a few wet areas.  We had nice views to the north & west at the summit, but the clouds to the south and east looked like they were slowly headed our way.  It was pleasant up top with no wind at all.

The ride back down the mountain was at a friskier pace with not a ranger or radar in sight! Out Marsh Creek Road next and turned onto Morgan Territory Road.  MT road was wet and gravelly in the usual places with only one mud flow.  At the south end Matt, Pete, & I waited for the others.  And waited...  Uh-OH, they should have been here by now.

As I talked Pete & Matt into heading to the gas station while I went back, the others came riding over the hill.  Someone had to stop & pee, and that apparently took awhile.  Glad to see everyone was OK.  The R1 pulled out first to head to the gas station, and we never saw them again.  She was riding on the back in sweats, a light jacket, & sneakers. I suspect she'd had had enough of that tiny pillion pad on this cool morning.

Mines road was next & we took the FAST Del Valle sweepers to the top of glider hill. Made the u-turn and flew back down!  Nice, clean road!  The rest of Mines Road was its usual FUN self; mostly clean, but some corners were wet & others had that gravel that's the same color as the chip seal.  Really takes a good look to see it and adjust your line accordingly.  Everyone arrived at the Junction just fine. Glen Coddington was there waiting for us to show up.

Pete and Ben ate some lunch while the rest of us stole their french fries.  Ben's pulled-pork sandwich looked GREAT!  I'm going to have to ride out there for lunch one day!

The wood stove behind our table and my hot chocolate had warmed me up enough, so I stepped outside. Then I heard; "Sheesh, they'll let anyone out here!"  I looked over and there was Bruce Frame.  Bruce is one of the old Livermore Harley crowd,  went to high school with Earl, and an old friend.  He was out for a ride on his Buell 1125R.  We had a nice chat.

Matt lead us down San Antonio Valley Road next and up to the observatory on Mt. Hamilton.  The roads were amazingly clean.  I guess the rain must have washed most of the sand away on the west side.  We entered the clouds as we neared the top and the roads were wet again.

It was windy, damp, and a bit cool at the observatory, so we didn't stay long.  We headed down the east side.  More sand in the corners on this side, but only a few required line adjustments.  Stopped at Kincaid road to maybe do the in&out, but that road was wet, where Mt. Hamilton road was dry by then.  We continued down to San Jose.

Glen spotted this moto backyard coming down into San Jose

We re-grouped at the bottom, and everyone bailed on me to get to a superbowl party somewhere.  Them SLACKERS!  ;-)

Can you tell Matt Brockway just left?

It was 3PM, the afternoon was gorgeous, and I continued by myself.  After a gas stop at the bottom of the hill, I charged up Sierra to the top. It was dry, mostly clean, & FUN! Felder road was fun until I reached a road block with only one lane kinda open. That's where the people were standing.  Many trucks were there trying to winch and drag a big pickup back up on the road.  What a mess!  Next was Calaveras Road past the reservoir. Only met 2 cars and one Harley back there.  Mostly clean road and only wet under some of the trees.  Nice twisty heaven!

I continued on Niles Canyon Road past Sunol and turned north on Palomares Road.  Except where there had been a rock slide, the road was clean & fun.  Into Castro Valley next and right on Crow Canyon Road to 680.

I got home before dark and just after the half-time show.  Nice day for a ride!

Catfish ...