Searching for M,OM

Mike and Old Michael were doing a Hwy 4 ride on Saturday, they invited me to the ride but I had a date Friday night and didn't come home till 9:30AM on Saturday morning. B)

I checked my messages when I got home and they had just left the Eldorado Hills meetup location at 8:50AM - I figured I would try and intercept them at lunch in Markleeville.

I left at 10AM after a quick pre-ride check and fueling up. I took Hwy 50 to Meyers and then got on Hwy 89 over Luther Pass towards Hwy 88.



Great views along Hwy 88 heading towards Markleeville.







I reached Markleeville just before Noon, but no sign of Mike and Old Michael. I decided to eat lunch at the cafe, just in case I somehow managed to beat them to Markleeville. No pictures of the food - but it was a great sandwich.

By the time I had finished lunch and was on the road again it was 12:30PM - so I figured I am still going to look for but probably am not going to catch them now since I planned to take a LOT of pictures on Hwy 4.

There were bicyclists everywhere on Hwy 4.



Great views were everywhere also.





Still quite some snow up there.





But the roads were clear.



Ebbetts Pass. 8730 ft.



More vistas.









Mosquito Lake. It's probably better that I am visiting when it is still frozen





More great views.









Stopped at Alpine Lake. In the summer (the water is still VERY COLD) this would be a nice swimming hole.







Driftwood at Alpine Lake.





A lot of motorcyclists also, passed these guys by. Mostly saw cruisers and sport-tourers this day, some dual-sports too.



Approaching Bear Valley ski resort.





More panaromic entertainment.









Stopped by the Big Trees State Park. I told the Ranger I was only going to be there for about 1/2 hour to 40 minutes tops, so she let me in for FREE





Big Stump Tree (or Tree remains)



This fella was very entertaining. He clearly enjoys what he does.











Are you hiding in there fellas?



or under there somewhere?



Puppychow barking up the wrong tree (no they aren't there either).



After a short hike through the Big Tree Park, it was some fun riding to the Ironstone Vineyards.

Wait! I think I see Old Michael...



Found you! What did you do with Mike?



Mike isn't driving this truck is he?



Visited the Ironstone Museum - I like wine and guns! WW-II vintage



The piece de reistance at the Ironstone Vineyards. In this vault is the world's largest crystallized gold nugget.







Ironstone amphitheater. A lot of fun concerts here in the summer. I tell you Murphy is a happening place!



A couple doing their wedding rehearsal at the amphitheater?



Road to Murphys from Ironstone Vineyards.



Old Barn with horses and cows





Crossing the one lane bridge into Murphys.













That's not Tyler.



Last pic of the day on Hwy 49 before heading home.



Thanks for reading!

EDIT - Photobucket is messing with some pictures and not showing the correct orientation, if they seem flipped I apologize, I am trying to fix the issue, but no luck so far.

PC - great RR! Damn dood... You keep missng / losing the group.. I'm starting to think you do this purposely? Never the less, your spirit and fotos rock. Tx.

Nope... yellow is so, like, last year.

Wonderful pics, Sam!! You hit some of my favorites and I recognized many of your photo stops... :clapping:

P.S. The title of your thread made me think you were looking for a matriarch... :lol:

puppychow said:

That's not Tyler.

Click to expand...

Sam, you were actually ahead of us. We took the back way up Sacramento Rd. through Plymouth to Mt. Aukum to Sly Park. When we got to Kyburz we rode up Silver Fork Rd. hoping to get to Hwy 88. Alas, the road was snowed over 2 miles from Hwy 88 so we back tracked to Hwy 50 over the summit and took Hwy 89 across to 88 to Markleeville. At that point you were probably an hour ahead of us.

We also stopped for lots of pictures and B.S. sessions...imagine that! :blink:

I'm sure Old Michael is uploading his pictures. I'll try to get mine done tomorrow.

Sorry we missed you but it looks like you stopped at all the places we did about an hour ahead.

Very nice ride, Sam! The pics and content are excellent as usual.

