Yosemite National Park

[Old Michael]

Yeah, the original plan was for a longer ride, but the day flew by and .....

Yesterday morning, I posted my intent to run down to Yosemite, and ride in from the east

side. (They've only just recently opened the Tioga Pass route. Heavy, lingering winter.)

Yosemite is a gloriously beautiful park year round, but it's especially stunning this time of the year.

Bokerfork (a real rider) was up early and ready to go, so we met just east of Sacramento and headed into the mountains.

Here are the colored pixels and some brief captions.

Fifteen minutes in, a quick stop at Jenkinson Lake.

Bokerfork (Mark)

Over the crest. Tahoe in the distance.

Through Markleeville.

A familiar stretch for NorCal types.

These fellows passed by us on Monitor Pass.

The ZRX caught my attention.

I'd never seen one with hard bags. Corbins, I think.

Interesting.

395. Rolling south now.

God, what a freaking perfect day up here.

Stopped here for breakfast.

The Walker River is running high and fast this time of the year.

"Mark, go out on that log and I'll take yer picture."

"Keep going. This'll be great."

- NWS here -

Sexual content.

Mark getting screwed at the pumps in Bridgeport.

Harleys often get much better mileage.

Rolling.

Cool and clear. Approaching Mono Lake.

Lee Vining.

??????

Looking back the way we'd come

Arriving.

(Very light traffic.)

You know, I can't understand why I can't get better participation on these group rides I organize. Must be my

abrasive personality. Or the ****** roads around here.

Bokerfork, launching a snowball at the camera dork.

Yes, there was retaliation.

To be fair, Mark is not in his best form. He's going in for rotator cuff surgery in a

week or so, and his summer riding season will have a chunk taken out of it.

I hope it goes well, buddy, and that you recover quickly, .....and that you will no longer throw like a *****.

(He's a good dude, and excellent rider.)

Geez, this place is incredible!

I think we sometimes take it for

.

.

.

........granite.

Cont'd. in a sec.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Meh! Been there done that.

Nice pics except for the one with a yellow dome in it. Bokerfork at least looks like a fun companion on a ride....

 

[escapefjrtist]

Thanks for sharing OM. With the massive turn out on the ride, one must assume that Bokerfork was up at 4 AM and geared up when the post hit... BTW, you've rubbed off on Niehart...he's following your MO now.

--G

 

[FJRBluesman]

Excellent pix OM. You're on my favotie areas of NoCal. I have not done Tioga pass yet. I have done every other Mtn pass over the Sierra's l but that one.

 

[Old Michael]

Continuing through the park.

Picture of me.

In the valley. Wet spring.

Rushmore?

It was getting late, so we headed west, out of the park. A good bit of traffic, and very few opportunities for passing.

When we made it to Yosemite Junction, Bokerfork continued out on 108 toward Manteca and the valley.

I turned north on 49, and enjoyed a leisurely ride up along the foothills, bathed in the beautiful golden light of

of an early summer evening.

Of course, I hadda get some snapshots on the way. As is usually the case, some of 'em came out well,

...and some didn't.

What were the chances?

And the home stretch on Latrobe Road.

Next up - PNW miles. (Iffin it EVER stops raining up there!)

Have a great week, y'all.

 

[road runner]

OM

Thanks for sharing. I want to tour the USA, and Yosemite is definitely on my list.

Art

 

[Auburn]

fantastic pictures!

 

[Bungie]

Screw you.

Here I am trying to talk myself out of riding all the way to WFO specifically so I can see Yosemite and the Redwoods and you go and post up this.

*******.

Just for you. You seem to be everywhere.

 

[puppychow]

What a great day and a great RR to capture it! Thank you for taking us late sleepers along!

 

[FJRBluesman]

Excellent OM! You don't disappoint.

 

[Prubert]

Damn, I was out there on 6/1 and 120 was closed...we had to go around. Damn, I missed a good road....

 

[Bokerfork]

Yes, twas a picture perfect day. So much so that we stopped about every 50 yards to take more pics.

I kept begging OM to get moving since I suspected the real scenery was in Santa Cruz, but he seemed more interested in rocks.

Oh well, maybe next week. At any rate, since we stopped at the same spots we have many similar pictures. Somehow

most of mine seemed to have the yellow domed one in the middle of the scenery. Perfectly good waste of film if you ask me.

So, here are a few pics that hopefully add a little perspective to the beauty of the day.

The lakes were still frozen at the higher elevations.

This rock is actually the size of a small car. We debated whether or not

Reno John could carry it on the back of his Battle Born Bike. With the Jack Daniels of course.

My new wallpaper perhaps?

Just a couple more for the heck of it. Thanks for the ride OM. Maybe next time we'll leave earlier

so we can get in a few beach pictures. How's 0300 sound?

 

[Panman]

Very nice guys, thanks for the ride. OM it won't really quit raining here untill after the fourth (hopefully).

 

[SacramentoMike]

Perfect timing, Mikey. I was just wondering if Tioga was open. Have to go down to Ridgecrest on Thursday to face a federal judge in the matter of "Sacramento Mike vs. the United States of America" Friday morning and hoped I could do 120 to 395 rather than mostly hwy. 99. Deal is, I plead guilty and they'll give me traffic school and no points. If I can avoid another ticket on the way down or back I'll come out OK. Looking forward to the ride part of it. Nice post.

 

[FJRONAMISSION]

.............. Same old **** Michael...!!!!

HY WAY 49, Yosemite, ...... rocks........ snow................ Boring....... pics........ pics...... and pics............ sssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssshhhh



Jealousy is an ugly thing ain't it B) B)

Great stuff Nancy.........

B.......

 

[fljab]

I lived in NorCal in the late 70's, and SoCal most of the 80's, then followed the job trail to Florida where I've been ever since.

Been over alot of those roads, and damn, I miss 'em! Hopefully can get out and ride them again here by and by.

I see you mentioned Mark is going in for shoulder surgery; I'm going through that now. I've had the right one done and it's getting better, but the left is up in another week or so. Sucks not being able to ride...

Great pics and ride report, thanks for sharing!

 

[RenoJohn]

Stellar job guyz .....damn that is beautiful.

I'm jealous, my streak of hitting Yo-Sa-MITE on opening day is definitely over as I missed last year opening day too, had a good streak going :-(

But you guys sure made me feel like I was there.

Good job on coming over the hills to do it from the east side ...Awesome

Ain't monitor pass some good fun this time of year -I was on it a couple of weeks ago.

Walker River ...holy cow ....that thing is raging. we've been getting flood warnings all day here for the walker valley. Thanks for taking some pics of that.

Sure wish I could have shared that fun with ya ...especially those water puddles and such.

thanks for sharing the fun.

...john

 

[madjackdog]

Normally, as you know, I'm very forthcoming with my praises of your photos, but, dammit, this is just showing off. You're at speed, approaching a turn, and yet you manage to perfectly frame a barn in the rear view's? Oh, come on!! How can we (your humble minions) possibly aspire to that?

Dammit, Michael. You did it again!!! Knock it off!!! It looks like the yellow brick road scene from the Wizard of Oz.

 

[FJRBandit]

:clapping: Another stellar report OM! Looks like you guys had a blast.

What a gorgeous day in one of the most beautiful places in this part of the Milky Way. Thanks for sharing a portion of your ride with us.