Yosemite is AWESOME! 3 day ride

[shaklee909]

Second annual 4th of July trip to Yosemite.

I had grand plans of getting out of town by 6:00am to beat the traffic up and over the grapevine.


By 7:30am I was ready to go and the traffic report showed slowing already so on to Plan B.
395 to 58 to 99 has been my “normal” route for many, many, many years, but with all the new lights and the new 15 mile no passing zone this has become a very slow route, so I decided to try a new route.
15 north to 138 west to 14 north. In the past this was slow because the 138 was only two lanes and you would get stuck, but now most of it is a four lane hwy that is pretty fast. The only slow part was the start of the 138 behind a Vons truck that didn't last too long.
As I started to 'make up time' a rider from the other direction was giving me a hand signal (twirling his hand over his head) followed by a driver flashing his lights. I slowed down to just under 55 and as I came up over the rise, there he was. CHP with his radar on. Glad I got the early warning.
Made it to Bakersfield a bit faster than I am used to, meaning my new route did save me time.

Took a short break, fueled up with the intention of a non-stop ride to Oakhurst for lunch and check into my hotel room. Well that was the plan anyway. By the time I got to Fresno, it had gotten hot, very hot. I remembered from last year that there was a big shopping center right before the end of the 41 before it turns into a two lane hwy, and decided to ride until reaching the center. As I remembered it was there. I got off the freeway, saw an In-and-Out Burger and made a beeline. Ooops the line is out the door!
Second choice, same issue, so I drove to the other side and found a Claim Jumper. Off the bike and inside as fast as I could go. God if felt good in there. I really should have stopped and put on my cool vest, but I was stupid and didn't. The waitress brought my first ice tea, turned around for a moment to find an empty glass which she quickly refilled.
I got cooled off, ate a nice lunch and felt ready to get back on the road for the short ride to Oakhurst.
Getting back to my bike the first thing I see is my helmet hanging from the com cable. I had it on the bars over my Zomo, WTF???
Then I see the bike leaning over, way over, as the kickstand was sinking into the asphalt.


Mental note: you bought the puck for a reason.

The ride up to Oakhurst was a bit slow, but uneventful. Got to the hotel feeling a bit warm, and looking forward to a cool down shower. The desk clerk was new and it took forever to get checked in.
Last year I stayed at the Best Western and thought it was very nice. This time was I staying at the Days Inn. I was glad it was for only one night. At least I got the room with points.

After a cool down shower and a short rest I got back onto the bike and headed to Glacier Point for late afternoon shots of Half Dome.
I love having my National Parks Pass Sticker. I come up to the gate and point, and they wave me through. Very quick and easy. I settle in for a slow (35mph) trip to the point. Even at that slow speed about 50% of the cagers were crossing the center line. Contrary to my Street Masters training, I did not use the whole road. I stuck to the right side only. When a big F-250 came around the corner fully in my lane I was very glad I was over to the right. Got to the Glacier Point cutoff which is under construction and very torn up. Made the right, and rode into something I just didn't expect.
Fire! The smoke was on the road, and visibility was less than a quarter mile. I was thinking about stopping to get my camera out, but since I was now in a long line of cars and not good pull outs, I thought better of it. For miles we rode into the smoke (wishing for some oxygen), with fire crews watching the flames. The flames were small as it was only the underbrush burning. This is what you want in a forest fire. Burn the underbrush so that you don't get the devastating crown fires later.

The parking lot was full but I found a small place to park the bike and walked to the point for the shots of Halfdome, Nevada Falls and shots up the valley.
Well that is what I had envisioned, but the smoke made it impossible.
Here is what I saw.




After a bit of photo shop work I ended up with.



I didn't stay long. The view was messed up and the thought of riding back through that smoke in the dark didn't really appeal to me.
So back down I went. Here are a couple shots from the saddle.




Got back to the room as the sun was setting.
Took off my gear, and headed across the street. To Todd's BBQ. Even with the sun down it was very warm and after a long line to order I got a seat outside. I got the chopped beef sandwich. It was much larger than I expected and very good. I would like to have had a bit more sauce, but there were so many people (line out the door) I didn't try. I am somewhat picky about my BBQ and this one is good.
Not fantastic, but good. I would recommend Todd's to anyone looking for a place to eat as long as you are not with a big party or wanting a quiet cozy place.
Sorry no pics. I left my camera in the room and eating was a much higher priority than going back so I could get pics.
That was the end of Day One. 420 miles about 11 hours with stops.

