Melinda Search, Sat. 9/24/05, Let's make this one huge! Options

[R6Chick]

Melinda Moore – Help us find her!

We again have many more riders available from all parts of the Bay Area for tomorrow.

Date: Saturday, Sep. 24, 2005
Time: 8:30am briefing and assignment, 9:00am departure

Meeting Place:
Deaf Dog Coffee (in Raley's shopping center)
2547 Guerneville Rd. at Fulton
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
http://maps.google.com

Please sound off, if you will be available.

[NoGall]

I'm in.

[R6Chick]

Replies I have received so far.

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I am planning on bringing my truck so a few people could come with. If there was to be more hiking it would be easier not wearing my MC gear and having a cooler with drinks etc. Please let me know if I am thinking along the right line. Two people and I could do a more detailed search on the goat trails.

Mario
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A couple of us from SBR are heading up to the meet site but I would hope they will email your to confirm. I will be there 8am sharp.

Tai Tran
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I will be there Sat morning. My name is Tom, I'm on a
Black '05 SV1KS. My number is 415.336.3335, and I'm
coming up from SF.

Tom Pyron
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Hi there--

As far as a headcount, I'll be there on Sat morning with my truck to do
whatever you want/need me to do...

Kat
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[R6Chick]

http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dl...357/1033/NEWS01

The Press Democrat has posted a story.

SANTA ROSA Riders search for woman who vanished 4 days ago

Friends of a Santa Rosa woman who has been missing for four days fanned out Thursday on motorcycles fearing she may have crashed.

As many as 30 riders canvassed the Bay Area from Fort Ross to Mount Tamalpais searching for Melinda Moore, an experienced rider who left her Santa Rosa home at about 8:30 a.m. Monday and hasn't been seen or heard from since.

Moore, who is 6 feet tall and has strawberry-blonde hair, was riding her red European sports bike. She failed to show up that day for a class at Santa Rosa Junior College.

Her boyfriend told police that she was depressed.

"We don't know if she's suicidal or rode off to clear her head or was in an accident," Sgt. Steve Bair said.

Moore was a member of www.northbaysportriders.com, a chat room for motorcycle enthusiasts.

On Thursday, members of the group met at a Santa Rosa coffee shop before heading out in teams looking for her.

"We're just terrified that she's laying in a ditch somewhere," said Forrest Phillips, who helped organize the search.

Police asked anyone with information to call 543-3590.

- Derek J. Moore

[2Gixers2Go]

I'm a maybe but should know for sure later today.
Want to throw yet another thought out there that struck me at work today. There is every possibility that if she went off the road, that she didn't get a chance to hit the brakes until off the pavement, if at all. Not that this is not a monumental task anyway, but I'm going to try and look for the "not-so-obvious" signs of a get off. Matted down path of grass, skids through dirt or gravel, or even broken branches or bushes. These can all be signs of a recent off road excersion.

Just something else to consider. Will post or edit this one if I can make it.

[Twisty6]

Thanks for having the fliers available. I have been posting & handing out to the various ambulance crews, law enforcement that have been at our hospital today. Officer Ray Navarro was here, too, earlier. All of the SRPD officers were briefed this morning & were very aware of Melinda.
I have forwarded the fliers to my colleague at REACH to give to his crews. We have lots of bicyclists here, too, so I've tried to get the fliers to as many of them as I can today.
Kelly

[NoGall]

I'm a maybe but should know for sure later today.
Want to throw yet another thought out there that struck me at work today. There is every possibility that if she went off the road, that she didn't get a chance to hit the brakes until off the pavement, if at all. Not that this is not a monumental task anyway, but I'm going to try and look for the "not-so-obvious" signs of a get off. Matted down path of grass, skids through dirt or gravel, or even broken branches or bushes. These can all be signs of a recent off road excersion.

