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Thanks for sharing your ride. Great pics. Brings back memories from the early 80's. I loved riding the coastal highway, Carmel Valley and Route 68 between Salinas and Monterey. I could go on and on about the great riding in CA.
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I'm really enjoying the photos and storyline. Thanks, again! ThumbUp
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Really loved your ride, Mary takes really good pictures. Know you are having a great time. Thanks.
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Good stuff ... as with all your ride threads.
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[QUOTE=Recall;303412]Thanks for sharing your ride. Great pics. Brings back memories from the early 80's. I loved riding the coastal highway, Carmel Valley and Route 68 between Salinas and Monterey. I could go on and on about the great riding in CA.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Rick Kay;303458]I'm really enjoying the photos and storyline. Thanks, again! ThumbUp[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Rod69;303471]Really loved your ride, Mary takes really good pictures. Know you are having a great time. Thanks.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=FuzzyWuzHe;303480]Good stuff ... as with all your ride threads.[/QUOTE]
Glad to hear y'all are enjoying. Resuming the report tonite. :)
Kevin
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Day-8 (of riding)
We left out of King City for a short 150 mile ride up to my daughter & son-in-law in San Jose.
Weather was nice....
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/1%20SJ%20CA_zpscwrce1jm.jpg[/IMG]
...and a good part of the way was free of any significant traffic & cities. Lots of farmland.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/2%20SJ%20CA_zpshynihd6x.jpg[/IMG]
Just as we were getting used to some nice road....
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/3%20SJ%20CA_zps9xvuucvr.jpg[/IMG]
...even though we knew it was less than one tank before arriving...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/4%20SJ%20CA_zpsqjac5bmq.jpg[/IMG]
...we hit the city and traffic. Check out Mary in the mirror. :)
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/5%20SJ%20CA%20Mary%20Mirror%20City%20Now_zpsr8vtvx8e.jpg[/IMG]
The GPS took us to their apartment. The afternoon was gone before we knew it. That evening we went downtown and had some dinner.
Jill-
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/6%20SJ%20CA%20Jilly_zps4l1vre4z.jpg[/IMG]
Jill & Dustin. A great couple! :)
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/7%20SJ%20CA%20Jill%20Dustin_zpsljxrit0l.jpg[/IMG]
The day and evening just flew by. The next day we headed over the hill to Santa Cruz.
Dustin grew up in the mountains between San Jose and Santa Cruz and being very familiar with the back roads thru the mountains, he set a good pace in the Toyota and Mary and I followed on the TG. Was a fun ride...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/8%20SJ%20to%20SC_zpsqr2cer3c.jpg[/IMG]
...both on the way over....
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/9%20SJ%20to%20SC_zpsur7a6tix.jpg[/IMG]
...and the way back. Knowing I prefer the twisty roads to the highways, Dustin did a great job showing them to us, even though the Triumph slowed us down until he finally pulled over. :)
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/10%20SJ%20to%20SC_zpsxerarknc.jpg[/IMG]
More in next post....
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Visit with Jill and Dustin continued-
Pic of Mary in Santa Cruz.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/11%20SC%20Mary_zpsrgyky95r.jpg[/IMG]
Jill, still playing with her food. :laugh:
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/12%20SC%20Jilly_zpsisgiu6uk.jpg[/IMG]
Dustin was helping his dad on his property, so Mary, myself and Jill hung out for awhile at the coast.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/13%20SC%20KM_zpsbgqdz6h5.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/14%20SC%20MJ_zpsatyxs79s.jpg[/IMG]
We spent a couple more days visiting, going to the Mystery Mountain, shooting pool, and bowling!
After bowling, the last afternoon, Jill wanted to go for a ride. She grew up riding ATV's with me, but has never been interested in motorcycles...but with the TG she wanted to go for a ride.
Growing up I never knew or even thought about protective gear...when Jill was a kid, we never rode the ATV's with any protective gear...just not something we ever thought about.
