Iowa Hill Ride.

[Papa-Ken]

The past two weeks we have taken pretty long rides so we decided to ride a short one today.

While on a break last week somewhere up in the sierra mts. the subject of our next ride came up in conversion and I suggested going to Iowa Hill.

That in fact is where we rode minus our trail boss Tricky Dick. Tricky and his side kick Sneaky Pete both came to breakfast but not on bikes. Tricky has been building a new storage shed on his property and Pete is doing some much needed maintenance on his old pickup.

Big Mike stepped up to the plate and volunteered to lead the six of us on this trail drive. We fed and watered the nervous bunch of longhorns and proceeded to drive them on the back roads through Folsom to travel Salmon Falls road up and intersect old hiway 49 for a short bit before riding the newer version north towards Auburn.

After stopping in Cool for Joe to feed his steed we continued on across the American river and turned right to travel towards Foresthill.

We rode straight on Foresthill Rd. for a few miles until we came to Sugar Pine Rd.and headed in the general direction of Iowa Hill.

Some of you might recall me telling about my first visit to Iowa Hill back in 1949 when me and my brother Neal hauled logs from there to Crawfords sawmill in Colfax. It didn't take many loads from there to make us look for better logging shows. Started hauling from up by Cisco Grove to several mills in different towns.

The weather was pretty nice today but my good buddy Wes wasn't feeling 100 % and I had a slight headache but we still enjoyed the ride and the company.

We had lunch in a campground on Sugar Pine Lake and started telling jokes that had us rolling in the aisles.

Had one last break in the shade between Colfax and Wiemar in a church parking lot and it didn't take long before a bunch of cars drove in to see what this bunch of misfits was doing.

Rode about 175 miles on this jaunt and got home in time to do some chores, so you can make book on the fact that this isn't going to repeat. Hope your day was a nice one too..............Ken

[pashnit]

Very nice Ken! Always enjoying the Adventures of the Old Farts Gang!! Iowa Hill Rd is a fun road and fantastic views, although you need to have goat trail on the brain.

I have to actually stretch a bit Ken to get my noggin to imagine you driving a 1940's-esque truck pulling a load of logs down that steep grade to the river. There still aren't guard rails today and it's a long way down!



(for those unfamiliar)

[pashnit]

The grade I'm referring to.

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[DaveG]

How funny! This looks like the road we road on this weekend from Wildwood to Hayfork, not much more than one lane and a white line on only one side.

[Papa-Ken]

Originally Posted by pashnit

Very nice Ken! Always enjoying the Adventures of the Old Farts Gang!! Iowa Hill Rd is a fun road and fantastic views, although you need to have goat trail on the brain.

I have to actually stretch a bit Ken to get my noggin to imagine you driving a 1940's-esque truck pulling a load of logs down that steep grade to the river. There still aren't guard rails today and it's a long way down!



(for those unfamiliar)

Yes it wasn't any fun and you are right about the truck. It was a WW2 GI 270 GMC with hydrovac for brakes. The logging dolly had better brakes but not much. We had water tanks on the truck to supply water to the brake drums to keep them cooler and when on the main roads (Hiway 40) people in cars were always trying to stop us and tell us we had brake fluid leaking seeing all the water trails being left from the water. Tim most of the roads we traveled in the woods were just dirt trails made by the blade of a cat. They had to raise that blade many times to push on the logs to get us up many of the hills coming out of the landings.

[Papa-Ken]

Originally Posted by DaveG

How funny! This looks like the road we road on this weekend from Wildwood to Hayfork, not much more than one lane and a white line on only one side.

Dave it is funny you see the similarities as I hauled out of Mad River in the mid 50ts early 60ts. The road was 47 miles of one way dirt road from Hayfork to Mad River. Hauled lots of lumber for many years prior to becoming an electrician. My wife rode into Mad River with me once but refused to ride out. Caught a ride in a car going to Hayfork and waited at the cafe for me to arrive. Sweet memories of a time long gone.........Ken

[strontium]

Great ride report. I have only ever ridden that road on a bicycle from the Colfax side and it is one nasty climb. The descent from Colfax is very goaty too. You have inspired me to try it on the motorcycle.

[Papa-Ken]

Originally Posted by strontium

Great ride report. I have only ever ridden that road on a bicycle from the Colfax side and it is one nasty climb. The descent from Colfax is very goaty too. You have inspired me to try it on the motorcycle.

As the old saying went "Try it, you will like it" Mark. Just another in the long line of roads to check off your list..........Ken

[Loki]

Great story Ken. You guys go on some wonderful rides. I think I read in a previous thread that the Old Farts have to be in their 50's. How about just being able to ride with the Old Farts on one of their adventures?

[Ally House]

Great post, Ken. As allways, thanks for letting me tag along with the OldFarts. I, on the other hand, CAN see you in one of those old log trucks, on that road!