Just something else to consider. Will post or edit this one if I can make it.
[right][snapback]29703[/snapback][/right]

Hey, Jim. Our advice to folks on Thursday morning was to be actively thinking of "If I went off here, could I be seen from the roadway?" We did list the usual tell-tale signs of a crash, but they weren't the deciding criteria as to whether a section of the road should be inspected.

[R6Chick]

Another response

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I am a friend of Melinda’s and I just heard of the situation. I am available at any time for any length of time to help out in any way that I can. I live in Sebastopol and can meet tomorrow morning at the coffee shop, if that helps, or anything else you may need. Please feel free to contact me if. Thanks.

Ted Bryant
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NOTE: A number of those who have responded to me have left me contact numbers. NoGall please let me know if you want me to send those to you off list.

Julz

[Texwasabi]

Melinda Moore – Help us find her!

We again have many more riders available from all parts of the Bay Area for tomorrow.

Date: Saturday, Sep. 24, 2005
Time: 8:30am briefing and assignment,  9:00am departure

Meeting Place:
Deaf Dog Coffee (in Raley's shopping center)
2547 Guerneville Rd. at Fulton
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
http://maps.google.com

Please sound off, if you will be available.
[right][snapback]29650[/snapback][/right]

I am in, see you at 8.

[NoGall]

NOTE: A number of those who have responded to me have left me contact numbers. NoGall please let me know if you want me to send those to you off list.

Julz
[right][snapback]29706[/snapback][/right]

Thanks, Julz. It's best to collect their contact numbers tomorrow at the coffee shop. We'll pass around a sign-in sheet for everyone there and then.

[marin ktm]

Everyone be careful out there. Don't let your desire to check every bit of roadside overide your own instincts to stay safe in traffic. Motorists will have no idea why you are going slow or peering here and there, pulling in and out of lanes, etc...

I HOPE she turns up safe and no one gets hurt during the search.

[R6Chick]

This just in...

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Since I tend to ride alone, this hits close to home. I'd be happy to help out tomorrow morning.

I'll be at Deaf Dog Coffe at 8:30 tomorrow AM.

Brandon (uhmeebuh on BARF)
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[2Gixers2Go]

Hey, Jim. Our advice to folks on Thursday morning was to be actively thinking of "If I went off here, could I be seen from the roadway?" We did list the usual tell-tale signs of a crash, but they weren't the deciding criteria as to whether a section of the road should be inspected.
[right][snapback]29705[/snapback][/right]

I was in no way trying to have any influence on what road sections should be inspected. I'm trying like hell to keep up with the current events and was just thinking that all I've read, is "look for skid marks." If I can mention something that makes a difference, well, isn't that what we're hoping for?

I'm really just trying to help the most I can, with what little I have to contribute. I may have to deal with family obligations tomorrow and will hopefully know one way or another tonight. If not, and I miss the morning group, maybe I can get out there after the fact and do a bit of looking anyway.

[crashrat]

As Mark (canyonrat2) said in another thread, it can easier to search by car. He found that he was out on the side of the road more.. I know when we went out on Thursday, I was driving, and Linda was able to focus on being an observer. I know I didn't see the car she spotted off Geysers rd (I posted that on the picture thread) I did find that I had to make sure I didn't stop until there was a decent pull out.

I did pack basic recover gear, a harness and rope, water, and a traffic cone!

Having been over the side of Tunitus Creek after a friend, being able to rope in is very helpful- some of the drop offs are pretty slippery/steep and if you actually spot something viable at the bottom, you'd better be prepared to go down and take a look.

the traffic cone always comes in handy, obviously.

/ac

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I am planning on bringing my truck so a few people could come with. If there was to be more hiking it would be easier not wearing my MC gear and having a cooler with drinks etc. Please let me know if I am thinking along the right line. Two people and I could do a more detailed search on the goat trails.

Mario
===============================================

[Arizona]

I'm am definately, hugely, in. In fact I plan to search on my way up to Santa Rosa.

Woody

[R6Chick]

More reporting in

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I'll be there and can lead a group section.

