RPTR FLIES INTO ARSA WITHOUT CONTACTING CTLING AGENCY AND FLIES INTO IMC WITHOUT IFR CLRNC.

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I HAD JUST FINISHED MY BIANNUAL FLT REVIEW 2 DAYS BEFORE AFTER NOT FLYING FOR 10 1/2 MONTHS. WE DIDN'T GO OVER CLOUD CLRNC REQUIREMENTS. I SHOULD HAVE LOOKED THEM UP ON MY OWN THOUGH. PAO WAS IFR BUT THERE WERE SOME DEFINITE HOLES IN THE FOG LAYER. I HAD REMEMBERED THAT SVFR YOU COULD STAY CLR OF CLOUDS AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECENT CHANGE SO THAT YOU COULD BE CLR OF CLOUDS NEAR AN ATC FACILITY; BUT LATER DETERMINED THIS WAS FOR CLASS B NOT CLASS C AIRSPACE. DURING THE PREFLT THE FIELD WENT VFR. I TAXIED; DID A RUN-UP; AND DEPARTED WITH A R DUMBARTON DEP. BASES WERE AT 800 FT AND TOPS AT ABOUT 1400 FT. IF I HAD BEEN FLYING MORE RECENTLY I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT I COULD HAVE GONE ABOVE 1400 FT TO THE N. MANY OF US STAY BELOW 1400 FT ON DEP/ARR TO MAKE 100 PERCENT SURE WE DON'T BUMP INTO SJC'S ARSA. I HAD FULL PWR SO IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP IT AT 1400 FT AND SOMETIMES WENT TO 1500 FT. UNTIL I GOT OVER FREMONT YOU COULD SAY I WAS SCUD RUNNING ON TOP. WHAT CAUSED THE PROB IS MY IGNORANCE OF THE FARS AND THE DESIRE TO FLY RATHER THAN DRIVE TO FRESNO. ALTHOUGH NOT AN EXCUSE; WHAT WAS BIZARRE IS THAT IF THE FIELD WAS STILL IFR I COULD HAVE EASILY GOTTEN OUT LEGALLY AND SAFELY WITH A SVFR CLRNC. I GUESS IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO SET IT UP WHERE IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO DEPART WHEN THERE ARE HOLES IN THE LAYER. I THOUGHT ABOUT CONTACTING ATC ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THIS DEP; BUT I KNOW THEY CAN'T RECOMMEND WHAT TO DO; AND BASICALLY DIDN'T WANT TO PUT THEM IN BTWN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.