Leaving Temecula

Last Saturday the club held its first "big group" ride of 2010.

This one took us up and over the Santa Rosa Mountains, and down into the desert town of La Quinta. Highway 74, also known as "The Palms to Pines Highway", was impassable just a week ago after storms dumped over a foot of snow.

But by the time we rode our motorcycles up there, the roads were cleared, except for some patches of sand, and plenty of snow along the sides.

There 23 bikes that made the ride, with 26 people. Some from our club, but many more from our Meetup Group, and some from the Chaparral Riders.

We had lunch at Las Casuelas Quinta, a mexican restaurant in La Quinta. The managers there accomodated us in their banquet room, and food was excellent.

On the ride home, we rode past Salton Sea, and then cut in through Borrego Springs. We rode up Montezuma Road, and took Hwy 79 back to Temecula for some drinks at Barley & Hops.

We also had the opportunity to introduce several folks to our riding club, and hopefully we'll see them again.

Highway 74, heading towards Mountain Center

Highway 74, through Gardner Valley

Lunch at Las Casuelas Quinta

Riding south along Salton Sea

After the ride at Barley & Hops

See more photos here...
http://heatwaverc.com/rides/salton-sea-ride