Calistoga

[Steve Carlton]

Jumped on the bike for a late afternoon ride by Lake Berryessa on Hwy 128 into Calistoga. I should have done this a month ago, but there were still some nice colors out...

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Rode by an elementary school that had set up some Jack-o-Lantern characters. Had to check in with the office to start:

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No trouble with the local sheriff today...

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Others...

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Some scenery along the way, and outstanding twisties, too:

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Arrived in Calistoga:

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A few more in this album (http://stevecarlton.onfinite.com/album/1034228/).

[1MPH]

Thanks for the ride along. Pretty country and nice town.

[DJ Down Under]

Thanks Steve...great pics....what a waist of good pumkin's...:icon_mrgreen:

DJ

[Wild Will]

I ride over there all the time. Let me know if you want to hook up sometime. I ride Annapolis Rd from the coast, Skaggs Springs to Canyon Rd and 128 thru Geyserville and into C'toga, where I dine sumptuously in prep for my return flight. Wonderful colors this time of year. Calistoga is where Brian Parriott lives, incidentally. His dad has a Honda dealership in St. Helena just south in the Napa Valley.
People come to Calistoga to be buried in hot volcanic muck. They say it's relaxing. I say "who last tested the muck?" The whole valley is on top of a huge area of thermal activity, and C'toga has a huge geyser that goes off almost hourly.
Interestingly, near Geyserville, PG&E (the power co.) pump the waste water from Santa Rosa into the geysers there to purify the water! Try to get a permit to do that in today's environment! But, it works! Ain't life grand.

[Steve Carlton]

That would be great, Will! Every once in a while we take Skaggs Springs either to the coast or from it; closest thing to a racetrack without being one. I'm getting a little bummed about the rainy weather that's starting to settle in, but there's plenty of windows. My ex and I used to get mud baths and massages in Calistoga. It's really quite a treat, but best to spend the night there. Indian Springs is a wonderful getaway, with their little cottages there.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Lovely roads, I can see why Will is so keen on them. How do you rate the 1100S? It's a model I have a large soft spot for having once spent an afternoon on a Boxer Cup. Took me over a week to stop smiling...
Si.

[Steve Carlton]

I think the R1100S is the best bike I've ever had or ridden. The flat twin has a very endearing quality that bonds you with the bike. I remember that same thing happening with a '71 Alfa 1750. I appreciate the amenities, like the ABS, integrated hardbags, heated grips, driveshaft, and single-sided swingarm. The suspension is rock solid and stable, and the telelever front end is forgiving of mistakes. I think it's the nicest looking BMW ever made. The only think that rocks my boat since is the Tuono, which isn't as versatile, and the R1200S, which is in the same vein, but more sport and less tour. Getting a 12 will be like trading Rene Zellwegger for Anna Kournikova.

I've been hearing BMW has been blowing out some left over 2004s with ABS and heated grips. I think the dealers are offered the opportunity to bid on them like an auction and picking them up for around $8,000. Hot deal if you can find one.

[Ed K]

I've been hearing BMW has been blowing out some left over 2004s with ABS and heated grips. I think the dealers are offered the opportunity to bid on them like an auction and picking them up for around $8,000. Hot deal if you can find one.

In fact, when I was down at SJ BMW a couple of weeks ago, they had two 'em still crated, in the back.