Carquinez Strait

I took a little ride to San Pablo to have lunch with an old friend. The weather was fine and cool and I left early, so I would have a little time to take a little ride around, maybe have a look see.

The Carquinez Strait is the final part of the Sacramento River where it flows into San Francisco Bay. There are two bridges on Hwy 80 that cross the Sacramento near the town of Crockett. The new suspension bridge, the Al Zampa Memorial Bridge, carries southbound traffic and the older steel truss bridge handles northbound traffic.

I got off the freeway and took a photo at the C&H sugar plant which is just up stream of the bridges. I rode though the town of Crockett, keeping as near the river and in the industrial area as much as possible.

I happened onto a road called Carquinez Scenic Drive. I don't think I saw another car on the road. I rode down to a sleepy little town called Port Costa, then along the scenic drive to Hwy 4. I stayed on Hwy 4 until it crosses Hwy 80 and becomes San Pablo Ave.

It was good to see my old friend, we had a late lunch and talked till dark. It was a cold ride home but I didn't stop to put on warmer clothes. It was one of those times when the cold felt invigorating.

My Uncle Jack's Side Hack

The photo of the Moto Guzzi in the previous post reminded me of my Uncle Jack. My Uncle Jack lives in Fresno. In the late 60's, early 70's, we used to ride dirt bikes. I had the DT1, 250cc Enduro, my Dad had the AT1, 125cc Enduro and my brother had his Yamaha Trailmaster 100. Jack had a Yamaha 175 Enduro and a couple of Yamaha 90's, which had the gold gas tank just like the DT1.

Jack also had a Moto Guzzi, which I never saw, but I certainly heard about. I suspect it was an Eldorado model, which were made from 1971 to 1974. Jack and his wife Shirley had a terrible accident on the 'Guzzi. They had a front tire blow out. Jack struggled for control, but hit a telephone pole. Jack was hurt but Shirley was hurt worse. They survived but Shirley still suffers.

On a visit in 2002, Jack was just about to sell the side hack thats in the photos. I think it was very cool so when I ran across the photos, I had to show them. I've also got some old film photos of us all riding the dirt bikes, I'll scan them soon and get them onto the blog.