Sneeker 29 Posted November 29, 2010 I spent the last week in Healdsburg, Sonoma County. This Time of year is the most scenic for that area...if it's not raining. I lived in the area for several years and got to know the countryside a bit. This holiday I decided to take the trusty old XR250 and dual sport around, my sights set on The Geysers. There isn't a whole lot of trail riding around the Hwy 101 corridor in the Santa Rosa Valley especially heading up north. One has to get creative...and use the abandoned train tracks. Sometimes there is a foot path, often none. Many technical challenges riding close to the side of the ties: wet, grassy, gravelly, off camber slopes, ravines, marshy mud bogs, shear sides...lots of fun! Often slow going but some places you can open it up to ~60 mph. Way better than slabbing it to the real destination. Alexander Valley, REAL Wine Country Next, Pine Flat Road 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sneeker 29 Posted November 29, 2010 Pine Flat Rd is a super curvy single lane paved road that winds into the Mayacamas Mountains, it's ~ 10 miles long. Beautiful country. Next, the dirt 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sneeker 29 Posted November 29, 2010 Up at the top is BLM land, that said it's leased by Calpine, a utility company. http://www.calpine.com/media/Geysers_Factsheet_Sept_2010.pdf Next...ice, snow and a toilet Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sneeker 29 Posted November 29, 2010 Cool! Another trail to try... Gotta take it easy in an unfamiliar area, never know what's waiting for you! There was a bit of snow and ice around I've ridden icy places before and was having fun crunching around in it here...until I got cocky and took a good zinger, landing on my a$$. The stuff that took me out looked like surfboard resin dribbled across the road. Man, the next day I sure felt it. But for the rest of my ride I was just fine. Onward... Hey what's that white thing up on that rock? Gotta have a look. What the .....? The Calpine guys must get really bored at work. Best seat at the power plant tho! Next: The GEYSERS 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirt dame 559 Posted November 29, 2010 Hmmmm....Toilet Peak....I've heard some crappy things about it..... Great adventure and pictures so far. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHunter 15 Posted November 30, 2010 You've covered some ground recently! Nice pics.....jealous. Great bike for the exploring..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirt dame 559 Posted November 30, 2010 Next: The GEYSERS I don't see no stinking geysers yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenosan 2 Posted November 30, 2010 Thanks for the photos. Don't know much about that area so enjoyed the photos. Pretty sh*tty place to end up though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sneeker 29 Posted November 30, 2010 Ahhh yes the GEYSERS... Hey, what's that puff of steam over there, a Geyser? Yes, sad to say all the geysers are gone. The Feds leased out the land for geothermal use years ago, they're all covered up now. Still, better than an open pit coal mine! http://www.geysers.com/geothermal.htm Well, that's it. Next time: Ukiah - Cow Mountain OHV http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ukiah/cowmtn.html#scow 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirt dame 559 Posted November 30, 2010 Ahhh yes the GEYSERS... Well, that's it. Dang it! I was expecting to see something like a mini Old Faithful, not a building that looks like the back side of a dry cleaning plant. Still....very nice pictures. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beezzz 6 Posted November 30, 2010 Nice report. What takes you up that way? Thanks for sharing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sneeker 29 Posted November 30, 2010 Nice report. What takes you up that way? Thanks for sharing. Thanks. We were visiting relatives for the holiday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mctrails 38 Posted December 1, 2010 NICE! Thanks for sharing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyro 1 Posted December 1, 2010 Awesomeness! Very nice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sneeker 29 Posted December 2, 2021 Just about exactly 11 years ago... Fun to see these pictures again, glad I could find them. No more riding the train tracks. Those are used for a Coaster style commuter rail, all fenced and developed in the right-of-way. Plus train cops will bust you for riding that rail right-of-way now. Fires probably changed the back country quite a bit. Still, I'd love to ride there again. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bagstr 287 Posted December 2, 2021 You are an Explorer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ECDave 91 Posted December 2, 2021 I worked with an individual about 25 years ago that kept a toilet in the trunk of his car. he would find unique locations to pull it out and take a picture of himself on it, pants around his ankles,reading a newspaper. Some sort of art thing he developed in prison! He even had a photo album in the trunk. remember photo albums??? I wonder if he moved north? Riding across those train bridges at speed is fun, you cant even feel the ties if you go fast enough! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zubb 1061 Posted December 2, 2021 Great stuff! And I have a small bike crush on your little red moto. 😁 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dress4Less 162 Posted December 2, 2021 Great pics and pretty country...thanks for sharing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
numpty 35 Posted December 2, 2021 3 hours ago, ECDave said: I worked with an individual about 25 years ago that kept a toilet in the trunk of his car. he would find unique locations to pull it out and take a picture of himself on it, pants around his ankles,reading a newspaper. Some sort of art thing he developed in prison! He even had a photo album in the trunk. remember photo albums??? I wonder if he moved north? Riding across those train bridges at speed is fun, you cant even feel the ties if you go fast enough! Nice photos. I have a friend that stole a concrete garden gnome (about 30 lbs) from his neighbor like 25 years ago. He carried that thing all over the world for at least a decade and would anonymously send photos to his neighbor of that gnome in various places. I personally was involved with photos of it in London and the Dominican Republic. His family was very unique in their humor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bub_Hannah 174 Posted December 5, 2021 Man....that looks like an amazing place to ride. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites