Sat Aug 9 East Bay Ride

I am planning a ride in the East Bay area for Sat Aug 9th if anyone is interested. I want to take the Grizzly Peak Blvd from North Berkeley area down to Lake Chabot...It is supposed to be a very scenic ride that connects to Pinehurst Rd and then Redwood Rd...have seen several write-ups on different motorcycle websites...it is supposed to be all park roads with very little residential areas and no major highways...Have ridden the northern end up over Grizzly Peak which is very scenic but have not gone down the entire length of the East Bay Ridges...Google Maps says it is about 24 mi and about an hour by car...if it is as twisty as the upper end it will be much longer scooter ride...the return route is open depending on time available....Let me know if anybody has done this ride before and what to expect...Also if anybody is interested in joining let me know what time on Sat morning would work for you...

Greg,

That sounds like a fun ride. I have a previous commitment for this Saturday, or I would have joined you.

I hope others can join you.

Scott

It is a beautiful ride that I have done many times. There are a couple of real tight turns but otherwise a good road. If I had my scoot back I would go with you.

Rob,
Thanks for the feedback...Let me know when you have your scoot back and we will plan a ride...I am new to the area and looking to explore....Went over Grizzly Peak and out to Mt Diablo on the back roads last week...Diablo was a lot higher and longer road than I expected but great view from the top...Let me know when you are good to go... Greg

Greg,
What time were you thinking of starting this ride? Let me know, I may join you. I have some free time to enjoy riding.
I have ridden Grizzly Peak before and I think there are 3 peaks, moma bear, pap bear..etc..Its a gorgeous ride with a view of San Pablo Dam, actually part of Briones Natonal Park (I think).
Lots of twisties in fact seen many bikes go off the twisties.
Keep in touch.

William

Greg:

It's beautiful up there! I'd join you too, but my parts order has an anticipated delivery date of August 11th. And, I don't want to ride with my throttle sleeve broken like that. It works, but I have to twist it both ways and hold it in tight with my hand to get it to respond correctly.

William: I believe you mean Briones Regional Park which is one of many of the East Bay Regional Parks. http://www.ebparks.org/parks/briones
They are all very nice and better yet, they are local. The only negative, although it doesn't affect us on our club rides is, due to misbehavior by so many which has increased in frequency as the Bay Area's population has grown, there are many restrictions such as no alcohol allowed and closing at dusk. I can't tell you how many times a few friends and I have enjoyed sipping a brew in one of the many parks while watching the sun go down. And yes, we were quite responsible and not overindulging nor littering.

Mt. Diablo is quite high compared to the surrounding area. Just short of 4,000 feet. Due to it's topography, it was used to survey via reflected laser (IIRC) from a satellite, a good portion of the entire western US. On a clear winter day, after a good windstorm, you can see Mt. Shasta, the entire Delta and all the way out to the Farallon Islands from the top. It's awesome!

William.

Since you live up in Fairfield and I am in Berkeley, I could change my Lake Chabot plans and meet you in the Pinole area...We could do a loop through San Pablo Dam Road, Bear Creek and Briones Park area rather than have you go all the way down to Lake Chabot? Could always come up the backside of Tilden Park for the view from Grizzly Peak summit which looks over all the way to the Golden Gate...Open to ideas...your thoughts? Greg

Here is a link by Greg for the Sat ride. I used the www.tinyurl.com site to shorten this up. I hope it works.

Thanks,

http://preview.tinyurl.com/6b25dy

After you double clink on the above link, scroll down just a little and then click on "Proceed to this site".

Thanks Jeff, that works fine...William and I are on for Sat if any other folks want to join us we can adjust our plans to make it convenient for them...I think this will be a nice little day trip with a wide variety of terrain and some very nice photo opportunities... Greg

Final Plans - Sat morning 9:00 AM in El Sobrante at the Jack in the Box restaurant at the intersection of San Pablo Dam Rd and Appian Way....we will be working our way down Grizzly Peak Blvd and Skyline Blvd to Lake Chabot in Castro Valley...will return up Redwood Rd and Pinehurst Rd through Moraga and possibly up to Walnut Creek to check out the Vespa Rally...If anyone wants to join or meet us during the ride, let us know...the more the merrier... Greg