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Gabe recently purchased his first bike – a very sweet 2006 Harley Davidson Sportster. Its black with the Screaming Eagle II package and very loud. My HD knowledge stops here, so perhaps he can tell us more in the form of comment and his lovely wife can supply a picture she took the day Gabe picked up his new baby.

Last weekend Gabe and Jon (another writer soon-to-be rider) completed the motorcycle safety class and are now legitimate M1-holding riders (well, they will be as soon as they turn in their paperwork). In celebration of the new bike, class completion and the fact we’re on summer vacation, Gabe and I took a short jaunt along the Delta.

After leaving Natomas we headed to West Sacramento, taking Jefferson all the way through Southport and into the Delta. Along the way we passed the secret new West Sac Lowes (no one seems to know its existence), the Nugget, and the new River City High School. Once in the Delta we toured along the Sacramento Deep Water Channel and hung a left on Clarksburg Road. This bought us to the tiny hamlet of Clarksburg and South River Road where we rode along the Sacramento River. This road, covered with majestic valley oaks, rides atop the levee and provides a fantastic view of the Valley as well as boats floating up and down the river. There are also some beautiful Victorian and Craftsman style river homes along the way as well. Some are gorgeous, while a few others need quite a bit of restoration.

South River Road winds into Walnut Grove where we crossed the river and headed back towards Sacramento on Highway 160. While very similar in appearance to South River Road, Hwy 160 provides a view of the other side of the river as you pass the Clarksburg-like towns of Locke, Hood, Courtland, and Freeport. Each of these communities provides a glimpse into the 19th century history of merchant traffic floating up and down the river. The whole area is kind of an unknown secret. I’m always amazed to think all of this exists only a few miles south of Sacramento and just west of a very busy I-5. Gabe kept remarking, “I never knew this was here…”

Finally, once we were back in town we ended our ride at the world-famous Freeport Bakery. Okay, it might not be world famous, but it should be! The cakes are awesome. Even Gabe, a self-described not-very-cakey person nearly licked his plate clean. I personally recommend a piece of the Fleur-de-lis cake with a glass of iced coffee. Its a perfect summer afternoon treat.

Joe

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