Friday June 17
The big day is here and we arrive at Russell at 9 AM sharp. Chris is ready for us, asks some questions, shares his thoughts, takes our seats and gives us loaner seats. He tells us to be back at 11 and we take off to get some pictures of Shasta Lake and Dam. The lake is just a few miles west of Russell's shop.
We also go over the dam and drop into the canyon below the dam. There is a state campground there as well as a state off road vehicle area.
Somewhere in my past I was a frustrated fisherman and this area looks like a place I would like to try. But I have no gear, no licence and no time.
After looking the area over we return to Russell to get our seats back. Linda tended to slide forward on her seat and she is quite happy with how the seat feels now. My seat pocket needed to be enlarged slightly and moved forward. I can feel the difference right away. We decide that our test ride will be the route to my father's house and that if there are any issues we will just turn around and come back for another adjustment.
The only efficient way to Brentwood where my father lives is south on Interstate 5. But California has a 55 mph limit on vehicles pulling trailers. We were told by a Highway Patrol officer in this area 2 years ago that it is not enforced on motorcycles unless the trailer is weaving. It is not really safe riding 55 on a 65-70 mph highway with tailgating cars and big trucks so we start off at 60 and eventually settle on 65 and hope that we will not be ticketed. We never see even one Highway Patrolman until Sacramento 150+ miles later. In Sacramento we take some backroads south into the delta country where we ride on levees along side the waterways. The levee roads are narrow and twisty with no shoulders and gravelly corners. This is not a place to have a flat tire. But it is a lot cooler and the farmlands are more scenic than the cities along the interstate. Finally we arrive at the Ryer Island ferry which takes us across the river onto the northern mainland.
We have to cross 3 more bridges before we get to Brentwood and can take our boots and helmets off and relax. One bridge to Brannan Island, another is a drawbridge across a waterway to Sherman Island and finally another across the San Joaquin River onto the southern mainland. The elevation in the flatlands before the last bridge is actually below sea level. We will stay with my father for a few days and visit. I also have new brake pads for the front wheel being shipped there so I will install them before we leave for Gerlach, Nevada where we will be meeting other riders from Albuquerque for Ravioli at Bruno's. And that will be the subject for the next blog which will start in a few days.
The big day is here and we arrive at Russell at 9 AM sharp. Chris is ready for us, asks some questions, shares his thoughts, takes our seats and gives us loaner seats. He tells us to be back at 11 and we take off to get some pictures of Shasta Lake and Dam. The lake is just a few miles west of Russell's shop.
We also go over the dam and drop into the canyon below the dam. There is a state campground there as well as a state off road vehicle area.
Somewhere in my past I was a frustrated fisherman and this area looks like a place I would like to try. But I have no gear, no licence and no time.
After looking the area over we return to Russell to get our seats back. Linda tended to slide forward on her seat and she is quite happy with how the seat feels now. My seat pocket needed to be enlarged slightly and moved forward. I can feel the difference right away. We decide that our test ride will be the route to my father's house and that if there are any issues we will just turn around and come back for another adjustment.
The only efficient way to Brentwood where my father lives is south on Interstate 5. But California has a 55 mph limit on vehicles pulling trailers. We were told by a Highway Patrol officer in this area 2 years ago that it is not enforced on motorcycles unless the trailer is weaving. It is not really safe riding 55 on a 65-70 mph highway with tailgating cars and big trucks so we start off at 60 and eventually settle on 65 and hope that we will not be ticketed. We never see even one Highway Patrolman until Sacramento 150+ miles later. In Sacramento we take some backroads south into the delta country where we ride on levees along side the waterways. The levee roads are narrow and twisty with no shoulders and gravelly corners. This is not a place to have a flat tire. But it is a lot cooler and the farmlands are more scenic than the cities along the interstate. Finally we arrive at the Ryer Island ferry which takes us across the river onto the northern mainland.
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| Ryer Island Ferry |
We have to cross 3 more bridges before we get to Brentwood and can take our boots and helmets off and relax. One bridge to Brannan Island, another is a drawbridge across a waterway to Sherman Island and finally another across the San Joaquin River onto the southern mainland. The elevation in the flatlands before the last bridge is actually below sea level. We will stay with my father for a few days and visit. I also have new brake pads for the front wheel being shipped there so I will install them before we leave for Gerlach, Nevada where we will be meeting other riders from Albuquerque for Ravioli at Bruno's. And that will be the subject for the next blog which will start in a few days.
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