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Well, I'd have had a RR earlier, but part of my arrangement for spending a week on the bike was to refurbish our deck upon my return. So with that (almost) done, I find time to sort photos, recollect, and write.

My plan was 3 days getting from Des Moines to Mariposa with a couple of side trips thrown in (pink, yellow, and blue on the map), 2 days at YFO, and 2 days hauling ass back (green and red).


The day after Memorial Day, I was on the bike by 4:45am, starting my trek across the Great Plains. And because time was limited it was I-80 to Salt Lake City the first day for 1085 miles. I do appreciate states that have adopted 80 mph!
The next morning, I was on the road by 6:30. With a full tank and a belly full of the free continental breakfast, it's across the salt flats, arrow straight, cruise set.





And then a stop at the place where legends are made. Unfortunately, none of that magic rubbed off on me...


...just salt.






I couldn't ride this far, cross Nevada, and not take a short detour north to the IBA memorial in Gerlach. Like a lot of places, I've seen pictures, but being there alters and sharpens your perspective on how it fits in the world. Standing there on the edge of the Black Rock desert, having crept over the granite and gravel, past the folk art that leads up to the memorial, and seeing the names on the totem and in the memorial garden gave me pause.





Whose name will be added this year?


Looking at my Spotwalla track, it's neat that one can pick out the memorial and the picnic table on the satellite image.








Behind the memorial is a tribute from home. Can you see that fleck of red in the scrub brush?


I need to ride up to Webster City and meet Dennis Powell, the guy who created this.


From Gerlach, I backtracked to I-80 until Yuba Pass, CA where I shifted to CA20, taking me to my next overnight in Yuba City. Before tucking in for the night, I walked to Walmart for some supplies, and on the way back decided to stop at Taco Bell for dinner. Primarily because it was right next to the hotel, and I was tired. And apparently I looked it. After ringing up my order for $6.39, the girl behind the counter gave me $4.54 in change for my $10 bill. "Great," I thought, "Another millenial who can't make change." As I pointed out what I thought was an error, she said, "Oh, I forgot to ring it up, but I gave you the senior discount." I was simultaneously bemused and depressed. First time ever for that. I suppose it will become more frequent and less surprising from here on.

Day 3, Thursday, would end in Mariposa, but first I was determined to get to the edge of the continent. Bodega Bay was foggy when I arrived in mid-morning, but still...I made it. One shining sea down...one to go. I rode north on Highway 1 for a few miles, just to say I had ridden it, but obviously there is far more to it than I could cover. I shall return. When the road is cleared and the bridges rebuilt...



And on the way to Bodega Bay, I got a taste of lane sharing!


Nirvana! Why, oh why, isn't the rest of the country this enlightened? Later, around Modesto, I lane shared for probably 5-6 consecutive miles. I can't imagine having to sit in that stop-and- go traffic, sweating more about who's running down my 6 than from the heat. Back home in Iowa, it's been tough to resist filtering between lanes and to the front of the line.

After my brief caress of the PCH, working back inland, my GPS took me on a goat path that receives a fair amount of attention from Cal Trans. At least judging from the patched patches under more layers of patched patches. I stood on the pegs until my thighs burned, then just sat and let the road rearrange my fillings. After finally rejoining Highway 1, the next stop was Fairfield to meet my cousin and her husband who live in the Bay Area. For convenience, and to check another item off my bucket list, we met at an In-n-Out burger.



Good burger, great fries, but I'm still giving the nod in both departments to my hometown chain, B-bops. Stop by and make the comparison yourself.

After a few hours of visiting, I was off to finish the trek to Mariposa, lane splitting like a pro through Stockton and Modesto, then bumping along another goat path, Old Toll Road. And take a toll, it did. Upon arrival at the Mariposa Lodge, I discovered my left bag hanging by one hook! Another bump, and I may have lost it altogether. Pinning it to the mount is now on the list.

