Anyone in the San Diego area up for a meet and greet ride? I was thinking Labor Day weekend, but I'm open to suggestions. We can do a quick loop through the mountains, have lunch, and ride some more. Any takers?
Below this line is the edit :
Ride is set for 9/4/16. We'll meet at the Starbucks east of I-5 on Ortega, kickstands up at 8am. We'll stop at the Pala Casino gas station around 9ish to see if anyone joins us before heading to Palomar.
In so far: (I'll add names to the list if you post that you're in)
Although I'm not in the SD area, I'm close enough to attend. I'm open to a any and all suggestions. When some of OC riders head that way we like to do Palomar and then go down into Borrego Springs and maybe have lunch in Julian.
No need to feel left out, head south, it's only ~30 miles from South Bay to OC, the VFR has all day comfort. I've ridden with the Northern California riders on a few occasions, don't see why you can't join those just South of you.
Over the years I've hooked up with a few riders from San Diego. I usually will meet them at the Pala gas station on Highway 76, near the junction of Pala-Temecula Road and Highway 76. On today's ride we were at that station by 9:30AM.
Our normal route (when it's not summer) is to take Highway 76 to Palomar Mountain via S6 and down S7. From there we would go to Borrego Springs via Hwy 79, S2/S22. There is an even bigger loop that takes us to Julian, via Mesa Grande Road, Hwy 79/78, then to Sunrise Hwy to Lake Cuyamaca to I-8.
Next time we go down that way, I'll PM you so we can hook up. I have a ride to Glendora Mountain Road next Saturday. But after that I'm open to another ride down south with you. Just let me know via PM or post up a ride here on VFRD. I usually ride with OOTV.
I was thinking something like this, but I am open to suggestions. We can throw in Ortega and start on the 5, or we can head up towards Mountain Center out of Hemet before heading down to Palomar, etc.
I was thinking something like this, but I am open to suggestions. We can throw in Ortega and start on the 5, or we can head up towards Mountain Center out of Hemet before heading down to Palomar, etc.
Works for me! Have you considered maybe adding Mesa Grande to the loop? What about food stop? There are a couple of places in San Marcos, close to the where you have the end point (or is that the start point, Escondido?). At San Marcos Blvd and 78 there's Slater's 50/50, Phil's BBQ, In-N-Out Burger, Jersey Mike's, Chipotle, just to name a few.
01Ragtop, I like the loop. Although I prefer to avoid Borrego Springs in the summer months. Too many tourists and way too hot.
Us OC people always start our rides at Ortega Hwy as we head south. So if you don't mind coming up first and hitting that road as we head south, that works too. Just be aware, Ortega Hwy sucks AFTER 8:30 AM. Too many commuters after that even on a Saturday. And on Sundays, the dangerous Ricky Racers come out after 8:30am (we know who they are already they're so notorious).
OK, so I can will add a start point to include Ortega as long as we're all good with an early start, and we'll shine Borrego Springs in favor of Mesa Grande. But I'll still include Wynola and Banner on the map, we can always scrub those at game time if it's too hot.
The Apple Country Store in Santa Ysabel is decent plus there is gas and Duddley's as well. Phil's or Mike's are both good if you want BBQ.
Santa Ysabel is a good place for grub and gas. Mesa Grande/Wynola road is always a favorite of mine.
Phill's BBQ is good but it is crowded. Usually a long line just to get inside the place last time I was there. That would be better if you're caging with your family.
Okay, the update includes meeting off of I-5 at the 74, (is there a meeting place there that you all know and like to use?) We can figure out when to eat along the way as far as I am concerned, and the route ends in Escondido where those of us headed south can split off and go home. This route includes, Ortega, Palomar, Mesa Grande, Wynola, Banner, Old Julian Highway, and Highland Valley Road. Pretty nice lineup.
Kickstands up at 8am to avoid the craziness on Ortega good with everyone?
What day? What time would you estimate being at Pala?
I'm good with Sunday the 4th.
Depending on the pace, and if we leave SJC at 8am, we should be to the 76 by 9ish. I'm not so familiar with Ortega so maybe someone that knows a little better can chime in on that if I'm way off.
My recollection is that it takes ~30 minutes to go up and over Ortega. Of course, depending on pace. There is a Starbucks on Ortega just East of the freeway but it is on the opposite side of the street in the direction we would be going. Most riders meet up there anyway. Rogue lives near there so maybe he knows of a better meeting spot.
Someone asked, so I'll post it here too, I'm not elitist, so our non vfr riding friends can come out too. If the group gets too big, we can split into smaller groups as it's easier to keep two small groups in tact. Game time call, IMO.
I'm no hooligan though, so even though I like to have fun in the twisties, I don't ride irresponsibly on the freeway, and I generally try not to draw undue attention to myself, (especially from those driving B&W vehicles) a point I feel is all that more important when riding in a large group.
Not trying to be a downer, but I just want everyone to be safe, sane, and have fun.
Someone asked, so I'll post it here too, I'm not elitist, so our non vfr riding friends can come out too. If the group gets too big, we can split into smaller groups as it's easier to keep two small groups in tact. Game time call, IMO.
I'm no hooligan though, so even though I like to have fun in the twisties, I don't ride irresponsibly on the freeway, and I generally try not to draw undue attention to myself, (especially from those driving B&W vehicles) a point I feel is all that more important when riding in a large group.
Not trying to be a downer, but I just want everyone to be safe, sane, and have fun.
Let me know your thoughts.
I agree, let's not draw attention to ourselves and I figure the group will sort itself out. Faster riders will gravitate to the front and the slower riders will take up the back. Those not part of either group will meld in the middle. I'm more of a go with the flow kind of rider so whatever the group wants to do, I'm good with it.
Would you guys mind if I invited another along for the Palomar ride(?), he lives in San Diego. If not, does anyone have the address for the Pala gas station where we'll possibly meet another at 9am?
I'm in. I'll blast up the 5 early and meet you guys at the Starbucks. Should have new rubber fitted tomorrow so this will be a good opportunity to scrub them in!
Great ride today. Have to say that the traffic coming, during and going home was excellent. Riding home we didn't really have to lane split that much, just a short section of the 5 somewhere just past Camp Pendleton. Pretty much 80MPH traffic flow almost the whole way home. Almost unheard of on most weekend Sunday's.
I second the thank you's! I'm glad we had a good turn out as the weather and traffic were great, couldn't ask for better conditions of both! Unfortunately I didn take any pics, although I'm hoping my videos came out OK. We noticed a fogged up lens of the front camera when we got to the top of Palomar.
Long story short, not the best video as the front camera footage wasn't that usable due to lens fogging up. So a good portion of video was taken from the rear camera view. Hopefully it's watchable.
I only took video on the last road of the day, and I didn't have time to edit out all the straightaways. It is cool to see all those V4s snaking their way down Highland Valley, I enjoyed running at the back of the pack.
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