3 day NorCal road trip, 475 miles.... FUN
11-28-2010, 11:19 PM
#1
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3 day NorCal road trip, 475 miles.... FUN
Just wrapped up a nice 3 day 475 mile road trip, in the 993, with my wife, for a thanksgiving weekend getaway.
Departed San Jose on Friday, and headed out to the Sierra mtns foothills. I was concerned about snow, so we stayed in the foothills going no higher than 2500 ft elevation. We followed part of the California gold rush aka Mother Lode route...in and around Hwy 49. But I spent little time on hwy 49. I had mapped out the route for each day via google maps and handed the printouts to my wife, aka navigator. I also run with a GPS, but not for direction, it never goes on the roads I want it too, but rather for knowing whats coming up the road.
The route started by leaving the bay area via the main hwys. 680 to 580 to 205 to 4 to 99 to Hwy 26.
First turn off to a good road was at Wimer/Ospital rd in San Joaquin County.
Quick stop for lunch ( sandwiches)
Then onto 12 for a bit and then 88. going around Commanche Reservoir. then thru Campo Seco and over Pardee Dam. All great roads so far with great views of the reservoirs.
We then took Stoney Creek rd all the way to Jackson, in Amador County, and then a short hop up 49 into Sutter Creek for the night.
We stayed at a great B&B called Sutter Creek Inn and had dinner at a great restaurant called Susans place, Mediterranean food with a twist. we were early so we had the whole place to ourselves.
Next day we had aq cold start and constant rain but still found/drove some area great roads and hit up the local winerys. First stop was Cannon Vineyards...
and another that was very nice....
Bray winery looked nice from the road, i just wanted to drive up the driveway...looked like a great photo op, but we ended up buying two bottles.... the staff there was great and the wine too.
then we continued for a few miles up 49 thru Amador city and Drytown ( all neat original mining towns....most buildings from the 1850's) and then a B-rad called Union mine road( fun but bumpy)and then Lunch in Placerville ( El dorado County) at a great eatery called Heyday right on main street.
heading out of placerville we continued on 49 but quickly deviated onto hwy 193 thru Georgetown. back on 49 and just south of Auburn, we crossed the american river, a good photo op!
Finshed of the day continuing north on 49 and into Grass Valley for the night, at another great B&B called Annie Horan's on main street downtown grass valley.
Temps got down to 27 degrees and it was lightly hailing. just north of us in Nevada City is snowed and they closed the highway! we were nicely dry and warm in our B&B.
Sunday morning got up, had a great waffle bfast....and then took a walk. Nice sunny morning. shot of the Holbrooke hotel, been there since 1856!
then route home, hwy 20 west... thru Yuba City and then across the valley on County rd 27
( see that "V" in the mountains there? thats where the Monticello Dam is for Lake Berryessa....)
to hwy 128 toward Lake Berryessa. A quick stop at the dam overlook...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monticello_Dam
then after the dam it got good....
But the finale was the best part....and my new favorite road....wooden valley rd. smooth, wide paved roads, tight twisty bits but also parts that let you go wide open and pass traffic. A true joy to drive.
see it here from a motorcycle...from north to south...as we drove it
I was lucky, and had to pass only 1 minivan on the whole run.
Overall the weekend was great, fun driving, with not much main routes, and not much traffic. Got the wife SCREAMING once when I got the tail out on the wet roads ( power on oversteer). some hard running on the tight stuff, and some crusing too. Used a 1/2 quart over the 500 miles.
Mark
Departed San Jose on Friday, and headed out to the Sierra mtns foothills. I was concerned about snow, so we stayed in the foothills going no higher than 2500 ft elevation. We followed part of the California gold rush aka Mother Lode route...in and around Hwy 49. But I spent little time on hwy 49. I had mapped out the route for each day via google maps and handed the printouts to my wife, aka navigator. I also run with a GPS, but not for direction, it never goes on the roads I want it too, but rather for knowing whats coming up the road.
The route started by leaving the bay area via the main hwys. 680 to 580 to 205 to 4 to 99 to Hwy 26.
First turn off to a good road was at Wimer/Ospital rd in San Joaquin County.
