17 Nor-Cal Kats answered the call to 'Get Ready to Cruise' as they
gathered at Santa Rosa's Krispy Kreme for another great drive through
the wine country. As drivers fueled on donuts and coffee for the fun
day ahead (fog and clouds had us wondering whether it would be a top up
or down day...), drivers and passengers alike checked out the latest
mods on the resting Kats. John Davies’ new wheel spinners and hot
looking ‘flame’ tires caught everyone’s eye, as did Craig Elder’s wild
‘Lambo’ doors with chrome hinges and all! (Would we expect anything BUT
chrome on Craig’s ride??!!)
Dan Mosier joined us with his hot 1995 Dodge Viper, complete with its
1019 hp powerplant and new custom hood/BBQ-grill (you just HAVE to see
it!). Unfortunately, all of Dan’s mods have left him without side
windows or roof so the rain-threatening clouds put him back in the home
‘pit stop’ after the Kats left Krispy Kreme. As the clouds cleared and
blue sky broke through, the Kats ‘locked and loaded’ their
Commemerative Cruisin’ CD’s and headed over Sonoma Mountain on a wild
and twisting ride! As one Kat Kruiser remarked, “I’ve lived here for
over 20 years and I NEVER knew THOSE roads were there!!â€
After we all came down for a landing in Sonoma Valley, the Kruisin’Kats
rolled around Sonoma’s historic town plaza and pulled in side-by-side
outside Sonoma Jack’s Cheese Factory for a driver- pit crew refueling
stop and LOTS of questions from admiring onlookers. And who is THAT
onlooker? Dan Mosier and Susie have rejoined the cruise with Susie’s
Honda! (Susie reported that Dan looked SO sad about not getting to join
the cruise with the Viper, that they decided to catch the cruise ‘in the
other car’ and caught up with us in Sonoma! Dan: You have GOT to charge
those clients more and get that Purple Prowler in your garage SOON!!!)
Back on the road, the Kats et al enjoyed a high-cloud and beautiful
morning cruising through the backroads and foothills around Sonoma,
Petaluma, and the western fields of Sonoma County. Past the 1858
Washoe House (old stage route roadhouse), and through the quaint old
towns of Valley Ford and Freestone, we prowled through the wooded
entrance roads into Occidental for a noontime repast. Whether it was
fog or a ground level cloud we were not sure, but some Kats were
buttoned up ‘just in case’. The 1870’s Union Hotel Pasta and Pizza
restaurant was the scene of a great group lunch of salad,soup, entrees,
and ravioli-ravioli-ravioli!
Leaving the quiet streets of Occidental for the winding
reported-to-be-scenic route of Coleman Valley Road, we confirmed the
early question: We WERE in the middle of a cloud and, as we crested the
ridge for the ocean view...all we could see was MORE of the inside of
that cloud! Dropping down to sea level at coastal Highway 1 (at least,
we THINK it was sea level - we couldn’t see any sea from inside THAT
cloud!), 81% of the group successfully turned left and headed south to
Bodega Bay. (There WAS that other 19% that took a short jaunt NORTH
but they rejoined us soon afterward because they missed us so much!)
With low clouds and fog hugging the Sonoma and Marin coasts, we decided
to trim the Marin leg from the cruise and headed back inland for sun,
fun, and more cruisin’. On through Bodega Bay and Sebastopol, we rolled
into a final refueling stop for final visits and good byes. As John
‘saluted’ us all with some FINE wheel spinning and squealn’ , the
Cruisin’ CD’s were turned up ONE MORE TIME as the homeward bound Nor-Cal
Kats hit the road...until NEXT TIME!
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