|
|
|
Rydin' in Gold Country
 |
The ryde began, after a sumptuous breakfast at the St. George Hotel, with the traditional tire kicking and lie-telling. |
 |
The bikes went the entire block in front of the magnificent, 140 year old hotel. They even put 'No Parking' signs out for us! |
|
We rode through some old towns that positively REEK of history. SabMaggots filled the roads with the sweet sound of Honda V-4's (and other motor- cycle mahem) all around the Sierra Foothills. The roads were great, the ryding was even better. |
 |
 |
The first segment (consisting of some of the very twistiest twisties on Ram's Horn Grade Road) end- ed at the 'General Store' in River Pines, where we all dismounted for more BSing and a quick refresh- ment. This quickly led to boredom, and we were off on the second leg.... |
|
Segment two took us through still more twisties, which led to more - well - twisties. Gold Country has some of the best in the land. Even our own YWR could find few faults. Nobody was bored, that is a fact. But we all were gettin' hungry after a few hours, and lunch was at the end of the segment... |
 |
|
Some maggots found the going so tough, they had to stop along the way for a breather. This, of course, was encouraged - if you found yourself in need of rest. After the miles some of these guys endured to get to the Fling, it wasn't a a surprise. |
 |
 |
We filled the parking lot at the lunch stop at a very relaxing spot - Lake Pardee Recreation Area, where the Rangers let the entire group of 32 bikes in without a single 'day-use fee' being paid. They no doubt saw the $$ signs from all those hungry bikers. We did not disappoint them. 37 hungry folks ran the snack bar help ragged for an hour and a half. |
|
Maggots listen intently as the infamous Ye Wilde Ryder holds class. YWR led the 'fast' group on his new ZX9-R Ninja. So fast were they that they man- aged to miss a turn or two, allowing the 'slower' group (led by Phil Ross) to sneak past. YWR was no doubt explaining the logic of this, declaring it an 'act of blatant hooliganism', for which he is famous. |
 |
 |
Karen Ferguson, SMWSF99 sweetheart (thanks for the cookies!) and TOWMBO (aka Lynn Guilkey, YWR's SO) relaxing after lunch. Alot of this went on, after we gorged ourselves on burgers, dogs, shrimp baskets, and other snack bar fair. After all, we had to get ourselves ready to do battle once again Segment 3, more twisties on Hwy 49 and Hwy 26. |
|
A few Maggots even found themselves up an actual creek. Such features are rampant in the Sierra Foothills, luring unsuspecting bikers into acts the likes of which they've never dreamed. The scenery was worth it. |
 |
on to --> the FEAST