Quick stop for lunch ( sandwiches)
Then onto 12 for a bit and then 88. going around Commanche Reservoir. then thru Campo Seco and over Pardee Dam. All great roads so far with great views of the reservoirs.
We then took Stoney Creek rd all the way to Jackson, in Amador County, and then a short hop up 49 into Sutter Creek for the night.
We stayed at a great B&B called Sutter Creek Inn and had dinner at a great restaurant called Susans place, Mediterranean food with a twist. we were early so we had the whole place to ourselves.
Next day we had aq cold start and constant rain but still found/drove some area great roads and hit up the local winerys. First stop was Cannon Vineyards...
and another that was very nice....
Bray winery looked nice from the road, i just wanted to drive up the driveway...looked like a great photo op, but we ended up buying two bottles.... the staff there was great and the wine too.
then we continued for a few miles up 49 thru Amador city and Drytown ( all neat original mining towns....most buildings from the 1850's) and then a B-rad called Union mine road( fun but bumpy)and then Lunch in Placerville ( El dorado County) at a great eatery called Heyday right on main street.
heading out of placerville we continued on 49 but quickly deviated onto hwy 193 thru Georgetown. back on 49 and just south of Auburn, we crossed the american river, a good photo op!
Finshed of the day continuing north on 49 and into Grass Valley for the night, at another great B&B called Annie Horan's on main street downtown grass valley.
Temps got down to 27 degrees and it was lightly hailing. just north of us in Nevada City is snowed and they closed the highway! we were nicely dry and warm in our B&B.
Sunday morning got up, had a great waffle bfast....and then took a walk. Nice sunny morning. shot of the Holbrooke hotel, been there since 1856!
then route home, hwy 20 west... thru Yuba City and then across the valley on County rd 27
( see that "V" in the mountains there? thats where the Monticello Dam is for Lake Berryessa....)
to hwy 128 toward Lake Berryessa. A quick stop at the dam overlook...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monticello_Dam
then after the dam it got good....
But the finale was the best part....and my new favorite road....wooden valley rd. smooth, wide paved roads, tight twisty bits but also parts that let you go wide open and pass traffic. A true joy to drive.
see it here from a motorcycle...from north to south...as we drove it
I was lucky, and had to pass only 1 minivan on the whole run.
Overall the weekend was great, fun driving, with not much main routes, and not much traffic. Got the wife SCREAMING once when I got the tail out on the wet roads ( power on oversteer). some hard running on the tight stuff, and some crusing too. Used a 1/2 quart over the 500 miles.
Mark
Last edited by user 70801213; 11-28-2010 at 11:35 PM.
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11-29-2010, 09:27 AM
#9
Three Wheelin'
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Next time take the Beal AirForce Base turnoff from hiway 20. Unreal twisties with incredible rolling hills.If you stop at the right spot you might get a glimpse of some stealth bombers. Hiway 49 towards Downieville is a beautiful fun drive also. Right out my back door.
11-29-2010, 01:56 PM
#12
Rennlist Member
Was great Thu and Fri up in the mountains for driving. One little bit of black ice that got my attention, and I'm fully satisfied now that regular tires + any snow on the ground don't mix.
We used to stage from Fairfield up Wooden Valley, then where you were on 121/128/Berryessa/Clear Lake for our drives way back when. Haven't been up that way in years with all the traffic and road conditions, though.
We used to stage from Fairfield up Wooden Valley, then where you were on 121/128/Berryessa/Clear Lake for our drives way back when. Haven't been up that way in years with all the traffic and road conditions, though.
11-29-2010, 02:13 PM
#13
Great little story and lots of details, we've done some of those roads ... it was so nice for you to share that experience, it made me relive that drive!
Let's all try to share these wonderful stories!
Happy trails to all!
Bert
Let's all try to share these wonderful stories!
Happy trails to all!
Bert
11-29-2010, 03:39 PM
#14
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Rainforest (Vancouver, BC)
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I love reading a story like this as my cars sit quielty in the garage for winter. Thanks for the writeup, pics, and the info on some more roads to explore.
