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DK's Definitive Ride Report - Some of the Best Scenic Roads Out West - Tons of Photo'
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Day 33 & 34-
We've spent 2 full days visiting and looking around the area with Jill & Dustin. It's been a fantastic time!
The first afternoon we were here I took Jill for a ride in some of the local twisties. No pics were taken, but here we are coming back-
Later that afternoon Dustin took Jill out for a "10 minute" putt. About 40 minutes later they returned. lol They have some great roads in the area, winding thru the Redwoods. It's easy to lose track of time and enjoy running thru the curves. Here they are leaving out-
The first day we were here we hung out, did some shopping, drove down to Santa Cruz, had lunch, walked along the canal. A great day!
Here's Mary and Jill along the canal-
Yesterday we went to the Roaring Camp Railroads. It was quite an experience. Here's a few pics from our time there. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.
Pre-Harley Transportation-
Taking a ride on the train thru the Redwoods-
Dustin and I paid to pan for gold...we both found little pieces. I definitely see how easy it would be to get the gold bug! lol
We headed over to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Amazing place with a nice self guided tour all the way thru.
The HC Redwoods Park is only a 5 minute walk from their home. But even closer is a stream...just a 3 minute walk thru the Redwoods. We had a good time exploring around.
Yep, these trees are monsters!
The four of us down by the river-
We've had a great time...and time has been too short. Tomorrow we leave for Lee Vining, via Sonora Pass.
*
Kevin
We've spent 2 full days visiting and looking around the area with Jill & Dustin. It's been a fantastic time!
The first afternoon we were here I took Jill for a ride in some of the local twisties. No pics were taken, but here we are coming back-
Later that afternoon Dustin took Jill out for a "10 minute" putt. About 40 minutes later they returned. lol They have some great roads in the area, winding thru the Redwoods. It's easy to lose track of time and enjoy running thru the curves. Here they are leaving out-
The first day we were here we hung out, did some shopping, drove down to Santa Cruz, had lunch, walked along the canal. A great day!
Here's Mary and Jill along the canal-
Yesterday we went to the Roaring Camp Railroads. It was quite an experience. Here's a few pics from our time there. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.
Pre-Harley Transportation-
Taking a ride on the train thru the Redwoods-
Dustin and I paid to pan for gold...we both found little pieces. I definitely see how easy it would be to get the gold bug! lol
We headed over to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Amazing place with a nice self guided tour all the way thru.
The HC Redwoods Park is only a 5 minute walk from their home. But even closer is a stream...just a 3 minute walk thru the Redwoods. We had a good time exploring around.
Yep, these trees are monsters!
The four of us down by the river-
We've had a great time...and time has been too short. Tomorrow we leave for Lee Vining, via Sonora Pass.
*
Kevin
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Yes, great weather!
We've never been, and it sounds like we should go! Very Cool. Will def get up with you next time we have a trip out that way.
Kevin
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Day 35-
This morning we have to say our goodbyes. It has been a great visit, and it still amazes me that they live RIGHT IN the Redwoods!
Giving Jill a last hug before...
...heading out for Lee Vining. Leaving their small town...
...heading over the mountain...
...down toward San Jose.
After threading thru all the traffic around Silicone Valley, San Jose, and the craziness that surrounds the area, we're still on the freeway...
...but it has opened up some as we head toward Sonora.
We finally are off the freeway and onto the 108, heading toward Sonora.
Still desert like area, but back on the "open road" with relatively little traffic.
We've been climbing a bit, and are getting into some trees now. This is shaping up to be a nice day of riding!
We're in the woods proper now, as we get closer to Sonora.
More in next post.
Kevin
This morning we have to say our goodbyes. It has been a great visit, and it still amazes me that they live RIGHT IN the Redwoods!
Giving Jill a last hug before...
...heading out for Lee Vining. Leaving their small town...
...heading over the mountain...
...down toward San Jose.
After threading thru all the traffic around Silicone Valley, San Jose, and the craziness that surrounds the area, we're still on the freeway...
...but it has opened up some as we head toward Sonora.
We finally are off the freeway and onto the 108, heading toward Sonora.
Still desert like area, but back on the "open road" with relatively little traffic.
We've been climbing a bit, and are getting into some trees now. This is shaping up to be a nice day of riding!
We're in the woods proper now, as we get closer to Sonora.
More in next post.
Kevin
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Day 35 continued-
In a few short hours we've gone from the Redwoods, down to one of the most advanced tech places in the world, thru all kinds of traffic, then across some barren desert area, and now we're in the woods again, climbing toward 9000+ feet.
The road is curvy fun, the traffic is light, and we're really looking forward to going over Sonora Pass...first time for us!
It's a "picture perfect" day for riding.* Clear skies, high 60's-low 70's, and the TG is running great!
