Ducati Monster Forum

Ride confirmed for Napa, to Calistoga, Middletown, Pope Valley and finishing at Artesa Winery in Napa on Saturday, August 16th.  

This ride will be a scenic one with technical roads mixed in - just short of 200 miles if coming from SF/Mill Valley.  Actual riding time will be 3 hours before we end up at Carneros Inn circa 1:00 pm for lunch.  We can then ride to Artesa (which is very close to the Inn) for a complimentary wine tasting and tour (if interested).  There will be a couple of gas stops which is why there is an additional time cushion factored in here.  I'm expecting to be back in the City around 4 pm.

Can I have a volunteer to lead Group #1, I will sweep.  Also, just in case we get more participants, can I have another couple of volunteers for a Group #2 lead and sweep?

Meeting place: Starbuck's at Strawberry Village Shopping Center in Marin (off Seminary Drive Exit from 101)
Time: 9 am
Kickstands up: 9:30 am
1st Stop:   2436 Foothill Blvd, Calistoga (arrive approx. 10:45 am)
2nd Stop:   Crave Coffee House [& Gas stop]- Middletown, CA (arrive approx. 11:15 am)
3rd Stop:   Pope Valley, CA (arrive approx. 11:45 am)
4th Stop:   Carneros Inn - Market Deli for lunch (arrive approx. 1 pm)
5th Stop:   Artesa Winery, Napa, CA (arrive approx. 2 pm)
Circa 2 pm -   Meet at Artesa Winery - 1345 Henry Road, Napa, CA
2:00 to 3:00 pm -     Wine tasting optional

See map of route:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=starbucks+strawberry+village,+mill+valley,+ca&daddr=CA-37+E+%4038.107800,+-122.509000+to:CA-12%2FCA-121+%4038.254600,+-122.335910+to:Napa+Valley+Aromatherapy,+2436+Foothill+Blvd+%23+E,+Calistoga,+CA+94515+to:Crave+Coffee+House+21037+Calistoga+Rd+%23+9,+Middletown,+CA+95461+to:Pope+Valley,+CA+to:4048+Sonoma+Hwy,+Napa,+CA+94559+(Carneros+Inn)+to:1345+Henry+Rd,+Napa,+CA+94559-9705&hl=en&geocode=7702239834236350374,38.107800,-122.509000%3B12218043457829571122,38.254600,-122.335910%3B17759841090477942926,38.255048,-122.333455&mra=ls&via=1,2&sll=38.32873,-122.461853&sspn=1.600824,2.790527&ie=UTF8&z=9

Artesa Winery has arranged for complimentary wine tasting for us.  Enter the building and look for the sign that says "Welcome SF DUCATI Riders".  Unfortunately, we can't dine there as they are having a Club BBQ on the 16th so they recommend that we pick up sandwiches at Market Deli at Carneros Inn and dine there as they also have very nice picnic tables (see 4th Stop on the route above). 

Confirmed so far are: 

IN:
Group #1:
CharliesAngel = Sweep
Jason M - Multistrada
Greyduc
ducmental
Coyote Kid

ilya (to join at 1 pm at Carneros Inn since bike won't be ready from Service until after our departure time)

MAYBE:
Joebay (if bike is back from Hattar)

Looking forward to seeing everyone and riding!  [thumbsup] [moto]

Assuming I have my bike back Id like to go.

Doh, after talking about how great that would be, I'm out. 

Gonna be dirtbiking in the Sierra's all weekend.   [moto]  ;D

I'll be sure to be local in October!

October 26th, that's Valencia MotoGP! Also Supermoto at San Joaquin Fairgrounds! haha just messin'

I won't be able to make the 16th cause I've got to do family crap cause they want to celebrate my birthday for some reason :( But I will put down the 26th on my calendar.

Dagnabbit I'll be out of town.  >:(

Hope you taste and spit. I'm always surprised at how Bzzzzzzzzzed I get from wine tasting.
Artesa wine...ehh. Artesa Views,  [thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup]

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2711141351_5307358113_o.jpg)

Have fun!

+1 on that.  That's why the sandwiches are KEY!  and emphasis on the word "tasting"!   [laugh]

I'm interested, but the month of August is already filling up extremely quickly with things to do. I'll post back up in a few days when I figure out if I can manage this or not.

What kind of ride is this?
EXPERT
INTERMEDIATE
BEGINNER

just wondering before I get flamed..

Yarg, I really, really wanted to do this but my friends wedding is on that day and there's no way I can miss that. I also have my mom coming into town that day and my g/f's mom coming to town the day before. I knew I would be busy, but I forgot I would be THAT busy.  :-[ Have fun w/out me.

Exactly, I don't see any problem. Best time to come  ;D  ;)

Sound fun and drunk with 2 wheels  [laugh] , I love to if it will be Sunday .

Sunday August 17 = AFM Round 5 at Infineon
Hence why it has to stay on Saturday, the 16th...sorry smducman! 
Having said that, I changed the October Oyster Ride from a Saturday to a Sunday, i.e. October 26th - it seems from historical trend, folks prefer rides on Sunday vis-a-vis on Saturdays (anyway, hope that my rather unsophisticated study of this is correct...)  [laugh]

???  ???

