Northern California - Mad Dog Metric Ride Report: 102 in the Napa hills

They say that only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun. Well, our trio that baked in the heat yesterday had nary an Englishmen in the bunch so then we must be quite mad. Bigbossman, Midland and I trekked over to Napa for a metric in 102 degree heat
with almost 5000 feet of climbing. Not even the heat or the 20% grade on the climb of Oakville grade could put a damper on how pretty this route is. I solo'd on this a couple weeks ago and this trio ride yesterday now makes me want to do a BF group ride on this route soon.

We start on the cool west side of the valley with a warm up on Redwood Rd.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/RedwoodRoad.jpg?t=1254078822
Redwood Rd is home to a unique fish out of water vintage fishing boat
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/TreeBoat.jpg?t=1254078902
Then we climbed Mt. Veeder
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/VeederClimb.jpg?t=1254079032
Mt. Veeder summit has a clear sign that you are at the top
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/VeederPayOff.jpg?t=1254079079
We shot across the valley past Oakville to the eastern side of Napa Valley
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/IronicClydesdaleJPG.jpg?t=1254079172
Then we continued past Lake Hennessey on Hwy 128,
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/Lake.jpg?t=1254079244
Then a hot climb up Sage Canyon,this was the hottest part where it hit 102
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/Sage.jpg?t=1254079338
Cooling down in the old native stone cellar carved into the mountain at Nichelini Winery
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/Cellar.jpg?t=1254079403
The fountain at the Nichelini winery oasis.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/Fountain.jpg?t=1254079464

Now rejuvenated a bit we loop through shady Chiles Valley
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/Chiles.jpg?t=1254079513
Then back in the sun for the Pope Valley.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/Pope.jpg?t=1254079570
Back across the Napa valley to get to the truly horrid Oakville Grade.
(Notice my 11-34 cassette I am sporting for the occasion.)
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/11to34.jpg?t=1254079612
The Elevation profile, don't worry you can rest on the 6% section shown in red:rolleyes:
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/RealBigGrade.jpg?t=1254078459
A thumbs up from me and an OMG from Bigbossman as we spy the grade ahead
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/ReadyBoys.jpg?t=1254079882
I am just now getting to the 20% part. This hill is 1 mile of pure hell.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/HalfwayUp.jpg?t=1254079972
Our intrepid photographer Midland, self portrait of his dazed state at the summit
(at 5'6" at 135lb he easily beat us to the top)
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/LanceOldstrong/Napa/EndofPics.jpg?t=1254080119
After that the pictures end. Midland just enjoyed the wonderfull cool descent for the last 12 miles down Dry Creek Rd. This road is acutally along a shady redwood lined creek with water in it. Go figure.

A great, day on the bike. Thanks guys.
Lets do it again soon and bring some more folks.

Yes, it was a beautiful ride-love to try it again when it's cooler. The scenery was out of a Postcard, sandwiches at Oakville Market were top notch(scenery their also nice), the rejuvenating quiet of Sage Canyon was as much needed as the coolness of the Nichelini Winery cellars.
Then we had to do the Oakville Grade steep side...ugh, the above pic. sums up that experience.
Really a gorgeous ride, just not the easiest. Thanks to LanceOldstrong for finding the route.

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/th_DSC07001.jpg (http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/?action=view&current=DSC07001.jpg)http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/th_DSC07188.jpg (http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/?action=view&current=DSC07188.jpg)http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/th_DSC07065.jpg (http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/?action=view&current=DSC07065.jpg)http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/th_DSC07157.jpg (http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/?action=view&current=DSC07157.jpg)http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/th_DSC07094.jpg (http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/?action=view&current=DSC07094.jpg)http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/th_DSC07049.jpg (http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/?action=view&current=DSC07049.jpg)http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/th_DSC07166.jpg (http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/?action=view&current=DSC07166.jpg)Going to try & post up a pics from the ride. View to the top of Oakville Grade and back down & some shots of the valley. etc.http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/th_DSC07102-1.jpg (http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/?action=view&current=DSC07102-1.jpg)http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/th_DSC07162.jpg (http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/?action=view&current=DSC07162.jpg) http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/th_DSC07189.jpg (http://s166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/oldbmxr/?action=view&current=DSC07189.jpg)

Very nice pics Mr. Midland. We have got to do this loop again with some more folks from the forums. How about we try it when it is not in triple digits?