Smell My Fingers

[Old Michael]

Yes, kangaroos are soft and furry.

Wouldn't call them "cute" though.

But still, I'm not fond of the idea that one of 'em gave up his hide to make

my new gloves SO COMFORTABLE!

Yup, finally replaced my worn out (and well-loved) Racer High Ends ...

with NEW High Ends!

(Just getting broken in.)

Love them.

And the smell !

New leather.

(Sittin' here sniffin' em right now.)

So, here's a brief little report of a solo ride yesterday.

So winter's over and I've been dying to get up into the mountains again. I'm of course aware

that Sonora Pass (Hwy. 108 - just north of Yosemite) won't be opening for a few weeks, but

I thought I'd just see how it looks up to the point where they've put up the barrier.

Bit of a late start, but in no hurry. It ain't that far.

Stopped at the New Melones Reservoir (purty full this spring) to check a boat ramp.

Fond of boat ramps.

On down 49 through Sonora, east on 108, and up into the brutal cold.

(Didn't take many pics on the way up. It was almost midday, and the brilliant sunshine sorta

washes all the color out of things.)

Lots of snow still left - even below 6000 feet.

Okay. Less words. More pics.

The fellow driving this cherry Nova told me he regularly blows the doors off of Fairlanes. Jus' sayin'.

Encountered this fellow unloading a toy....

He explained that the conversion takes a couple of hours, but that it's wicked fun to ride.

Told me he could sidehill and jump much better than on a standard "sled".

Then, I was handed a tennis ball by this character -

-and hadda spend 10 minutes throwing it up the hill for him.

Onward.

Continuing up, past Dardanelle...

...and then, just past Kennedy Meadows ...

Here, you're only at about 6500 ft., and it doesn't look like it should be "impassable",

(not much snow because it's exposed to the afternoon sun every day and melts much sooner

than does the stuff just over the top on the eastern slopes, I think)

but in the next few miles the climb is much steeper and takes you over Sonora Pass at 9600 or so feet. I reckon they figured this'd

be a good place to draw the line.

A note - There was NO traffic up here. You can't get over, so nobody comes up trying to get through.

Had it all to myself ...... and my FJR.

Gen 2.

A blue one.

I'd brought my Safeway Deli

lunch, so I went to the nearest accessible campground and took a break.

Gourmet ****. (Roast beast, pepper jack cheese, pickles, jalapenos, lettuce, hot mustard,.....and mayo! Go to my website for the recipe.)

Temp in the 60's. Early afternoon. A very slight breeze.

Stellar Jays...

...squawking at my intrusion.

The picnic table was sun-bathed and warm.

Yup!

Stretched out on it and took a 10 minute nap. (Don't start.)

Be right back with a few pics of the ride back.

 

[beemerdons]

Excellent Michael, most excellent!

 

[Old Michael]

I'd have spent the night, but it gets awfully cold at night up here.

So, I packed up and headed back out.

Back down into the foothills, and then north again through Sonora (the town). They were having some sort of Rodeo/Festival/Street Fair,

so I stopped and immersed myself in the humanity.

Rushes lost his virginity in one of these.......just last year.

Man, I'd LOVE to own this cardboard cutout.

Don't give me that look, pal.

Hell, if I had an extra helmet, I could steal her from you -

(assuming she had a weakness for old, balding, out-of-shape dudes wearing giant yellow lids).

Okay. Back on the motorbike, and up the road to home.

Across the New Melones Bridge, again.

Just a few more miles. An early evening in springtime, riding through the lovely countryside.

Quick stop in Drytown. Biker bar.

Almost run over.

Approaching Sacramento, I took Latrobe Road from the Jackson Highway up to Highway 50.

This is actually the way I "ride home" from work quite often. It's a dozen or so miles out of my

way, but it's awfully peaceful and a great winding country road.

Here are a few pictures of one of my favorite spots along the way. It's an intersection,

but it just "feels good" to pull over here,....and sit. On a Saturday evening, there's not much traffic.

A few highway miles back into town.

Thanks for reading my report.

Have a great week.

 

[MEM]

Thanks for reading my report.

My PLEASURE!

Thank you for sharing. I'm still living - and riding - vicariously through you West Coasters :huh:

 

[Bungie]

Good on ya Manitoban. Yosemite is still on my shortlist of places I really want to see and ride. I was really disappointed when I realized we didn't have enough time to see the sights running down the coast and then across to NM. Just means I'll have to come back.

I'm with ya on the new gloves too. I actually took the time in the depths of the winter to wash out my helmet liner and my gloves as per Held's recommendations. Gave them a good treatment of Dubbin after they dried out. The feel just like new again. Funny how you get attached to something like that isn't it. Good memories in those gloves. Glad I didn't wash them away.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I almost didn't open this thread with the title...but my curiosity overcame my horror at what I might find clicking on this thread...

Great report...especially like the green grasses. Will they still be green in two weeks?

 

[escapefjrtist]

Very nice OM. Thanks for sharing your day with us!

--G

 

[James Burleigh]

I enjoyed that. It's always great to go along with you as our California tour guide. You make me wish I lived in Kali, and rode an FJR. :blink:

 

[TomInPA]

Great report OM. Too bad you live so far away, or we could ride together. :glare:

 

[Bugnatr]

I almost didn't open this thread with the title...but my curiosity overcame my horror at what I might find clicking on thsi thread...

Great report...especially like the green grasses. Will they still be green in two weeks?

So cal will be mostly brown, Nor Cal will be browning in the flat land but plenty of green in the high country. My oaks just started to leaf out this week at 3000'.

 

[Panman]

Nice report OM, thanks for the ride.

 

[El Toro Joe]

Good stuff...thanks!

 

[beemerdons]

Good stuff...thanks!

+1, Gunny; great stuff, thank you! However, I'm just a little bit concerned: Where the hell was Bokerfork at? Seeing a Ride Report from you without Bokerfork, is like seeing The Lone Ranger without his faithful Indian companion Tonto beside him. Or more appropriately, like seeing Spanky without Buckwheat! Know what I'm saying?

 

[Tyler]

What's will the next report be titled... Pull My Finger?? :blink:

Looks like a beautiful day, Mikey. B)

 

[CAJW]

Hey OM! Thanks a bunch. The Mrs. is looking over my shoulder and whining, "why don't you take me up there, it's sooo pretty". Guess I'll have to change my mind on waiting until the pass is open and just go ahead and take her snow camping on the FJR!

 

[yamafitter]

Encountered this fellow unloading a toy....

He explained that the conversion takes a couple of hours, but that it's wicked fun to ride.

Told me he could sidehill and jump much better than on a standard "sled".

I had a chance to demo a similar rig last winter in the Great White North. I thought it would be a great addition to the fleet since there is no chance of making room for a sled in my garage. Unfortunately the snowmobile association in Ontario made it illegal to run one of these on the groomed snowmobile trails which severely limits the use for one of these.

It is legal to use it in Quebec, but then what's illegal in Quebec??

 

[zip]

Looking forward to riding with you after midyear - if I can keep up, Michael!

 

[Niehart]

Great stuff Micheal. Thanks!

 

[BikerGeek99]

Gah.

You suck, OM.



Now go for another ride, take more pictures, and post up, OK? We'll help you get this whole Ride Report thing down right one of these days...