March 6–Pope Valley and Lake Berryessa Road Loop

[SadieKate]

Road ride for anyone who wants to join us! We’ll ride north through the Pope Valley and then down the west side of Lake Berryessa.

Start: Moskowite Corner (intersection of highways 128 and 121 NE of Napa)
Time: 10 am, ready to ride as soon after as possible
Length: 45 miles
Climbing: about 1,700 feet

We’ll climb up Lower Chiles Road (part of the Tour of Napa Valley), cross the valley floor (keep your fingers crossed for some gorgeous wildflower displays), and over the ridge to the Lake. We’ll then ride south down the west side of Lake Berryessa followed by a short steep climb out of the canyon and a cruise back to Moskowite Corner.

Facilities are limited this time of year, but there is a very small country store in Pope Valley.

PM or email me for more details or about carpooling from Davis. We'll have riders of varying speeds, so all are welcome.

[jobob]

waaa, that looks great! but starting the end of Feb. my Saturdays are shot w. the ACTC academy

[SadieKate]

Ah, the sounds of the whambulance! Can you do it if we move it to Sunday, the 6th? Everyone else who pm'd me to say they're coming have said they can move to the 6th. So, Jobob, do we? Can you bear the pressure of the decision?

[CorsairMac]

*C'Mac chants in the background: do it Jobob, do it Jobob, do it Jobob!*

[jobob]

well gee, if you're going to be that way about it....

Sure

[SadieKate]

Please note the date change!!! This ride is now on March 6. All details remain the same but the date.

Thanks, Jobob and Yellow!

[SadieKate]

For those of you who say Moskowite Corner? Where the * is that? It isn't on the map!!

Here you go . . . Map to Moskowite Corner. Look for the little red bike icon near the bottom right corner.

NOTE: the highlighted routes are NOT the ones we will be taking. We'll be going north from Moskowite, upper Lower Chiles Vly Rd, east across Pope Canyon Rd and down the west side of Berryessa.

I can email this same map to anyone who wants with our actual route highlighted in a bright orange.

[snapdragen]

I can email this same map to anyone who wants with our actual route highlighted in a bright orange.

Me! Me! I think I kinda figured it out on my Krebs map, but I'd like to see the route. It's a real possibility I will go - I love cycling up there! And it would be a cool way to celebrate my upcoming b-day......

[jobob]

meee too!

- Jo, digging out her Krebs map to count the chevrons

[SadieKate]

I realized that it is a jpg file so I uploaded it to my photos. Does this link work?

The orange line is our route. Less total climbing than Mt Diablo and the climbs are broken up. After 5 miles of a nice easy warm up there is one very short climb of 6.4% (according to my trusty guide book).
Route Map

[SadieKate]

Just trying to bump this to the top in case someone needs to see it.

Anyone carpooling from my house should be there by 8:30 so we can count noses and pack up the carpool by 8:45 am.

[aka_kim]

Anyone happen to know the "best" way of getting there when coming from the south? Yahoo says to go straight thru Napa and continue on the 121, but would going to Cordelia then heading north be faster?

And just what is this Muskowite Corner anyway? Will the parking lot be obvious?

aka--more anal than Jobob--kim

[SadieKate]

Moskowite Corners is a sparkling cultural hub of wily and mysterious Moskowillians - actually it consists of a mini-mart, diner and gravel parking lot.

Regarding the best route there for you, dunno. Looking at the map, going up past Rockville to Wooden Valley Road is a straighter shot. You'll probably get less traffic. You may have lower speed limits but I really haven't a clue. You'll pop out onto 121 just like if you went through Napa. That early in the AM, the traffic at Cordelia Junction should be manageable. Perhaps another one of your Bay Area cohorts would have a more informed opinion.

From Davis, we take the back roads to Winters and then drive over the dam and past the Lake so we actually drive some of what we will be riding. It's not fast but it is scenic.

[aka_kim]

Moskowite Corners is a sparkling cultural hub of wily and mysterious Moskowillians...

And this is prime viewing season! I'll bring my binoculars.

[Veronica]

So Kim it's similar to Elko, NV - which you had ALWAYS wanted to visit. I know your dream came true when we stayed there.

V.