If you like the tight turns (and I do!) the road is just getting better and better!
Good pic of the river from the road!* Beautiful area!
Getting close...last chance for the bigger vehicles to turn around before getting into the really fun part of this road.
We've ridden from Jill & Dustin's' to Lee Vining previously, but we took the Tioga Pass route (which is quite a great ride).* Trent recommended we give this route a ride...up to 26% grades, and sharp twisting roads...did not take much convincing.* lol
Just a bit past the sign above, we saw a really nice spot to pull over by the stream...
...we had our lunch here, enjoying the amazing surroundings, while at the same time keeping our eyes open for bears or cats that may want to interrupt our lunch.* lol
Thank you Trent!!!* I don't remember ever being on an asphalt road this steep.* Fun Ahead!
And so it begins!
More in next post.
Kevin
In a few short hours we've gone from the Redwoods, down to one of the most advanced tech places in the world, thru all kinds of traffic, then across some barren desert area, and now we're in the woods again, climbing toward 9000+ feet.
The road is curvy fun, the traffic is light, and we're really looking forward to going over Sonora Pass...first time for us!
It's a "picture perfect" day for riding.* Clear skies, high 60's-low 70's, and the TG is running great!
If you like the tight turns (and I do!) the road is just getting better and better!
Good pic of the river from the road!* Beautiful area!
Getting close...last chance for the bigger vehicles to turn around before getting into the really fun part of this road.
We've ridden from Jill & Dustin's' to Lee Vining previously, but we took the Tioga Pass route (which is quite a great ride).* Trent recommended we give this route a ride...up to 26% grades, and sharp twisting roads...did not take much convincing.* lol
Just a bit past the sign above, we saw a really nice spot to pull over by the stream...
...we had our lunch here, enjoying the amazing surroundings, while at the same time keeping our eyes open for bears or cats that may want to interrupt our lunch.* lol
Thank you Trent!!!* I don't remember ever being on an asphalt road this steep.* Fun Ahead!
And so it begins!
More in next post.
Kevin
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Day 35 continued-
It's difficult to capture in photos...
...how much fun this road is to ride.
It's scenic...
...curving...
...mostly traffic free...
...lots of elevation changes...
...did I say beautiful?....
...it's a fast road for being so tight...good camber and surface...
...an absolute blast to ride!
Getting close to the bottom now.
Day 35 concluded in next post.
Kevin
It's difficult to capture in photos...
...how much fun this road is to ride.
It's scenic...
...curving...
...mostly traffic free...
...lots of elevation changes...
...did I say beautiful?....
...it's a fast road for being so tight...good camber and surface...
...an absolute blast to ride!
Getting close to the bottom now.
Day 35 concluded in next post.
Kevin
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Day 35 concluded-
Making a dash for Lee Vining-
We're in high desert type area...slowly descending-
Getting closer!
Long descending sweeper as we come down close to Mono Lake.
We're here!
We got a room at the same place we stayed last time we were in Lee Vining...even got the same room!
Tomorrow we head for Boulder City, Nevada for a family reunion, celebrating both my folks turning 80 this year!
Kevin
Making a dash for Lee Vining-
We're in high desert type area...slowly descending-
Getting closer!
Long descending sweeper as we come down close to Mono Lake.
We're here!
We got a room at the same place we stayed last time we were in Lee Vining...even got the same room!
Tomorrow we head for Boulder City, Nevada for a family reunion, celebrating both my folks turning 80 this year!
Kevin
Well you survived Sonora Pass...! And what a beautiful day it was! You get a great view of the backside of Yosemite huh. We ate a burger at Mono Cone in Lee Vining. One of those tasty little greasy spoon joints that are always the best. Glad you were able to travel that pass.
Oh,,, And I was informed by a lady at the burger joint... It is pronounced Moe Know. Mah Know is a disease. And they are not a disease dammit!
Oh,,, And I was informed by a lady at the burger joint... It is pronounced Moe Know. Mah Know is a disease. And they are not a disease dammit!
Great photos & review of your epic trip.
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Yep, great ride!!! Thank you! Right next to the Lodge we stayed in is the towns little grocery store....I sat out front on the bench eating an ice cream, with a view of the lake and all the folks running thru town, while she was shopping getting our dinner and next days lunch.
Thank you!
Wow! Amazing place, feels so secluded up in the Redwoods, but just a half hour away and you're in the rat race city.
Kevin
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Today we're headed for Boulder City, NV. My brother lives there and a bunch of the family will be there celebrating my folks both turning 80 this year.
We know it's gonna be warm, so we left out of Lee Vining early...turns out, not early enough. lol
On our way-
Here's the route we're taking today-
It is deceptively cool this morning...with the fog still not burnt off, and still being at a higher elevation-
We're tempted to take a left and go down to the lake for a look around....but continue forward, knowing that it will be hotter this afternoon and wanting to make time.