At the bowling alley parking lot she put on Mary's armored mesh jacket & helmet. The jacket with all the pads hit her funny bone and she thought she was the Hulk or something. lol
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/15%20SJ%20Jill%20Ride_zpsrwxk4dfh.jpg[/IMG]
Mary got a good shot in the mirror of us leaving out of the parking lot...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/15%205%20Mirror_zps2uf0qruv.jpg[/IMG]
...she was a bit tentative for about 60 seconds, lol, she got comfortable with it real fast...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/16%20SJ%20KJ%20Ride_zpsdjdhxbsn.jpg[/IMG]
...within a few minutes she was just like when she was a kid, wanting to go faster, do burnouts, do wheelies, etc. So we did. :) At 32 she still loves the rush! We even did a couple of power slides and got it up on two wheels a couple of time too.
Her smile captures the child-like joy that riding brings to all (most?) of us....the reason we ride!
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/17%20SJ%20JillySmile_zpsxwlwyd3e.jpg[/IMG]
After Jill and I rode, I asked Dustin if he wanted to take it for a spin. He has ridden motorcycles all his life, but never a trike. I think he went for a ride, more to give Jill some more seat time, than thinking he would have fun on an "old man's" 3 wheeler.
The TG just does not look like it would handle as well as it does. Even though I had told him it rides flat thru the corners...like a go-cart...it is just hard to grasp how much fun it can be until you experience it.
Take a look at that smile when they got back-
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/8-San%20Jose%20CA/18%20SJ%20DustinSmile_zpsl0f7z447.jpg[/IMG]
They went back out after that for some more riding.
Well, we have to say our good byes after 3 1/2 days of visiting. We've had a great time, and are already looking forward to the next visit, before we're even gone.
Tomorrow we head up to Yosemite.
Kevin
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Ain't family time wonderful ... talk about recharging the old batteries.
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Good report. Family is great. 3 daughters, 33, 40 and 44. We have done so much together and they all live in town. Jim
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[QUOTE=FuzzyWuzHe;304615]Ain't family time wonderful ... talk about recharging the old batteries.[/QUOTE]
True that.
[QUOTE=desertclassic;304619]Good report. Family is great. 3 daughters, 33, 40 and 44. We have done so much together and they all live in town. Jim[/QUOTE]
Thank you. You are most fortunate to have them close!
Kevin
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Day 9
Was sad to say our goodbyes this morning to Jill and Dustin. We had a great visit and are already looking forward to the next.
Today is off to Yosemite! Mary took 674 pictures today! We were on the road for 12 hours, 10.5 of them in the saddle. Todays Ride Report may take a couple of days for me to get done. :) We'll see how it goes.
This picture shows what all is going into the trunk, and onto the rack on the Tour Pak. Tour Pak is already full, and the Trunk already has the tools in it.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/1%20PackingA_zps85boypjb.jpg[/IMG]
The the big black stuff sack and the cooler go on the rack, everything else (including the jacket) went into the trunk with room to spare!
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/1%20PackingB_zpsvbiw5dcz.jpg[/IMG]
We stopped, soon after getting out of the city, at a fruit and vegetable stand...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/1%20LV_zpsmchq9sob.jpg[/IMG]
...picked up some food for the next few mornings breakfasts' and Mary got some hot peppers.
Headed up to Yosemite via some nice riding roads! Weather is a bit overcast...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/2%20LV%20Toward%20Yosemite_zpsqatqvrmi.jpg[/IMG]
...but burns off before too long. We're seeing a lot of bikes and some trikes, and then...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/3%20LV%20Toward%20Yosemite_zpsvu10349c.jpg[/IMG]
...not really sure about this one. It has 3 tires, but it also has a steering wheel. Looks like the driver (don't think I'd call them a rider?) is having fun though. :)
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/4%20LV%20Trike-Car_zps64fuue4j.jpg[/IMG]
It's not long until we get to the Sierra National Forest!
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/5%20LV%20Sierra%20Nat%20Forest_zps0d95zbdw.jpg[/IMG]
It has been 40+ years since I was in the Sierra's and Mary has never been here.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/6%20LV%20Toward%20Yosemite_zps43aupflt.jpg[/IMG]
Less than 2 hours ago we were at sea level, now we're already at 5,000 feet elevation.
