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Lost in the Sloughs, July 2020
Sloughs, marshes, and ponds: A Photographic Log
8 July 2020
I try to pedal from Sonoma to Napa at least once each year, but it's been a while. Time to ride. The winding route through the Carneros wine region is for the most part flanked on both sides by vineyards. I sometimes think of it as the Grape Road.I had no reason to think today's ride among the grapes would be radically different from previous expeditions, but some changes did appear. The hump-backed bridge over Hudeman Slough was closed and blocked, preventing access to Skaggs Island. Well, for cars anyway. I met a guy and his two kids flying a drone who were driven away by a bigger, aggressive drone flown by someone we never could find. It might have been remotely piloted, but at least it wasn't armed with Hellfire missiles. Saw about a dozen bikes, very little traffic, and a plethora of discarded surgical masks along the Grape Road. Oh, and I found the world's filthiest restroom.
The biggest change involved discovering a heretofore unknown system of dirt paths atop levees along the sloughs and through the marshes.
It must have been a good ride, because when I returned home I discovered two ticks crawling on me.
Active tracks, but seldom used.
This is not the SMART Train line.
I'm looking.
Not all the vineyard work is done by hand.
This unit performs spraying, pruning, weeding, and harvesting.
I brake for unexpected objects in the road.
I found it, but I didn't do it.
Here's one of my favorite spots on this ride, the bridge over Hudeman Slough on the dead end side road to Skaggs Island.
Looks like the bridge and road have been closed since last I came this way.
I'm thinking "End County Maintained Road" doesn't necessarily mean bikes can't go this way.
I always have to get a photo here.
From Skaggs Island I continued into Napa County and then down Milton Road.
I found a spot to eat lunch along Mud Slough at the end of Milton Road. As I started back to Milton Road, I realized there was a dirt path along the edge of the pond near the slough. Hmm. Wonder where that goes.
At first it led around the lake to a remote spot where someone had set up a chair by a big pipe.
An odd little spot.
But I could see a faint track along the levee, so I decided to keep going.
At first the winding path led toward Milton Road.
Then farther away from Milton Road.
I checked three different map apps on my phone, including satellite view, but still couldn't determine for sure if the path led anywhere.
Oh, well. I could always turn around and retrace my steps.
No one to be seen, near or far, in any direction.
I could discern signs of civilization in the distance, but there was no way I would be able to cross sloughs, marshes, and ponds. I could only follow the path atop the levee, either forward or backward.
I kept an eye peeled, but never spotted a "Private Property" or "No Trespassing" sign.
Eventually I came to a big flooded area, where the Bay is reclaiming old fields.
The wind whipped across the shallow lake, pushing waves in my direction and churning up foam which blew across the levee.
It almost felt like I was at the edge of the ocean.
I was beginning to think turning around would be my only choice, because the path kept leading me farther away from the direction I needed.
Eventually I came to a big gate across the levee. Hmm. Might as well see what's on the other side.
I slipped around the gate, pedaled a bit farther, and saw a sign indicating I was in the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Did I mention I had been seeing hundreds of waterfowl along the way?
In the distance I could see the shell of a big building.
Judging by the graffiti on the old building, there must be some roads nearby.
I consulted my map apps again, and soon I hit a gravel road leading me toward Buchli Station, a location with which I'm familiar thanks to previous exploration in the Carneros.
The gravel road led me to another gate, a parking lot, and the world's filthiest restroom. But now I was by the railroad tracks at the end of Buchli Station Road, and my built-in navigational systems could take over.
Here I learned—oops—that bikes aren't allowed in the wildlife refuge. Never saw any such sign on the route from Milton Road. Addendum: Although the fine print on one of the signs said "No bikes," the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge specifically states bikes are allowed on trails.
Anyway, from here I was back in familiar territory and cruised without incident back to the Forester at the little park in Sonoma.
I always enjoy riding through the Carneros wine region, and today's expedition was even better thanks to the unexpected off-piste trek on the levees through sloughs, marshes, and ponds.
The only thing that dampened my spirits was this sad little ghost bike along Highway 12 on the drive back to Santa Rosa.
Summary
Date: 13 July 2020
Time: 9:30 - 2:00
Weather: 65-80° F, sunny and windy
Route: From Sonoma through vineyards and sloughs
Distance: 38 miles
Bike: Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
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