As you can see in the map above, there is a little section where the road goes thru some trees...we are still over 6,000 feet elevation and going thru these trees is nice!
As the road meanders thru, we're lulled into a false hope...
...It is very nice riding. The early morning fog still hanging in the air is much denser in person than it appears in these photos.
Boom! That's it. Looking back at the trees we just rode thru...
...we're still up high, still cool and foggy....
...but it's all scrub brush and starting to burn off.
More in next post.
Kevin
We know it's gonna be warm, so we left out of Lee Vining early...turns out, not early enough. lol
On our way-
Here's the route we're taking today-
It is deceptively cool this morning...with the fog still not burnt off, and still being at a higher elevation-
We're tempted to take a left and go down to the lake for a look around....but continue forward, knowing that it will be hotter this afternoon and wanting to make time.
As you can see in the map above, there is a little section where the road goes thru some trees...we are still over 6,000 feet elevation and going thru these trees is nice!
As the road meanders thru, we're lulled into a false hope...
...It is very nice riding. The early morning fog still hanging in the air is much denser in person than it appears in these photos.
Boom! That's it. Looking back at the trees we just rode thru...
...we're still up high, still cool and foggy....
...but it's all scrub brush and starting to burn off.
More in next post.
Kevin
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Day 36 continued-
We have a lot of...
...pretty desolate miles to eat up today.
Welcome to Nevada!
The road surface it a bit different, but the land is pretty much the same...
...a look back...
...and a look ahead...
...I have the cruise set at 72 mph, the fog is burning off, there are curves and we're still at a relatively high elevation. Climbing and descending a bit here and there.
Interesting how this road is routed...we pass back into California for a bit...
...and then back into Nevada!
Soon after crossing back into Nevada we hit this fresh road....I'm thinking too fresh, not sure I want to ride on it, but it's not like there is any other route to take now. lol
More in next post.
Kevin
We have a lot of...
...pretty desolate miles to eat up today.
Welcome to Nevada!
The road surface it a bit different, but the land is pretty much the same...
...a look back...
...and a look ahead...
...I have the cruise set at 72 mph, the fog is burning off, there are curves and we're still at a relatively high elevation. Climbing and descending a bit here and there.
Interesting how this road is routed...we pass back into California for a bit...
...and then back into Nevada!
Soon after crossing back into Nevada we hit this fresh road....I'm thinking too fresh, not sure I want to ride on it, but it's not like there is any other route to take now. lol
More in next post.
Kevin
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Day 36 continued-
A look back gives an idea how fresh the oil is on this new road.* I stayed away from the edges and avoided getting any splatter on the TG.*
Still on this new stuff, and chomping down the miles at 72 mph.
A couple of hours out from Boulder City, and it's starting to get warm.* 103*
We have never ridden thru Death Valley.* When planning this trip we decided if the weather was cool enough we would do it...BUT, it is Not very cool today, so, no ride across Death Valley for us this trip.
Around about 98* Mary starts getting uncomfortably warm.* Even with her cool vest, which helps, when it goes over 100*, she is not too happy.* Before we even started out today she decided she wanted to experiment-when it got warm, get a 5 lb. bag of ice and set it on her lap...and that is what we did!
She poked some holes in the bottom of the bag, so that as it melted the cold water would cool her down.
With her cool vest AND her first (double-bagged so as not to lose it all) bag of ice.
She is a happy camper now...
...as we're back rolling at 70+ thru 105* temps.
The first bag of ice lasted around 2 hours. We came to this small town...
...and got another bag of ice.
Even at 107*, she's doing well with her cool vest and ice.
btw, all the cooling strategies we have, have the TG doing well in these temps also. At 107* the* ET is 221, oil pressure is 31, mpg is not great at 23.9, but that is a function of mostly running at 72 mph into a headwind.* Could not be more happy with how well it is running.
More in next post.
Kevin
A look back gives an idea how fresh the oil is on this new road.* I stayed away from the edges and avoided getting any splatter on the TG.*
Still on this new stuff, and chomping down the miles at 72 mph.
A couple of hours out from Boulder City, and it's starting to get warm.* 103*
We have never ridden thru Death Valley.* When planning this trip we decided if the weather was cool enough we would do it...BUT, it is Not very cool today, so, no ride across Death Valley for us this trip.
Around about 98* Mary starts getting uncomfortably warm.* Even with her cool vest, which helps, when it goes over 100*, she is not too happy.* Before we even started out today she decided she wanted to experiment-when it got warm, get a 5 lb. bag of ice and set it on her lap...and that is what we did!
She poked some holes in the bottom of the bag, so that as it melted the cold water would cool her down.