Next morning I was up and on the bike at 7:00am. It was only 59 degrees, so I put on my wind liner under my jacket. One thing about early morning heading east into the mountains, you have to be ready to be blinded in the middle of a curve.
Far less traffic in the morning. I went right on by the Glacier Point cutoff and headed to the valley.
Guess what? Fire!! Yep, I caught up to a long line of slow moving cars heading into thick smoke yet again. This time the flames are right next to the road and at one point there were burning branches ON the road. This time it didn't go on for miles and miles, and I dropped out under the smoke just as you make the turn going down into the valley.
Here is a shot from the tunnel.

This is never a good shot early in the morning.

The valley was much nicer

[shaklee909]

The meadow was closed so I couldn't walk out to where I really wanted but I broke the rules a bit to get this shot

This guy was really upset with me being in the meadow and was really yelling at me.











The piece and quiet didn't last long. Lots of kids being kids, in other words yelling, screaming, fighting.
In general making a meditative environment impossible.
I did go all the way to the other end of the valley, but of course many more people there, so I gave up on the valley and headed up to the 120.

Here is a shot of what I went through on the way into the valley

The view from this side wasn't any better

[shaklee909]

I had to have a conversation with my self. “Dude, this is Yosemite! One of best places on earth to be at and you are complaining about a bit of smoke? “ So, after a mind adjustment I started to really “feel” the ride and ignored the people distractions. Last year I had the place mostly to myself. I guess the economy is getting better, so more people took a vacation weekend, and that is a good thing.
This time of year there are lots of waterfalls.







Olmstead was a bit obscured by smoke also.

Alpine Lakes like Lake Tenaya are spectacular



I guess I needed a bike shot

[shaklee909]

The CHP marked the whole length of Lake Crowley as a no stopping zone. I presume because there was going to be a fireworks show over the lake and didn't want people stopping on the road to watch.
At any rate, I didn't stop for pics. They even had the turn outs marked as no stopping.
Wanting to try something new I took Lower Rock Creek Rd off of 395 just past Toms Place.

This is a very nice road that could be taken fast for a fun ride or slower to enjoy the sights.
I chose a bit slower, but still having some fun. The road runs a bit off of 395 down the grade into Bishop. One car past me while I was stopped to take a pic, and that was the last car I saw.


Stopped at Bishop for the night. Days Inn again. This time they didn't have my reservation Furtunatly I had my copy of the confirmation and was given a room without hassle. Watched the fireworks from the balcony/walkway. Day Two was about 200 miles but I couldn't imagine a more beautiful 200 miles. One of the posts recently described riding as “When you are in a car its like watching a movie. When you ride its like being IN the movie.” This is how I felt all day long. Yosemite on two wheels is very hard to beat.

The next morning I was up early to get home before it got too hot. I normally take a shower in the morning to wake myself up. That was easy to do as there was no hot water. I don't think I will stay at the Days Inn again. Packed up and left a bit before 7:00am.
Early morning on 395 is spectacular. The rising sun shining on the Eastern Sierra wall shows off the colors and textures of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. If you have never ridden this road you should make it one of your must do's. If you can make it in the fall when the leaves are turning, the walls turn in to multi colored patterned quilts.
I did a beeline to San Bernardino stopping at 4 corners for more gas. The ride from there down to the junction of the 15 has gotten very slow. I am glad I can twist the wrist and get to 90 in the length of a semi.
I got home in time to have lunch with my wife and just vedge out the rest of the day. The last day put on 255 miles. I cleaned up the bike, lubed the chain and jumped into the pool.
Looking forward to next year.

[roadstar-rich]

Great ride report, enjoyed reading it and the pictures as well. Well done!

[stephenwc]

Fabulous stuff Steve.

That smoke's a real pain isn't it?

I too tend only to remember I own a puck when it's too late

Stephen

[Ally House]

Great post, great country. Thanks for the Days Inn warning(s). Can't wait to get down there for some post GRII riding.

[Darth Lefty]

I saw the fires too on the 2nd. A "management fire" to clear the brush. Pity they had to do it on 4th of July weekend!

[pawprint2104]

Envy is a bad, bad state of mind. Shame on me.

[needles]

Nice ride report Steve! Was the fire just park maintenance or did something unexpected start?

Dan