Resources and Reflections

If you like to just wander around and stick mostly to the flat ground, here’s a thirty mile route around Ukiah and environs. Starting in Redwood Vally, its a quick spin own to Ukiah, a nice ten mile warm-up on the wide clean shoulders on Hwy. 101, and its legal too. Of course extra caution is required at exits and entries.
Then there’s a little tour of Old Town Ukiah and a loop out Talmadge road into the vineyards. Out here near Vichy Springs Road, you’ll find El Dorado and other Porsche-riddled enclaves up on the foothills above the valley.
Then its a quick loop back into town and back north to close the circle.

Ukiah valley tour

Popularity: unranked [?]

The turnaround point on this course is near the top of the so called “Black Bart’s Trail”. There are so many landmarks around here attributed to Bart that you have to take it all with a grain or two of salt. In any case, the ride up the colorfully named Road A provides some excellent vistas of Lake Mendocino, and by the time you get to the top its quite spectacular.

The surface is generally good clean asphalt with very narrow shoulders but traffic is pretty light. Clean asphalt till you reach the gravel part that is. From there on its steep, loose, dusty, dry 1″ gravel and requires a certain amount of finesse to stay upright. I’ve been told the road goes through to Potter Valley but I’ve not yet ridden the part past where the “Private Property” sign is turned perpendicular to the road. Next time tho, and I’ll bring the camera too.

I come back via Road B, where the track (below) veers north after the turn around. Again the road is narrow but winding and lots of fun. Beware of stray livestock and the occasional “surface irregularity”, but enjoy the run. Once back to the bottom lands its back north on East Road to Redwood Valley and a quick stop for hydration and a game of pool at Vic’s Place.
And, to close the evening, the long flat loop up East Road where it joins Tomki and West Roads, then back through the vineyards to the office. Happy Birthday America!

Black Bart Loop

Ok, July 20th and I made it over the top on Black Bart Trail and down into Potter Valley, with camera in tow. Got some pretty good photos including three of a California Green Rattlesnake. The folks of Potter Valley were warm and hospitable and more than happy to pose for the camera.

Totals: Distance; 36.61 mi., Ride time; 3:36:53, Ascent; 2360′

Rd. A – Black Bart-Potter Valley

The gallery below displays the geo-tagged images shown on the map above.

Start of the climb

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 35

Base of Rd. A, grade varies from 5% - 14%, surface is adequate, shoulders are non-existent, traffic is fairly light.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Tomki Road to the north of Redwood Valley, as the county signs repeatedly make clear, is  ”not maintained in winter”. Well, its not much maintained in summer either. Rocky rough when you get up into the canyon, with the added attraction of seven water crossings, Tomki Road is always an entertaining and challenging ride.

Approaching from the south you ride through the rolling vineyards of Redwood Valley over a series of gradually rising steps heading north on either East or West Road, take your pick because both meet ath a three-way intersection with Tomki Road, at the north end of the Valley. About four miles in from the intersection, things begin to get interesting as the road starts to climb at about 12% for two and a half miles, rising almost a thousand feet from that point to the crest at 1935′. Along the way you’ll pass one buddist and one greek orthodox monastery as the narrow but reasonably clean asphalt rises in a series of about ten tight, winding ’s’ curves through thick forests of california oak, white fir and even the occaisonal redwood, all second and third growth.

Oh yes, and don’t forget the poison oak, its thick as lobbyists on congress. I’m a big advocate of Hawaiian philosophy as applied to cycling; eat when hungry, rest when tired, ride when ready, drink whenevah. But when resting along the road in northern California, beware, unpleasant surprises can lurk in the grass. Poison oak is chifest among these, but the very prickly and uncomfortable Goat’s Head is a thing to be reckoned with as well. To barrel through the copuntryside as if the devil is on your heels, without stopping to take in the scenery seems a waste to me, so, by all means,  stop to take it in, but choose your perch carefully in these parts.

Feast your eyes upon the details, recorded July 3rd on a cooling late afternoon.

Tomki Road

Popularity: unranked [?]

The so-called Redwood Grade between Willits and Redwood valley rises to 1976 feet elevation, the highest point on Highway 101. Not a terribly scenic stretch, its most compelling feature is the climb itself. Road conditions are generally very good with broad clean shoulders and a smooth surface for about 80% of the way. However, especially northbound, there are several stretches where the shoulder narrows down to about 18 inches, and the “rumble strip” can be a real problem.

