Touring * Street * Slalom *

Take State Highway 120 east from State Highway 99. Just as you enter the outskirts of Oakdale, you'll come to the first stoplight at Rodden and River Roads. Turn left onto Rodden, and pay attention to the street signs to stay on that road. First, it curves northward to meet Gibbers Road; turn right here. Soon, Rodden makes another turn to the north, and half a mile later meets 26-Mile Road: turn right again. Immediately after that, turn right to enter North Oaks Drive. Cruise around and check out the skating territory before choosing a place to park on the shoulder. Map: Modesto and Stanislaus County; Compass Maps, Inc., P.O. Box 4369, Modesto, CA 95352.

If you love carving turns, you'll want to check out the long, sloped driveways to be found in these two high-rent neighborhoods of Oak and Fox Hollow. The driveway pavement here tends to be concrete, making it pretty irresistible for slalom practice. Below the driveways leading up to the first set of estates where you parked, the shady streets are all named with some form of the word Oak: Oak Creek, Oak Drive, River Oaks, Oak View, etc. You'll find about two miles of streets and as many driveways as you can handle. If you don't wear yourself out here, follow Oak View Drive north to skate back down to Rodden Road. Follow Rodden for half a mile and look for the big ranch entrance sign on the left that says Persimmon Hills. Turn right across the street onto Red Fox, and explore a newer, less shaded set of hilltop homes still in the making, with foxy street names such as Silver Fox and Gray Fox. The driveways are shorter here, but the street pavement is agreeably smooth.