Mary's out of school as of yesterday and I'm gonna try a run just like yours and a little south next week near the end of the week. Hope to see some of the same sights!

It seems to be a pattern with me Mike. I try to catch up to the group so well that I actually get ahead of the group. My track record is 2 for 2 now, and no I don't do this on purpose Don - it just turns out that way

Can't wait to see Mike's and Old Michael's ride pictures, it was such a gorgeous day for riding today! Didn't even feel the wind much (was supposed to be 30 mph gusts).

Tim (Tree Doc) - are you going to hit Hwy 4, Hwy 108 and Hwy 120? Wish I could join you towards the end of the week, but I am leaving for Nevada on Monday eve, I have a ~1500 mile tour of the Nevada desolation planned for Tue and Wed, back home Thu/Fri sometime.

Tyler said:

P.S. The title of your thread made me think you were looking for a matriarch... :lol:

Click to expand...

You probably figured it out already, but since I was searching for Mike (M), Old Michael(OM) - I decided to get a little creative with the title.

It was an eventful day.

puppychow, this Ride Report is Outstanding and the photographs are Outstanding; Thank You! I do miss California, especially Northern California; incredibly scenic and diverse. And Sam, as far as your not showing any pictures of Old Michael and madmike2: Well, at least I won't be barfing up my breakfast burrito!

Ah crapola, I'm busted; I see OM is already up and on the Forum. Just kidding, Bro!

Don, aren't you supposed to be at some Gen 1 circle-jerk?

Old Michael said:

Don, aren't you supposed to be at some Gen 1 circle-jerk?

Click to expand...

Yes I am, but since all of us Gen 1 guys are old, the circle-jerk only takes about a minute or two!

Here's a start....

Leaving Elk Grove @ 0730



Deserted barn and orchard stumps on Grantline Rd.



Looking East...We'll be going "up there" in an hour or so



Toward ElDorado Hills



Yes...we did go to Starbucks for 1/2 hour hoping Sam would join us.



No Sam. Just this dapper rider and myself.



Latrobe Road:

Old Michael



Miles of Valley Oaks



We turned East on Sacramento Rd. Here's the Financial District in Plymouth, CA.

Enjoyed coming along on your photo tour. Thanks, and hope to come along some time soon. JB

After crossing Hwy 49 @ Plymouth, the road changes names to Shenandoah Valley Road.

It begins to climb through rolling hills and farmlands.

Old Michael



We passed this old barn (Yep, because of Andrew aka: OrangevaleFJR I notice barns) that's still in use.



Saw lots of vineyards



We passed this intersection. Anyone recognize it? Tyler?



We saw some other things that piqued our interest....

like this WPA era bridge over the Consumnes River



And a small ranch planning "alternatives" to Bustanut's proclivity for sheep.



From there the road continues to climb toware Sly Park Reservoir. O dang...we had to ride 28 miles of roadway like this.



And this.....

We jogged left and merged onto Hwy 50 east...



Old Michael under way...



South Fork of the American River that will eventually flow into Folsom Reservoir.



Hwy 50 has some great scenery, like this......



....and this.



We stopped here.

Hey ALL you guys !! Nice pics :clapping:

Sam --Surprised you managed to take pics in Murphy's without catching a HD in one of them :lol:

Good to see MadMike out riding --- even if it WASN'T with our group

Nice! Mike, what time did you have to get up to ride with OM?

I see that I need to scout a road -- whatever one it was that you took from the Plymouth area to Sly Park Reservoir. Don't think I know about that -- need to pull a map out now.

PC -- you discovered THE SINGLE BEST outdoor venue for concerts in the northern part of the state, IMO. Ironstone Vineyards ROCKS for concerts -- the facilities are SO perfect for the music, food, wine, beer, restroom access, a killer gen. admission set up, etc. Book some tickets, rent a room for the night in Murphys and get there early if you have gen admission tickets so you get a great spot, put down your blanket and low beach chairs, etc. Seriously, it's that cool a place to see good music performed by good acts.

Very Nice Mike, Thank You!