With her cool vest AND her first (double-bagged so as not to lose it all) bag of ice.
She is a happy camper now...
...as we're back rolling at 70+ thru 105* temps.
The first bag of ice lasted around 2 hours. We came to this small town...
...and got another bag of ice.
Even at 107*, she's doing well with her cool vest and ice.
btw, all the cooling strategies we have, have the TG doing well in these temps also. At 107* the* ET is 221, oil pressure is 31, mpg is not great at 23.9, but that is a function of mostly running at 72 mph into a headwind.* Could not be more happy with how well it is running.
More in next post.
Kevin
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Day 36 concluded-
These temps don't bother me. I prefer cooler temps, but I do not begin feeling poorly when it gets this hot. I just drink a lot of water and go. But I definitely get more wind being the rider than the passenger gets.
Mary is flashing back to just 24 hours ago...
...when it was a perfect 75* and we stopped for lunch among the trees and a cool stream.
But we're getting close....
...and as we roll thru Vegas...
...the temperature spikes up to 113* and stays there...
...as we travel the last 30 minutes...
...to Boulder City.
This is the street my brother lives on, with a nice view of Lake Mead.
And here we are! He had a spot in his garage for us, right next two his two dirt bikes.
We're going to be here for a few days before heading out for some National Parks in Utah.
*
Kevin
These temps don't bother me. I prefer cooler temps, but I do not begin feeling poorly when it gets this hot. I just drink a lot of water and go. But I definitely get more wind being the rider than the passenger gets.
Mary is flashing back to just 24 hours ago...
...when it was a perfect 75* and we stopped for lunch among the trees and a cool stream.
But we're getting close....
...and as we roll thru Vegas...
...the temperature spikes up to 113* and stays there...
...as we travel the last 30 minutes...
...to Boulder City.
This is the street my brother lives on, with a nice view of Lake Mead.
And here we are! He had a spot in his garage for us, right next two his two dirt bikes.
We're going to be here for a few days before heading out for some National Parks in Utah.
*
Kevin
Alansut
30+ Posts
DK's EDefinitive Ride Report
I don't know the USA well as I only visit once and that was in August this year and I was only around the North East. I had to open the map to find out where on you started from and ended up, what a journey, what amazing sights and what a range in temperatures. Thank you both for the comments and pictures, thoroughly enjoyed them.
Here in South Africa we too have an amazing country but not as beautiful as the on the route you followed.
Alan
I don't know the USA well as I only visit once and that was in August this year and I was only around the North East. I had to open the map to find out where on you started from and ended up, what a journey, what amazing sights and what a range in temperatures. Thank you both for the comments and pictures, thoroughly enjoyed them.
Here in South Africa we too have an amazing country but not as beautiful as the on the route you followed.
Alan
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Hi Alan,
Glad you're enjoying. Yes, we've had quite the range of weather this trip...and the rest of the trip is going to be quite warm now.
Kevin
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Day 37-39-
These 3 days in Boulder City are to celebrate both my folks turning 80 this year.* They are still VERY active, working and traveling the world.* While they have 4 kids, 45+- grandchildren & great grandchildren, only 11 of us were able to make it to this get together...but we have had a great time!
We went out on my brother Greg's boat.* Up top...
...and below-
parked in a cove and had a blast messing around in the water.
The neighborhood Greg & Marci live in is invaded by Mountain Sheep everyday.* They roam wherever they want.
These are the "mountains" they come down from every morning...
...a few of us went up there for a look around.
Greg's grandson, Christopher...
...earned a little green giving the TG a wash.
We had a double birthday celebration-
Us kids are most fortunate!
Tomorrow morning Mary and I are off for Mt. Zion National Park, and then on to Galaxy Biker Motel in Hatch, Utah!
Kevin
These 3 days in Boulder City are to celebrate both my folks turning 80 this year.* They are still VERY active, working and traveling the world.* While they have 4 kids, 45+- grandchildren & great grandchildren, only 11 of us were able to make it to this get together...but we have had a great time!
We went out on my brother Greg's boat.* Up top...
...and below-
parked in a cove and had a blast messing around in the water.
The neighborhood Greg & Marci live in is invaded by Mountain Sheep everyday.* They roam wherever they want.
These are the "mountains" they come down from every morning...
...a few of us went up there for a look around.
Greg's grandson, Christopher...
...earned a little green giving the TG a wash.
We had a double birthday celebration-
Us kids are most fortunate!
Tomorrow morning Mary and I are off for Mt. Zion National Park, and then on to Galaxy Biker Motel in Hatch, Utah!
Kevin
Bryce Canyon National Park is a must do!! I think it’s the most beautiful and colorful of all the sights in Utah. Enjoying the trip with y’all. Be safe!:wave4:
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