Mark aka canyonrat2
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On 9/23/05, North Bay Container <PacificRim@nbctrans.com> wrote:

I am in the Oakland. I am trying to get some people to ride with me tomorrow in my truck. A fellow rider has volunteered to team up with me. He and his wife will be in their cage, they are from Brentwood.

Can we get dispatched if we don’t drive all the way to Santa Rosa? Perhaps you could give us the number people would be checking in on and email the media release. We could possibly stand by in Cordelia, which is just south of Berryessa.

Let me know I promised to give an answer to the others.

Mario
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[Kermit]

I guess the Taho ride is cancelled

and the bakery ride






















I am insenseitive

[wingnut]

Tom has been bringing me up to speed on what needs to be searched and what has already been covered. I will be at Deaf Dog Tomorrow at 8:00 to help coordinate efforts on the ground. A good friend of Melinda's, Mike, will also be there tomorrow to help lead a search team.


Thank you,

Kim

[R6Chick]

More...

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On 9/23/05, mikewsimmons@comcast.net <mikewsimmons@comcast.net> wrote:

I rode with Melinda & Mark on our Hiway 36 ride and would like to assist in anyway I can.
I live in Novato and know the Sononoma/Marin roads farely well. Do you need more people for the Saturday search?

Hopes & Prayers,
Mike Simmons
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[NoGall]

Hi, folks! We maybe focusing our efforts to the west and northwest of Santa Rosa on Saturday. Please read:

======================
Mark (Canyonrat2), I need your feedback on this.

Strategies for Saturday -- Instead of covering all the roads again, I feel we should do a hard search on specific areas.

Roads in and around Berryessa, those leading to Lower Lake have been thoroughly checked, and re-checked. Hwy 1, from Jenner to Stewarts Point, has recieved a CHP chopper flight, and turned up nothing. We can also rule out Marin as the roads there are either checked or heavily patrolled on regular basis.

If we are under the assumption that Melinda just wanted to do a short ride (5 to 6 hours) to clear her head or be away from people... If it was me, I would head for the coast or north rather than south or southwest as that would lead to more people and more congestion. Considering the coast just recieved its first fog-less days in weeks, that's incentive enough. I would want to play along the coast.

My candidates:

1. Skaggs Springs Rd. for obvious reasons -- has been flown over by the chopper. However, the west of the bridge (aka the crappy section) have sections that are heavily covered by trees -- making aerial surveillance ineffective. I propose two teams of three. One team make their way westward from the bridge, and another team make their way eastward from Stewarts Point. When the two teams meet in the middle, done.
* Nearest gas station -- Stewarts Point

2. Annapolis Rd. -- If I don't feel like doing the crappy section (Stewarts Point Rd.), I would take Annapolis for a speedier way out to Hwy 1. I propose one team of three here.
* Nearest gas station -- Stewarts Point

The next two candidates are actually Mark and Melinda's favorite grounds, we should re-check carefully:

3. A cluster of roads between Cazadero and Stewarts Point:

King Ridge Rd.
Fort Ross Rd.
Myers Grade Rd.
Seaview Rd.
Hauzer Bridge
Tin Barn Rd.
* Nearest gas station is in Jenner at 116 and Hwy 1.

4. Roads in and out of Occidental:

Graton Rd.
Bohemian Hwy.
Occidental Rd.
Joy Rd.
Coleman Valley Rd.
* Nearest gas station is in Jenner at 116 and Hwy 1.

The last two candidates are a bit far, but highly possible:

5. Further north, another cluster of roads off of Hwy 1 between Point Arena and Gualala (recieved zero coverage on Thursday):

Eureka Hill Rd.
Ten Mile Rd.
Iversen Rd.
Fish Rock Rd.
* Nearest gas station is in Gualala.

6. Mountain View Rd. -- It's the quickest way out to the coast from Boonville on 128. Taking this short cut means extra time for a nap in the afternoon.
* Nearest gas stations are in Gualala and Boonville.

What do you think? Shall we target these 6 closely on Saturday?