Excellent Bako Area Ride

[Hit the Road Jack]

Yesterday, since all my chores were caught up for a change, I decided to get out of town for a long overdue ride to nowhere.

Cruised some of my local favorite roads, east out of Bakersfield on Bena Road to the beloved Caliente-Bodfish Road. Rode it north to Lake Isabella. Lapped the lake and returned to Bakersfield on 178 through the Kern River Canyon.

Route Map

My first real chance to explore the handling of the new set of Michelin PR2s. They handled great. No scary corners at all.

I was pretty much enjoying the ride too much to stop for photos, but did snap a few when I stopped to picnic on my $5 Subway footlong. Yum!

Looking south toward Bear Mt. from Bena Rd.

The weather was absolutely perfect! Completely comfortable.

View from the north shore of Lake Isabella

One scene I did have to pull over for a photo:

Flaming orange wildflowers in bloom atop the mountains along the Kern River Canyon.

 

[CAJW]

HTRJ,

Nice pics. Looks a lot like the ride I took this afternoon, wildflowers are really taking over right now. I left the camera home this time, just went out on Hwy 132 and worked some of the side roads up toward Coulterville. Guess I'd better take some pics next time to show Lake McClure (or the lack thereof). Looks like both of our lakes could use some more H2O. Thanks for sharing.

JW

 

[Old Michael]

That's a beautiful scene Wendell.

I'll be going past Lake Isabella very soon. I hope it's not too cold.

And I'll never listen to your crap about food shots again. No pic of the footlong?

Slacker.

 

[Wicked Webby]

Great pics!

WW

 

[Hit the Road Jack]

And I'll never listen to your crap about food shots again. No pic of the footlong? Slacker.

Touché! Point taken. I was hungry and that sammie was calling my name. No time for fancy road-side pictures.

Guess I'll just have to do it all over!

 

[FJJ'sR]

Having grown up in Bakersfield (BHS grad '77) I know exactly where you're talking about. That's quite a twisty road up the Kern Canyon. I can remember that road before the upper section was redone and widened.

Did several trips up there to enjoy the wildflowers. They were especially spectacular after a fire in the foothills.

FJJ'sR

 

[dcarver]

Nice report HTRJ - Thanks.

I've not yet ridden the Caliente-Bodfish or whatever name it is.

Old Michael, let's do this ride and take lots of pix!

 

[Old Michael]

Nice report HTRJ - Thanks. I've not yet ridden the Caliente-Bodfish or whatever name it is.

Old Michael, let's do this ride and take lots of pix!

Funny you should get bring it up Don. I'm hoping to be out the door within a couple of hours.

After all that DV talking and planning, none of you sonsofbitches ended up going. I'm going.

DV and then all over hell down there where it's warm and sunny. No schedule.

(Oh. I should post it in the ride-planning hole.)