In our travels, we've always taken the coastal route...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/7%20LV%205000%20at%20sea_zpsjfjidbu9.jpg[/IMG]
...this time we are enjoying the nice roads and the climb into the mountains.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/8%20LV_zps3thwvsq6.jpg[/IMG]
Continued in next post-
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Day 9 Continued-
We got to the Yosemite National Park...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/9%20LV%20Yosemite%20Entrance_zpsvgeqba6m.jpg[/IMG]
...our first stop is the Mariposa Grove. These trees are monster big, you can see how they dwarf the car in front of us.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/10%20Mariposa%20Grove_zpsxbvdoufr.jpg[/IMG]
We took a lot of pictures...but the camera is not "big enough" to really capture how enormous they are!
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/11%20Big%20Tree_zps7rrpyapu.jpg[/IMG]
Next we head off to the valley floor. It's 37 miles of beautiful scenery on well maintained roads..
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/14%20Toward%20Yosemite%20Valley%20Floor_zpsuqsjgszj.jpg[/IMG]
...along with a LOOONNNG tunnel blasted thru the mountain! (no, I did not like the idea of traveling thru it with all that rock/mountain on top of us :) )
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/13%20Long%20Tunnel_zpsrxgdwghj.jpg[/IMG]
We stopped at the Bridal Veil Falls. Amazing!
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/12%20Bridal%20Veil_zpsxdmboay1.jpg[/IMG]
The beauty of this place reminds us of Yellowstone...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/16%20Valley%20Floor_zpsyzbhm8po.jpg[/IMG]
...so much to see!
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/15%20Valley%20Floor_zpsz5nlclhx.jpg[/IMG]
We spent some time in the valley floor...
[img]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/17%20Valley%20Floor_zpsmj7qpt6m.jpg[/img]
...riding around and taking in the sights!
[img]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/18%20Valley%20Floor_zpsce98chxb.jpg[/img]
I will finish today's ride report tomorrow with 20 more pics, some of the floor and then up, over & down Tioga Pass to Lee Vining. *Temps ranged from 91* to 54* with snow on the ground still. *Elevation from sea level up to 10,000 feet. *
Kevin
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Great Pics as usual ... Mary does a great job
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Day 9 Continued.
I have 20 more pics ready from the 674 Mary took. :)
It was really quite an amazing day. We did think about staying in the Valley floor for the night, but it was warm, and we had hit all the roads (there's not much) and we were sort of antsy to ride some more.
We're both really comfortable on the TG, having it set up just the way we want it...after not riding much, we both feel really at "home" settling in for some riding.
Another pic from the Valley floor as we start to make our way toward Tioga Pass.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/19%20Valley%20Floor_zpsgldkqgau.jpg[/IMG]
I apologize if I'm boring you with so many pics...
...these huge rocks/mountains are just awesome, there are fantastic sights everywhere you look.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/20%20Valley%20Floor_zpscfrhd0ft.jpg[/IMG]
In the interest of keeping this one day to only 40 pics, lol, I am cutting out huge chunks of the ride that were just as scenic.
We are quite a ways up the hill now, and pull into a turn-out to change out the batteries in the cameras and this is what we saw....
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/23%20Deer2_zpsirawp71h.jpg[/IMG]
...of the three deer, one ran off, but the other two stayed within 50 yards of us for the entire time (about 15 minutes) we were there. At one point we both were off the bike, walking around taking pics.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/22%20Deer1_zpshzgp4tqt.jpg[/IMG]
In the pic above Mary is smiling because one of the deer actually came closer to the left side of the bike and she just sat there seeing how close it would come.
After a bit we realized they were not leaving...so off we went up the hill. Check out this shot Mary took looking up the mountain side of the road as we were riding!