In addition, at the time of this posting, significant repairs are underway and there is a four mile stretch where the two center lanes are barricaded and traffic has been diverted to the outermost lanes, making cycling on the normal shoulders very dangerous. For the brave (or foolish) the safest course under current conditions is actually to ride between the barricades. I’ve done this several times and been observed by CalTrans, CHP, and County Police, without any problems, presumably because this is in fact the safewst way to go. The two main caveats are to watch out for the center strip where the barriers stood before where the surface is very rough, and, of course, when crossing the traffic lanes to enter or exit the barricaded center section.

This stretch of the highway is definitely not for the faint of heart or inexperienced rider. If you’re headed north and your timing is just right, you can catch the MTA bus up and over the grade for just $1.50. Their new three place bike racks are easy to use but its best not to watch your bike bouncing around on the way up the hill (not that I’VE ever actually taken the bus rather than ride). Just make sure you’ve seated the bike properly in the rack, removed your panniers, then sit in the back of the bus and look the other direction.

Popularity: unranked [?]

For a peek at what the whole of “Redwood” Valley used to look like, if you’re headed north, take a left at the bottom of the Redwood Grade on the Redwood Highway onto Reeves Canyon Road. The road surface deteriorates rapidly from smooth pavement to quilted pavement to loose, dusty gravel. In the upper reaches some of the steeper parts range from 12%-20% grades, but by then you are in the dappled shade of big old trees and well down in the cool canyon.
The GPS data below were recorded on June 30, 2009;

Reeves Canyon Road to Leonard Lake and the Upper Ranch . Click on the link to download the GPX source file for your own navigation device.

Six miles from the highway you’ll come across a locked gate with a sign reading “End of Public Road, Private Property, Violators will be Prosecuted”. They mean it. The four miles from the gate to Leonard Lake is owned by the adjacent landowners and is operated as a series of private reserves, mostly for family vacations and special events. The facilities are very much 1930’s rustic, with small cabins, very lightly improved campgrounds nestled beside the clear cool waters of Reeves Canyon stream, and enveloped by old growth native forest.
The headwaters of the stream at Leonard Lake is the heart of the former Crowsfoot Logging family reserve, and uniquely in the Redwood Valley, has never been logged. To the west, the 4000 acre parcel backs up against Montgomery Woods State Park. Between the two, this area represents a significant remainder of our original ecosystem. Though somewhat altered by ranching, farming and habitation over the past century and a half, you will still find magnificent groves of Coastal Redwood and White Fire that have never suffered the saw or the axe.
Exclusively through Emerald Empire Adventures, the public may now gain access for cycling, hiking or equestrian adventures. Strictly by appointment, we will guide you and your party through one of the few remaining places in the Emerald Empire where you can pass lightly through a vision from a vanishing world, as if it were your own private paradise.
Having passed through to Orr Hot Springs, the natural thing to do is to relax those tired muscles in the 103 degree waters before riding up the final 100′ climb to spend the night under the stars at Mann Ranch, where the 360 degree dark sky horizon is truly stunning by naked eye, binoculars of telescope (which can be arranged as well).
In the morning there’s a 9 mile 6%-12% downhill back into the valley for breakfast at Club Calpella or Angel’s in Redwood Valley and then on to the finish at Base Camp on Laughlin Rd. There’s a 60 mile, three day weekend to remember.
So check back soon for more GPS tracks on the back side, Orr Springs and Mann Ranch segments.

Popularity: unranked [?]

