Sept. 01 - Day 18

Up at 6, we packed a load to the bikes and hit breakfast on Jeff's winnings, in the hotel. Quick and simple we were on the road just after 7.

Thanks to Alan (scottinexile) a VFRD member from Reno, we took a little side route to Reno via Virgina City. A great set of sweepers and twisties leading us through the old, historic city. I could easily imagine the dirt roads and wood boardwalks between the buildings, complete with a banner that read, "Camel Races next week".

Coming down the short summit we were treated with a distant view of Reno then a close up as we slabbed it on our way through. Climbing out of the city area headed for Quincy and a loop Jeff insisted on taking, down hwy 119 to Oroville, CA. It started out calm, then deep into wooded area and tight roads, opening up to brand new pavement. For around 30 miles it was 25 - 35 mph corners on clean, black roads - real fun riding in your own groove.

We came out at a bridge crossing over Lake Oroville overlooking a bridge and a houseboat city. Most of the lakes like this we've come across all seem to be really low in water level. The soft orange bluffs flowed gently into the water. Quite a nice ride down. Stopped in Oroville for lunch at a little Mexican fast food place where the Buritto was just too big to finish. The owner came out and talked with us about riding & roads. He too, was quite envious but happy to see us out riding and enjoying California offerings. We finished up and headed for our return loop to hwy 70, heading North towards Greenville & Chester.

Wow, what a valley. The road was long with sweepers, giving plenty of time to actually enjoy the view. There were 3 short tunnesl with the first coming out of nowhere, giving you the distant look of the road simply entering into the mountain. Always love the sound of the V4 through a tunnel, just have to rev it up more than once or twice. Just like a kid with the horn, I guess most boys never really grow up.

There were several power generating stations all the way up with huge rounded boulders giving the impression that they let massive amounts of water go polishing and rounding the large boulders that lined the creek all the way up. We crossed several bridges, with upper and lower rail bridges crossing at the same time.

Just before turning off the 70 to the 89 I spotted these strange formations in the creek bed. Best I could tell, they were a whole bunch of stacked rocks. I figure either by one group doing a bunch or many visitors doing one each. None the less it was a site to behold. We had planned on spending the night in Greenville, but upon arrival we both didn't feel real good about it. Just not welcoming and thought we might come out to the bikes up on blocks and stripped down. After a quick loop around town we headed for Chester. 29 miles up the road we were there in a 1/2 hour and found a great little motel with only 2 rooms left. Right across the street, we hit the grocery store for some Mirror Pond Pale Ale and sandwiches to go. Perfect as the oversized buritto from lunch still sitting in the digestive track.

Feeling very good after a 280 mile day, with another 290 coming tomorrow putting us at the Southern end of Oregon. Anothe nice relaxing evening and up early again. Hope you are enjoying this as much as we are. Eh, probably not. You'll just have to come next time.