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/24%20To%20TP_zps5jhid4c0.jpg[/IMG]
We're really enjoying the good road (my personal definition= good surface, elevation change & curves :) ), the fantastic scenery, and...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/25%20To%20TP_zpsqmb6nizo.jpg[/IMG]
...the fact that it is cooling down from the 91* it was on the valley floor. It's now in the 50's, on a great road, very little traffic, and it's one of those times where all is right.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/26%20To%20TP%20Getting%20Cold_zpswxn31xjz.jpg[/IMG]
What can I say...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/27%20Tenaya%20Lake_zpsbhz4qcys.jpg[/IMG]
..Tenaya Lake. Absolutely amazing.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/28%20To%20TP_zpsaksgvvm2.jpg[/IMG]
More in next post-
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4th & Final post from Day 9-
We're continuing to climb and we're starting to see a little snow here and there...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/29%20TP_zpsp5b07lfh.jpg[/IMG]
...then, boom! A wolf runs right in front of us. Mary did a great job of getting a pic of him as he stopped on the side of the road to look at us. In all our travels, I don't believe we ever seen a wolf in "the wild". We saw another one about 15 minutes later...and Mary got a pic of him too, but not as close.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/30%20TP%20Wolf_zpshg9arxmj.jpg[/IMG]
We're now at 9,000 feet, getting close to the top of the pass.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/31%20TP_zpszbaf9e0f.jpg[/IMG]
A beautiful shot, capturing mesa, woods, sunshine, shadows, mountains, snow, clouds & blue sky all at one time!
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/32%20TP_zpskl6nckrw.jpg[/IMG]
Both Mary and I are really enjoying Tioga Pass. We are about 50 miles from the valley floor with all its' amazing views, and now up here, they're different views...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/33%20TP%20Snow_zpsduv3jgwr.jpg[/IMG]
...but just as amazing!
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/34%20Down%20TP_zps2ce95se3.jpg[/IMG]
We're on the downhill side of the Pass now...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/35%20Down%20TP_zps5sf8rtcj.jpg[/IMG]
...looking back at the view of where we just came from...
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/36%20Looking%20Back%20TP_zpsgsngmv27.jpg[/IMG]
...The TG has been running great, the temps are comfortable, and I spend some time just eating up the great curvy road!
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/37%20Down%20TP_zpsjob1au0f.jpg[/IMG]
At the bottom. This day has been one full of great moments. Memories made, and, like surfers looking for that perfect wave...this was a perfect day of riding.
[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/DKCustom/ST%202015/9%20Lee%20Vining%20CA/38%20Lee%20Vining_zps2jm6213h.jpg[/IMG]
We found a nice Motel in Lee Vining, watched the sun set over the lake right after we checked in. Then went to the country grocery store right next to the motel and got supplies for dinner and lunch tomorrow.
Kevin
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[I][COLOR=#333333]"I apologize if I'm boring you with so many pics..."[/COLOR][/I]
[COLOR=#333333]Not boring at all Kevin, Mary takes amazing[/COLOR][COLOR=#333333] pictures! Looking forward to seeing many more documenting your travels![/COLOR]
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Great photos!! But,,, That is a Wiley Coyote.. Not a Wolf. There are hundreds of them living in Yosemite.. Maybe thousands.. But no Wolves... yet... You can see a Wolf here in Idaho though if you know where to go..! If I had known you were kicking around Yosemite, I could have mentioned to go over Sonora Pass, which is north of the park. You would like the 25% grades and 1st gear hairpin curves on that route. It is all paved and a great road with amazing views of the back side of the park. And zero tourists. There are 4 passes that go over the Sierras up there. We have done 3 of them.. gonna do the 4th next year.
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[QUOTE]I apologize if I'm boring you with so many pics...[/QUOTE]
[SIZE=3][B]NEVER too many Pics!!!!!![/B][/SIZE]:wave4:
I am enjoying this ride with ya'll through Mary's Pics and your commentary.
What a great trip, I really hope ya'll are enjoying it as much as I am!!:)
Be Safe and enjoy!!
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Can't wait for your next post...
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Nope, NOT too many pics Kevin, the Misses and I are thoroughly enjoying your vacation.