June 24th, 2009
(PhysOrg.com) — UQ neuroscientists have, for the first time, been able to demonstrate that moderate exercise significantly increases the number of neural stem cells in the ageing brain.
In research published in Stem Cells, Dr Daniel Blackmore and his colleagues at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) have shown that moderate exercise directly increases the number of stem cells in the ageing brain.
Despite the conventional wisdom that we only have a set number of neurons or brain cells, neuroscientists have known for some time that, in healthy brains, the creation of new neurons is an ongoing and lifelong mechanism.
However, it has also been known for more than a decade that the number of new neurons we produce slowly declines with age.
According to QBI neuroscientist Dr Blackmore, researchers are interested in finding ways to stimulate the production of neurons to negate any decline brought about by age or disease.
“Our findings suggest that moderate exercise, from early to late in life, can have a very positive effect,” Dr Blackmore said.
In controlled models of ageing, the number of neural stem cells produced by animals participating in voluntary exercise (running wheel) were significantly higher than in animals of the same age which did not exercise (no running wheel).
“Investigating the mechanism by which neural stem cell numbers are altered will undoubtedly increase our understanding of how the brain responds to its environment,” Dr Blackmore said.
“Ultimately, this should allow us to discover how to harness the brain’s regenerative capacity, and to bring about new and effective treatments for conditions caused by trauma, disease, or even normal ageing.”
“The brain’s ability, even at an advanced age, to respond in a positive manner is very exciting as it extends the time-frame in which manipulation is possible.”
QBI Director Professor Perry Bartlett FAA said the research represented another significant understanding of the why neural stem cells were so important to brain function.
“It is the first experimental data that shows how we can change the propensity of the brain to make new neurons through increasing the number of stem cells – even in the aged animal,” Professor Bartlett said.
“We can now show that exercise directly causes an increase in the number of stem cells in the brain.
“Stem cells develop into neurons and a good supply of neurons is essential for good mental health,” he said.
The research paper “Exercise increases neural stem cell number in a GH-dependent manner, augmenting the regenerative response in aged mice” by Dr Daniel Blackmore, Dr Mohammad Golmohammadi, Beatrice Large, Dr Michael Waters and Dr Rodney Rietze appeared in the 14 May online edition of Stem Cells.
Provided by University of Queensland (news : web)

Popularity: unranked [?]

Please join Mendocino Area Parks Association’ s Carolyne Cathey and other park supporters and visitors 1:00PM today – Saturday June 20 – at 1:00PM beside the Ford House on Mendocino Headlands. The issues may not be clear to all of us, and this is your chance to hear what is going on with the state parks funding and how critical our voices are right now.
Enjoy some music and stop in the Ford House for a tour of this historic house on the headlands.

The only hope we have left to keep the parks open is to encourage all the voters in the state to contact their Senators, Representatives, and the Governor and ask for their “Yes” vote on a new funding stream to support our state parks — a $15/year per vehicle State Park Access Pass added to our car registrations. The Republican Caucus in both the Senate and the House, and the Governor, oppose this concept. With a SPAP, any of us with a California registered vehicle will have free day use, no matter how many times we entered the Parks.

To her credit, Assemblywoman Patty Wiggins not only supports funding for state parks, but she had already taken a salary cut, and reduced her per diem reimbursement for living expenses in Sacramento. Senator Wes Chesbro is also a strong support of parks.

Without some funding mechanism in this budget round, Parks will close. Businesses will be hurt when visitors stop coming because the campgrounds are closed, the restrooms are locked, the litter piles up and the roads are barricaded. Park properties will suffer right here where we live
and all over the state.

Please come and listen, and lend your support to help keeps our
parks open.

I am only a member of one MCN community list, Fort Bragg. If you would be so kind, we would appreciate it if you would send this message to the other local community lists as well.

Thank you,

Marilyn Boese
www.mendoparks. org

Popularity: unranked [?]

Breggo Cellars invites you to join us for 2nd Saturday in Mendocino this weekend. We proudly feature the works of Mendocino County artists Antoinette von Grone, Susan Spencer, Michael Wilson, and Suzi Long for your enjoyment. We will stay open until 7pm – hope to meet you there!

Kristy Cole
Breggo Cellars – Mendocino Tasting Room
45070B Main Street, Mendocino
707-937-9900
www.breggo.com
twitter.com/ breggo

Popularity: 7% [?]

“That is the sort of magnetic quality that Budapest radiates. Peaceful and bustling, a big metropolis and yet friendly, it treasures the old and embraces the …” That is what they say. I’d like to know more.

“Ez az a fajta mágneses minőségi Budapest sugárzik. Békés, nyüzsgő, nagy metropolisz és mégis barátságos, a kincsek és a régi öleli fel …” Ez az, amit mondanak. Szeretnék többet megtudni.

Budapest Tourism Office – Official website of Budapest : Travel to …

Budapest - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Budapest, Hungary Forecast : Weather Underground

Budapest webcam - Webcams Budapest , webcameras Hungary - Budapest …

Picture of Weird Wine Fountain in the Castle Hill Dungeons …

Tell us more. Meséld tovább.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Hopland Bike and Vine Ride

This a great tour through the beautiful vineyard cloaked back roads of Mendocino County with many choices of cozy tasting rooms along the way, and a follow up vehicle to carry those whose determination to ride has been overcome by their dedication to oenological quality research. Go on over to Emerald Empire Adventures and book your place.

Slideshow

Elevation Profile

Popularity: 6% [?]