The Almond Festival involves the Capay Valley towns of Madison, Esparto, Capay,
Brooks, Guinda and Rumsey along state Highway 16.
Sunday morning eight riders left Eppies in West Sacramento at 8:30am and rode
the river road into Woodland and west on Highway 16 through Madison to Esparto
stopping to see the annual car show after which we continued west through Capay
and Brooks to an orchard for a group photograph among the blossoming almond trees.
Then, on to Guinda to sample the BBQ'd oysters and shrimp, then on to Rumsey to
check out the historic Rumsey Hall with a historical plaque erected by E Clampus
Vitus describing the hall's history.
The morning began a little chilly and windy but it turned out to be a fine day for
a ride as evidenced by the multitude of motorcycles on the road. A police presence,
CHP and local sheriffs, through out the twenty miles of towns and festivities probably
contributed to motorists complying with speed limits and keeping all tires on the
tarmac, which we did. From Rumsey it was a short but scenic ride back to Paula and
Jerry Tackett's Road Trip Bar & Grill in Capay where we had lunch - most of us had
the Spare Tire Burger with fries choice of sharp cheddar, American, Swiss or pepper
Jack - a fine burger if I do say so.
The Terry Sheets Band is taking Northern California by storm with their "Rockin" Country
style and they played both kinds of music - country and
western - flavored by Hank Junior, Clint Black, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash with their
own version of happy birthday:
Happy birth day to you,
happy birthday to you,
happy birthday dear Galinda,
happy birthday to you.
Hope you get some tonight,
hope you get some tonight,
hope you get some nice presents,
happy birthday to you.
Good music and a lot of audience interaction as Terry walked around in the audience
with a portable microphone while singing, shaking hands with dudes and hugging the women and
making sure everyone was having a good time... "who knows how to do the 'watermellon crawl'?"
Ironsteed Harley-Davidson was there with a softail on a trailer that was locked in
place with the rear wheel on rollers so that future riders could get on,
run it through the gears and get the feel of a Harley.
You don't have to wait until next year to have a great time at the Road Trip Bar & Grill,
there is a country store, a full bar and they are well know for their BBQ smoked ribs, and,
there is regular live music events - check out their calendar at www.roadtripbg.com.
Article and Photographs by Russell "Raz" Holder
KNUCKLEHEADS FOREVER!
Would you like to see more?... go to www.russellRAZholder.com and
click on the photos link and look for a link to "The Almond Festival"...
(click here to view ALLLLL the pictures)
