* Bizz Johnson Trail

I joined the COOA group to ride the Bizz Johnson Trail near Susanville, CA. Total distance - 30 miles.

It was a long day Friday, as I had a sales meeting in Hayward. I was up at 3:00am to be at the distributor at 6:00am to prepare for a 8:00am meeting which included a E&J Brandy/Camarena Tequila presentation. After the meeting, I drove directly to Susanville, arriving about 7:00pm. I secured a room at the local Best Western, had a couple glasses of wine, and fell soundly asleep.

Being right there, I was at the Historic Train Depot in Susanville (where we were to pick up a shuttle) at 7:30am ready to go. Everyone's bike/self was loaded by about 9:00am and we were on the road back down to Westwood for the start of the ride.

There was about a mile or two of riding on pavement to get to the trailhead (my bike computer wasn't working at the start, so I'm guessing). The fast group pulled ahead and when we gathered at the start there was five of us. We covered the first 8 miles at a workout pace. Once we crossed the Susan River for the first time, the landscape opened up and the scenery changed. I stopped several times to take pictures and found myself way behind the the group I started with and quite a ways ahead of the casual riders several miles behind me.

It was great! I rode the next 22 miles at a rather leisurely pace, stopping often to take pictures and soak up the Susan River environment which included, bridges, tunnels, aspens, volcanic outcroppings and lush stream side vegetation.

I arrived back at the train depot in Susanville at 1:10pm for a total ride time of about 3 1/5 hours.

COOA member getting ready at the Historic Train Depot in Susanville.

The Bizz Johnson Trailhead just outside Westwood, CA.

A Susan River sighting.

Looking back at the first crossing.

An old shack along the route.

Susan River.

The old Railroad track converted to an hiking, biking, equestrian trail (Rails to Trails).

Volcanic outcropping across the canyon.

More railroad grade riding.

Great views!

Beautiful country.

Susan River with small volcanic rim.

Historic trestle.

Along the Susan River.

Rabbit Brush along the Susan River.

The first old train tunnel.

Volcanic outcroppings.

The second tunnel.

The hiking/MTB trail around the second tunnel.

More Susan River.

Outcropping along the trail.

Great area!

The start of the trail at the Susanville end.

The home stretch. Train depot in the distance.

* Lake Sonoma Paddle & Camp

Marcie and I hooked up with a small group of paddlers from Kayaker's Alliance for a quick overnight trip at Lake Sonoma.

This group came up from the Bay Area and arrived at the Yorty Creek launch at about 1:00pm Saturday. They paddled directly out and set up a light camp at Thumb Camp, a boat-in campsite up the Cherry Creek arm. Marcie was helping me with a work event in Santa Rosa, so we hustled home when we finished at 3:30 and headed out to the lake.

We arrived at camp around 6:30pm and met and chatted with the group for awhile. Marcie jumped back in her Hobie Mirage to explore the other camp areas up the arm as I set up our tent as the evening light was on the wane. I had actually hauled a good size load of firewood out there earlier in the week in my kayak, so we had a great campfire as we eat dinner and enjoyed a glass of wine, getting to bed around 10:00.

We woke to overcast and a light drizzle Sunday morning with rain starting to come down a few times. Most of us liked the idea of paddling out in the rain, but it never materialized. We paddled back out the Cherry Creek arm, turned northwest, heading up the Dry Creek arm until we decided to turn around and head back. Dave wanted to paddle over and check out Logger's camp, so we swung around the point to get a look. Several of the group used the opportunity to visit the restrooms and get an idea of what the camp looked like for possible future outings.

Dave and Jacob headed back to the launch while the rest of us paddled a little further to look at Homestead Camp. A nice group of sites sitting on the hillside in the shade. Probably one of the best boat in campgrounds on Lake Sonoma for all season camping.

Back at the take out, we loaded up and finished off the weekend with lunch at the Hamburger Ranch.

Looking up Cherry Creek arm from Thumb Camp Sunday morning.

Dave packing up.

Suzanne organizing her boat.

Marcie on the water and ready to paddle... I mean peddle.

Dave and Jacob ready to launch.

Kevin with gear stowed, ready to roll.

Michael, Jacob and Dave leaving camp.

Michael.

Calm water as we paddle out the Cherry creek arm.

Dave get paddling help from Jacob.

The group as we paddle back down the Dry Creek arm.

Marcie and Suzanne.

Michael, Kevin, dave and Jacob.

Back at it after a break at Logger's camp.

* Marcie's New Kayak

Marcie finally made the move and picked up a new Hobbie Mirage Revolution 13ft. kayak.

A Sit-On-Top boat, this is the type of kayak where you can propel the craft using either the peddle "Mirage Drive" (kind of like riding a recumbent bike), or with a traditional paddle. She wants to kayak, but her simi-bad shoulder prevents her from paddling for an extended amount of time. This should solve that problem.

Marcie prepping her new Hobbie at the Yorty Creek launch.

Motoring along with the Mirage Drive.

* Russian River Paddle - Alexander Valley to Healdsburg