Sierras

[Burgi]

Racked up over 1400 miles in the Sierra Mountains last week. It isn't that we went all that far but we spent 6-8 hours a day in the saddle exploring the roads less traveled.
Left out across LA and up to the plains.

Spent the night near the Kern River. Anybody ever go rafting there? I was thinking I'd like to go back next spring and give it a try.

The next day we headed for the Sequoias and Kings Canyon. Thanks Velcro, Moedad and HP for recommending Kings. I'd never heard of it and it was a great ride down to Cedar Grove. Only came a across a few cars and they pulled over to let you by. Stayed in the Lodge so got to hear the roar of the river all night.

Found this on the side of some road the next day. It wasn't in a park, couldn't find it again if you paid me. The snow pack was really good this year so waterfalls and rivers popped up all over.

I also found Fish his cows. No challenge there, the area along the mountains and central valley has cows all over the place. I have ridden over enough cattle guards for a lifetime. Some places they were just painted lines. Do cows fall for that?

My husband couldn't find any camera mount he liked so he built his own. So many people approached him to find out about it that he started to wonder if he should build them to sell.

From there it was on to the Kaiser Pass. Road started out nice enough but soon went to one lane of crumbling asphalt strewn with rocks, pine needles, mud and rivers of melting snow. It was full of tight twists and sharp rises so you couldn't see approaching vehicles until they were on you then you had to try and squeeze by each other. The last couple of miles were powdery sand. One of the guys working up there told me that they 2 wheel drive cars regularly got stuck in it and had to be towed out. I looked in my mirror at one point to see my husband's bike airborne after sliding off the road hitting a rock and being tossed back on. Seems funny seeing a big road bike like that fly now but at the time it sure wasn't! He went over later while trying to get out of the way of a car. Lucky he got nothing more than a skinned knee and bent crash bar. I slid out in the sand but somehow managed to keep my bike upright.
It took 1 1/2 hours to go 20 miles on it, not my idea of fun riding.
Anyway, we got up to the top for this. The lake was still filling you could see the difference in the water level just in the overnight we spent there. The next day we got to take the same miserable road out. 

Next it was off to Yosemite. Spent a half day riding up to Glacier Point.

Crossed the Tioga Pass to Lee Vining. I locked up my bike for the first time on the Pass. Some fool made a wide right turn and just kept coming into my lane. I manage to ride in LA traffic everyday without ever having locked up but nearly got taken out in an area with almost no vehicles?  I had thought Mono Lake looked really cool in pictures. Didn't think so much of it in person.

So off across the high desert. No rain anywhere on the ride but temps varied from the 30's to 100F. Roadside dressing and undressing (often several times a day) got to be normal.

Stopped at Manzanar. A WWII internment camp for Japanese Americans. I thought it was well worth the stop, pretty moving stuff.
There isn't much else to do in the desert so I got the Bonnie up to 110 MPH (indicated). It certainly had more to give but I didn't. I'm usually happy being old and slow.

It was a great trip.

[JB1290]

Wow! Great pics. Thanks for those.

[gammer]

Nice report and beautiful pics.

There isn't much else to do in the desert so I got the Bonnie up to 110 MPH (indicated).

 

[LOKi]

  well done
Great pictures. The blue on your pipes is starting to match the paint on the tank.

Thanks for sharing.

Ever have problems with the headphone cord getting in the way? My work around was a patch cord run under the tank (cheep from Radio Shack). That way your plugging into the MP3 in your lap where the cord isn't laying across the tank. I have lost an MP3 player by getting that cord tangled around my hand when reaching for the grip.

[fishmeister]

I thought I was going to die from old age waiting on this report...

It looks really beautifull Burgi, nice seeing the animals, but something promised was missing....

The Food Report!  

All the pics were great, but the last one is outstanding!

Now I'm going to take a time out and pout with jealousy.....

Only Cali cows obey the painted lines....

[Tryvelcro]

Glad you enjoyed the ride, thanks for the pics!  Hope you weren't disappointed by Kings Canyon, it's a good time to be up there.

[Burgi]

Ever have problems with the headphone cord getting in the way?

For normal riding I keep my MP3 in my chest pocket so I don't have to worry about it.
That cord is running to the GPS. I switched to a heavier cord since the light weight one was blowing all over the place. I caught my hand on it at first but started getting used to slow movements and it has been less of a problem.
Running it under the tank would make for a tidy solution. Being all clean like that I wonder if I wouldn't constantly be trying to walk off while still plugged up?