I think it really doesn't matter. I used to set up rides every weekend and either day was always fine for me and the parties that joined always kind of jump back and forth from Saturday and Sunday.

Personally if someone doesn't like what you've done they can go pound salt and plan their own damn ride around their schedule. So I'll thank you in advance for doing the leg work for setting up an involved schedule required ride.  [thumbsup]

Since my weekends are scheduled out until December I've already put this ride (Oct 26th) on my calender so expect me there!

I'm not sure what the final headcount will be vis-a-vis expertise level for this ride.  Having been to a 2-day track day, I'm going to put myself at C group level.  Will probably ride towards the end of a faster group though as I don't like going at a too relaxed pace.   Just want to stress that riders who join should go at a pace that they feel comfortable with no matter what the label of their group is.  Faster riders will always wait at the next big intersection - MORAL OF THE STORY: we'd rather wait the few minutes to have more relaxed riders catch up than have to wait for an ambulance. 

On my last organized ride, someone crashed and that totally sucked.  I was a bit traumatized and didn't want to organize anymore rides but people have been really encouraging so here it is.  So lesson learned from the last ride: a) I really want to know who is confirmed and if it ends up being a big ride, then I'd like to have an assigned lead and sweep for each group so as to avoid lost riders, b) will provide maps and pre-assigned meeting points.

That way, we'll ALL have more fun!  [thumbsup]

earlier this summer I had two in a row!  talk about a bummer...

I think I will try to make this one.  I havent ridden with you in a while C. 

Woo-hoo! That would be awesome!  [thumbsup] [thumbsup]
BTW, the Groupie has been wondering if you got her pink post it note on your bike?  ??? ;D

I'll be lurking riding around.

I wish I could join you guys ..... I'll be in Napa that day for my friends' wedding .... I'll keep a look out for some hooligan riders on ducs  [moto]

Hoping to have my bike (and all my other stuff) out there in a month so I can join you guys on future rides [thumbsup]

Hey CharliesAngel, I'm posting up in this thread too from the other one where you were asking me for some routes for this ride.

There are a mulititude of options and a lot of factors that will affect them. Might be best if ya called me one afternoon/evening to hash them all out and decide on a route. PM me for number(s).

I would love to be your guide but am pulling OT that day!  [bang]

PM sent.  Thanks!  I think with your help, this is going to be an awesome little ride/adventure!  [moto]

I see by the route you have edited from my original, your only stop for gas w/o deviating from the route will be in Middletown. You can make it back to the winery no problems from there. Though some with smaller tanks/worse mileage will need to hit something before heading home from the winery, enjoy!!  [thumbsup]

if Groupie = Frances, I am in. If its not Frances....















.....I am still in.   [beer]

 [laugh] [laugh] There is no other Groupie than Frances - I'll ask her to wear her MOB t-shirt!  ;D

Canadian Frances , it  counts ???

I think you are thinking of "male Francis"...and I would highly doubt that he is a self-professed "Ducati Groupie" since he rides!  ;D

Hi CharliesAngel,

Thank you for setting up this ride.  I sent along the invite to the DOC Marin group, so they maybe some others who show up.
Not sure if I can make it yet, have a lot on my plate with interviews.  But definitely will do my best.

 [thumbsup]

Thanks Itsasickness!  [thumbsup]
I've made some modifications to the ride and have changed the lunch venue to the Market Deli at Carneros Inn (Frances is off the hook but she may still want to drive up anyway).  Those that want to do the wine tasing, Artesa has organized a complimentary wine tasting and tour at 2 pm.

Its nearing end of business today and "any day" for my bike is looking like at least next week. :-\  I guess  [wine] will have to wait for another day.

Hi C,

The ride sounds like a lot of fun and I wish I could go, but I have some friends visiting from out of town this weekend.

Hopefully I'll get to ride with you sometime soon. I wish there was more rides during the week when I'm free and do most of my riding!

Anyways, everybody have fun  [moto] ;D

 

So thanks to those who showed up for the Napa Ride - I really appreciated it!  I was a bit hesitant about throwing in a wine tasting along with an organized ride but it was all good - plus who can resist free champers after a long days ride?  ;D [thumbsup]
I've attached some pics that Ilya and I took on our respective cameras (mine are the IZ_ ones from my BB):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sfducatigirl/sets/72157606793978360/

Thankfully, there were no mishaps, we rode on some amazingly technical roads and some really scenic ones that came straight out of an Audubon Society magazine (thanks Hypurone!!!!), and just some great riding, company, wine and food!

Here's to future rides that will rival this one!  ;D [moto]

Sure, anytime. I've got a bunch of 'em...  [moto] With enough advanced notice (and bribes, on my part) I'm sure I could con my wingman into riding lead/sweep with me for your next event.

I love advanced notice - goes really well with my Germanic upbringing!  ;D  Just tell me when it will work for you!  [thumbsup] [clap]