Wanna Get High?

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Sorta spur of the moment.

I'd originally contemplated organizing a group ride up and around and in the back side of Yosemite for this weekend,

but Tioga Pass isn't yet clear for motorbike travel. So, it wasn't to happen.

BUT, when I saw CAJW's post about almost all of the other passes being rideable, well.......

GOTTA get up there and see all the snow and waterfalls and see how the winter has treated the high country.

Packing a lunch. Heading out @0630 this morning.

Oatmeal at Brookfields/Sunrise.

Urgent pace, so no Gen. 1's.
laugh.gif


(Okay. We'll allow one or two.)

In-

RsvlFeej

Beemerdons

Bokerfork

Me

 
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Slainte Mick, once again I want to thank you Brother for organizing these excellent Sierra passes rides, much appreciated. I am at Winchell's right now picking us up some doughnuts.

I just don't understand why MadMike2, puppychow, HYCLE, exskibum, TominCA and the rest of the NorCal weenies don't join up with us on these adventures! Oh well, you know you can always count on RsvlFeej, Mark and Papa Chuy to accompany you!

 
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I just don't understand why MadMike2, puppychow, HYCLE, exskibum, TominCA and the rest of the NorCal weenies don't join up with us on these adventures!
Oh,man. What are you talkin' about?! I would so be on this ride...that is, if I had a motorcycle, and of course if the ride started at a reasonable hour. But apart from that, and if I'd a gotten Fang's permission, and it'n it wasn't gonna be too cold up there in the mountains, I would have so thought about maybe going on this ride. Maybe. :blink:

 
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Urgent pace, so no Gen. 1's.
laugh.gif
Now we know who's high...those poor Gen II owners.
LOL, Doug -- Yeah, especially since RsvlFeej rides an '05. I suspect he'll be taking 20 minute breaks waiting for the crazy eccentric Irishman to catch up.
Por favor Diego y Ricardo, We Hibernians really don't care for the crazy appellation; we much prefer eccentric, peculiar, whimsical and unconventional. Many Thanks!

 
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I just don't understand why MadMike2, puppychow, HYCLE, exskibum, TominCA and the rest of the NorCal weenies don't join up with us on these adventures!
Oh,man. What are you talkin' about?! I would so be on this ride...that is, if I had a motorcycle, and of course if the ride started at a reasonable hour. But apart from that, and if I'd a gotten Fang's permission, and it'n it wasn't gonna be too cold up there in the mountains, I would have so thought about maybe going on this ride. Maybe. :blink:
Hans, you shoulda been there! Yes, it was cold and yes, we left at a reasonable hour, but we didn't see the Domed one or any others, but I think I did see Beemerdons at Hotel Jeffrey in Coulterville slamming down a few Irish Car Bombs. Hurry up and get a bike already!

 
Well, you doorknobs, the turnout was incredible.
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We zoomed down to Angels Camp and ran up 4 and over Ebbetts Pass, then down across the Carson River

and up again over Monitor Pass, then down 395

(and an encounter with RenoJohnBoy) and up the the backside and over Sonora Pass,

and down the western slope and past Cold Springs.

THEN we turned around and went BACK up and over Sonora Pass, and back north and BACK over Monitor Pass,

and north some more through good ol' Picketts Junction and up over Carson Pass and back down into the valley.

The mountains of snow, and the melt, and the spring freshness - freaking FANTASTIC!

One of the best days of riding in memory.

(Saw a bunch of FJRs.)

Thank you RsvlFeej and Bokerfork and Beemerdons (excellent FJR pilots) for making it a great ride and wicked fun!

A hundred or so pics to sort. Here's one.

IMG_2108.jpg


 
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I was there...just not with you. And there must have been at least a half dozen FJR riders I passed going hte opposite direction.

My ride was delayed by a rider who had a blow-out on the rear tire. He earned it. Tires were bald. I feel bad for his wife who had to endure finger road-rash due to the ******-bags negligence.

EbbettsPass2011001.jpg


EbbettsPass2011004.jpg


Our ride continued after arranging for towing and transport.

EbbettsPass2011009.jpg


And the snow in the upper elevations was spectacular.

EbbettsPass2011038.jpg


Signs of the times.

EbbettsPass2011043.jpg


Lots of riders on the road today.

EbbettsPass2011078.jpg


Caples Lake is still frozen over and snow covered. As are all the alpine lakes. No summer in sight here.

EbbettsPass2011083.jpg


At this point, I split from the group. Somehow, since owning a FJR these guys seem incredibly slow. Bought a case of wine in Shenendoah Valley and loaded it into the cases, and made my way home.

sorry I missed you Michael. Call next time. You are less than 5 miles away!

 
...sorry I missed you Michael. Call next time.
Tom, if you could manage to get your ass up at a decent hour, you'd have had an "intense" day riding with us.

Okay, Red Bull is wearing off. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

IMG_2134.jpg
0700 wasn't good enough? With a Gen I bike, we can spot you 1/2 hour and let you join us for lunch at the summit. You're just chicken and won't call. :glare:

Looks like you had a great day. I am in the process of swearing off this cruiser group I have been with, and yet you taunt me.

 
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Yep, another excellent day with OM and Bokerfork. Started with a good breakfast at Brookfields and the usual amount of grief given and taken. If I had known shaving** would throw OM into such a state, I'd have done it years ago. He kept looking at me and shaking his head, but it was more an Alzheimers style head-shake: Amazement at meeting someone new (over and over and over) rather than the normal head-shake/eye-roll I warrant whenever I open my mouth...So, if you know OM, get a haircut/shave/glasses/hair color change shortly before seeing him next - Be kinda fun to further loosen his precarious grip on reality.

Once feeding and caffeinating were finished, we had KSU at a James Burleigh sanctioned 8:00 am. And the good times rolled - up the big hill on twisty roads and down the big hill on twisty roads, then try the same thing on a different hill. Have a blast with lots of throttle and brake and weight-shift action. Ooh and aah at the amazing views. It was beyond beeyooteeful out there, but I'll let OM's pics take the place of my 1K words.

Roads were in good shape, but had sand/gravel/rocks/flowing water in some pretty unexpected places - You couldn't find a clean track on some corners while others, where you'd expect lots of trash, were perfectly clean. Had both a M/C rally, which is why RenoJohn was out (Cal24, I believe - We watched for Iggy, but didn't see him) and a bicycle race - buncha nuts pedaling up STEEP hills at altitudes that would have made a Sherpa comfortable. Most civil group of bicyclists I think I've ever run across - only a couple with entitlement syndrome - you know, the ones who WILL use as much of the road as they want and screw you for wanting to get around them. The rally bikers, OTOH... :rolleyes:

Traffic was also pretty light, but the genius move of the day was to PARK one's car in the middle of the road. Actually had 3 cars at complete stops and another couple at sub 5 mph at various times. It was bizarre; and unfortunately, took place most often when there were only 1 1/2 lanes available and those were bounded by 7 or 8 feet of snow, so even a bike couldn't get around the twits. For the most part, though, we got to go as fast as we thought prudent - given the road conditions and the number of LEOs and forest rats (seen or suspected).

Weather was also cooperative (bit cool in the snow, bit too warmly dressed for the sun --- but this is California-weather-bitching --- If it's not between 67 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit, the whining starts). Got to see a rainbow-type phenomenon I've never seen before - made me find the first turnout I could so OM could take pics (and me stopping while in the lead on good twisties usually ain't gonna happen).

Ended up with just about 500 miles on the day and another great bunch of memories. Thanks Michael and Mark.

**Just my face

 
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