I thought I was going to die from old age waiting on this report...

It looks really beautifull Burgi, nice seeing the animals, but something promised was missing....

Oh alright, I kept forgetting my camera at meal time. Priority shift, I was HUNGRY! I did get one though.
Whats a good California meal without twigs and bits? This was at the Mobil station in Lee Vining. The Mobil is the hot spot in town. I got duckling for dinner the night before.

I think I darn near scared those cows to death to get your shot. They were curious when I rode up but once they got a good look they all began to move away unloading as they went. Wouldn't that have made for a beautiful picture; me in front of a dozen cows that are all releasing huge volumes of manure.
Back to the city for me! 

[fishmeister]

Now that's more like it, I'm done pouting and getting hungry......those vittles really look quite good!

Roast duck, huh....you're pretty snazzy..

Don't know what you did to my cow buddies, maybe they thought it was time to meet their maker....

That's what's depleating your ozone layer there in Cali....all that methane being released.   

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2274995/Cow-farts-collected-in-plastic-tank-for-global-warming-study.html?source=newswidget

[hppants]

All the pics were great, but the last one is outstanding!

+1 - the last one is my favorite.  Calendar material for sure.

I am soooo envious - I will do that ride on a motorcycle one day.

Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

[hockeyhawk]

Nice report Burgi, awsome pics.   

[FAITHBIKER]

Alright...time for a ride!

[luckylindy]

Great pics and report Burgi.

[82CB750SC]

Wow...simply amazing.

[Burgi]

That's what's depleating your ozone layer there in Cali....all that methane being released.   

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2274995/Cow-farts-collected-in-plastic-tank-for-global-warming-study.html?source=newswidget

Hmmmmm...are you insinuating that I can help stop global warming by scaring the crap out of cows? 

[ariwhiteboy]

All the pics were great, but the last one is outstanding!

+1 - the last one is my favorite.  Calendar material for sure.

I am soooo envious - I will do that ride on a motorcycle one day.

Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

Breathtaking scenery out there!  Very good report.    I had the same though when I saw that last pic though, definately calendar or even magazine cover material!  Ok I just scrolled back up and looked at it again...simply amazing. 

[tomb raider]

Fantastic Burgi and Crew. I love this picture.

[NiteRyder]

I had thought Mono Lake looked really cool in pictures. Didn't think so much of it in person.

I love the Mono Basin, I go over there to ride and do some photographing at least 3-4 times a year. As a matter of fact i'm leaving this Thursday to spend 4 or 5 days over there camping, riding, and photographing. Mono Lake is best seen at sunrise or sunset, the colors can be incredible. Bodie ghost town is right there where you were, did you geta chance to see it? I'm going there as well, very cool place.

[fishmeister]

That's what's depleating your ozone layer there in Cali....all that methane being released.   

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2274995/Cow-farts-collected-in-plastic-tank-for-global-warming-study.html?source=newswidget

Hmmmmm...are you insinuating that I can help stop global warming by scaring the crap out of cows? 

No, By not scaring them....everyone has to do their part. 

[Burgi]

Bodie ghost town is right there where you were, did you geta chance to see it? I'm going there as well, very cool place.

Didn't get there. It is somewhere I want to see but didn't realize how close I was to it. 

[hppants]

Ari - this trip's on the list.  You can get ready.  Now, I know you are thinking that I'm whistling through my a$$, and of course, you would be partially right.  But may I remind you that not too long ago, someone said "hey, wouldn't it be neat if we could all get together and ride?" and 3 months later came the rally.

Positive thoughts my friend...

[Burgi]

Velcro doesn't live all that far from most of this and apparently she has space for another bike....maybe we could all drop in for a visit? 

[LOKi]

All at once. Ready for 50 nighthawks Velcro?

[Tryvelcro]

Velcro doesn't live all that far from most of this and apparently she has space for another bike....maybe we could all drop in for a visit? 

Sure.  I can recommend some hotels nearby (I have a 1 bedroom).   

[NiteRyder]

Bodie ghost town is right there where you were, did you geta chance to see it? I'm going there as well, very cool place.

Didn't get there. It is somewhere I want to see but didn't realize how close I was to it. 

It's by far the best Ghost town in California, IMO. Something you should see if you get the chance again.

[Moedad]

Right on, Burgi! Great report! I was in Yosemite a week ago too. Didn't get to take the Hawk because I had to pick up a friend from the airport in Fresno. We were up on Glacier Point on Monday night the 14th. Outstanding pictures!