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Main Area => Meet and Greet => Topic started by: WildBlue on August 05, 2007, 12:03:40 PM

Title: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: WildBlue on August 05, 2007, 12:03:40 PM
So I'm getting back home yesterday around 1:45am, sober and suddenly not really feeling like getting home, so I get on Junipero Serra toward Sand Hill and drive toward the hills.  As soon as I go over 280 it's pitch black, except for the faint glow of the moon behind some thin clouds.  The view is somewhat eerie, and I switch to high-beams which pushes it up a notch -- you know, the kind of lighting that lets you see the road and illuminates the trees too in that Blair Witch Project-esque way...?  I'm almost expecting to see that creepy girl from The Ring standing between two trees at the top of the hill... :o  I'm loving it though, nobody but myself and the GS on this road, the smell of the vegetation really strong at this time.  I turn right on Whiskey Hill Rd, and it's even darker cause you're among the trees now some of the time.  I pull over on the shoulder by a clearing in the tree cover and turn off the engine and just sit there for a while... wow  :icon_mrgreen:.  Keep going, then left onto Woodside, and ride for a little bit before my legs get too cold to continue.  So I turn back the same way I came, watching for deers and whathaveyous all along -- no wildlife walked up in front of me, but I did see a Crown Vic cruiser chase a white 3-series BMW on my way back, wonder how THAT ended.   :laugh:

No matter how many times I've been in a car at night on similar roads, this just was 100x cooler...  So yeah, I'm wanting to ride up to Skyline one of these nights, maybe in a couple of weekends.  Anyone who wants to is welcome to join.   :thumb:
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: scratch on August 06, 2007, 02:21:16 PM
I think the deer migration is over (usually in early June, but still keep an eye out and your mind on).

How about an after-work ride up to Alice's for dinner?  We'll draw straws for who leads  :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: pandy on August 06, 2007, 03:04:13 PM
scratch should definitely lead (the speed demon)....wait..maybe he should give us a 1/2 hour lead so that we all arrive together...wait...maybe I should get at least an hour lead so that we all get there at the same time... :P  :icon_mrgreen:

Ok..that means I should lead! ;)  :laugh:
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: jazerr on August 07, 2007, 09:52:41 AM
Ooh! when?! I'll be down there all next week for classes!
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: scratch on August 07, 2007, 10:00:31 AM
Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays are best.  Mondays and Fridays are pretty bad up there with people commuting and getting out for the weekends.  Best days for me are Tuesdays, followed by Thursdays.

How about Tuesday the 14th?

Wildblue, you've got the route you would like us to take, right?
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: jazerr on August 07, 2007, 10:22:10 AM
I'm down with tuesday. I'll do my best not to crash before.
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: pandy on August 07, 2007, 06:41:41 PM
I'd be in for the 14th...if Ceek doesn't sweep, I will....don't worry...I'll catch up eventually....  :flipoff: :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: WildBlue on August 07, 2007, 08:20:42 PM
Hmmm... I think Tuesday could work, although Thursday would be much better for me.  You guys available on Thursday 16th August?

At what time does Alice's close?  When does everybody get out of work?

As for the route, I had something not too complicated in mind since it's a night ride: 9 to Skyline to Alice's, then 84 to 280.  Oh, and right before Alice's stop at the Skyline vista point where you can see basically the entire bay.

Or shall we do Tunitas Creek and Page Mill?   :o  :laugh:
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: sanjay on August 07, 2007, 08:56:10 PM
I might be able to come, depending on when I get off work.
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: jazerr on August 08, 2007, 12:06:53 AM
thurs is fine by me. my classes are in san bruno till 5, so I wouldnt be down near 9 till sometime around 6-630.
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: ledfingers on August 08, 2007, 02:22:33 AM
man, why do you guys have to do it all the way in southbay? i don't get off til 6:30 thurs. and i work tuesday. meh, i doubt i'll have my bike back on the road by that time anyway...
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: brett on August 08, 2007, 08:11:07 AM
I'm available pretty much any weeknight. Remember, the sun doesn't set until around 8 if you actually want a night ride.
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: scratch on August 08, 2007, 02:49:35 PM
Sounds like Thursday is better for everybody including me.  Thursday it is.  I don't get off of work til 5, but I might go home and change (take me 15 minutes to get there and 10 minutes to change), then take 237 to 85 to Saratoga exit (actually, Lawrence would be faster, I can get to the Saratoga exit off of 85 in 20-30 minutes).

So we're meeting at the 76 station?  6-6:30?

Ledfingers - I have to look at your first few posts to find out where you are, and then we'll think of something for a ride up near your area (since I really don't remember where you are at this moment...).

Edit: Oh boogers, you're north of SF!  That's a three-day weekend trip (one to get there, sleep, ride Mt. Tamalpias and Coast Hwy, sleep, ride home) for me.
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: jazerr on August 08, 2007, 03:17:16 PM
76 station, next thursday (8-16). 6-6:30pm...

Question....where is the 76 station exactly? I havent lived down there in a while.
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: brett on August 08, 2007, 03:27:36 PM
It's at the corner of Big Basin Way and Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road in Saratoga.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=&daddr=37.259487,-122.032485&mrsp=1&sz=16&mra=mi&sll=37.259538,-122.032549&sspn=0.010742,0.015299&ie=UTF8&z=16&om=1
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: WildBlue on August 08, 2007, 10:04:53 PM
I think 6:30 is a little early, as brett pointed out sunset is around 8.  Now, Alice's closes at 8:30 according to the internet, so how about this as an alternative -- we meet at the Shell gas station on Sand Hill Rd at 7pm, ride up to Alice's for dinner and then do Skyline to 9 to 280 after sunset.   I think it makes more sense to do the loop this way.

Shell station is at Sand Hill and Sharon Park Dr:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=sharon+park+dr+at+sand+hill+rd,+palo+alto,+ca&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=32.66491,59.765625&ie=UTF8&ll=37.425133,-122.195392&spn=0.007992,0.014591&z=16&iwloc=addr&om=1

Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: jazerr on August 09, 2007, 08:33:50 AM
Either one sounds great. Either one puts us at alices at dinner time--which is, coincidentally, my favorite time to eat dinner.

You all can duke this one out, but make sure the plan gets posted here.
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: scratch on August 09, 2007, 10:29:51 AM
Sounds food to me.  Shell station on Snad Hill Rd @ 7.
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: WildBlue on August 09, 2007, 10:55:57 PM
Cool cool
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: brett on August 15, 2007, 08:03:02 AM
Sorry guys, I can't make the ride. I forgot that my buddy's band has a show that night. Have fun.
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: pandy on August 15, 2007, 08:13:47 PM
Tuesday was good; Thursday isn't good for me. Have a GREAT and SAFE, SAFE, SAFE ride, guys!  :cheers: :thumb:
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: WildBlue on August 16, 2007, 08:37:59 AM
jazerr and scratch, are you guys still up for it?

I won't be able to post from work but I'll check this thread for sure.
Title: Re: Bay Area - Night ride?
Post by: scratch on August 16, 2007, 09:01:00 AM
Yep, I'm in