Not long after arriving, the Loosyana contingent rolled in and I had a chance to meet 'pants, Redfish, and the man who was on everyone's "to-meet" list, Pops. He and I chatted for a while, and I came away even more impressed with him, and a bit envious of the relationship he and RFH have. Having lost my dad last year, I can only wish for the kind of time these two have had to enjoy each other and their mutual love of riding.

More in the next post, wherein we actually go to the Y in YFO.

Thanks for sharing the adventure Craig.

Looking forward to the next installment!

--G

I had an opportunity to walk to a salt flat in Nevada on the YFO tour. I passed, but kind of regret it. I didn't know about the IBA memorial. Pretty cool.

More, please.....

Good stuff, Craig! Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

Thanks for sharing! In-n-Out burgers are quite good...I miss their fresh fries...

Glad you got to try InNOut! And for those who have never tried lane sharing, notice in the video how most of the car driver's actually move over to the far side of their lanes. Going slower speed, it is relatively safe and definitely more efficient! Oh, Bodega Bay is often fogged in, especially in the morning.

Great stuff, watching for more.

Very Good Stuff Craig.

It was an honor to finally meet you in Mariposa. Pop is terrible at remembering names but it meant more to him to meet all of you than he could express. He fought pretty damn hard just for the chance to say thank you to all the folks that helped him with his recovery.

Nice RR!

Thursday evening was spent shooting the bull in the parking lot, getting reacquainted with friends from previous rallies, and making new ones. It's always good to put faces with avatars and screen names. Craig (NTXFJR) and I shared the first room right by the office. And I'll say this about the Mariposa Lodge: Great place! Our room was spacious and clean, maid service was good, and the young lady at the front desk was incredibly helpful (she drew me at least three maps to help me find beer, dinner, and the post office).

Friday morning much of the activity was in the courtyard. Rides were being planned and arrival stories shared. Many of us were waiting for Tyler to lead us into temptation... no, wait, that's later. We were waiting for her to lead us into Yosemite. Eventually, Tyler's Spyder rolled back out of its parking space (fortunately, she was aboard), and about a dozen bikes fell in behind. I had to top off my tank, so I took off just before the crowd, then caught up with them a short way down the road and took up sweep as we rode the 40 or so miles down Highway 140. Here's the group waiting for our turn to cross a one-lane bridge.


And holding up traffic as we try to get into the park


Just inside the gate, you pass through a natural arch. This shot was actually taken early Saturday morning, thus the lack of traffic


First stop in the park was this falls, spectacular in its own right, but just a warm-up to those to come. The winter's rains and heavy snow fall have swollen the falls, streams, and rivers to levels not seen in years.


Tyler always looking for an angle...which is why we all love her RRs.


RFH, 'pants, and Pops


Tyler herding cats


After a couple more stops, one other rider and I got separated from the group, due a lack of parking for all of us. After introducing myself to Mike (ekiM on the forum) we decided to peruse the Valley floor on our own, and perhaps meet up with the rest of the group at the Ahwanee Hotel, where Tyler mentioned we might have lunch. Without a large group to maintain, I wandered off the beaten path to get a few more falls photos. Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls.






We made it the Ahwanee, but saw no bikes. We carved out a parking spot just past the entrance, and wandered inside. The wait for the main dining room was over an hour and a half, so we opted for the bar. But next time, I'll make reservations for this grand dining room.


The rest of the hotel ain't too shabby either




We were seated almost immediately at a table in the bar, and the chairs were out-of-this-world luxuriously soft. We each ordered a Cubano sandwich which was rather good.

After lunch, we explored the valley some more, including Bridal Veil falls. For me, this was going to be a highlight of the raging falls. To better understand why, take a look at this photo of the "falls" when my family vacationed here in 2013. By the way, that little red dot just above the trees at the base of the falls? That's a person!


Compare that just about the same view during YFO.




Mike and I


After a full day exploring, we headed back for the Lodge. Hungry, we randomly chose a restaurant just a block or so from the motel. Charles Street Dinner House did not disappoint. The staff was friendly, the service good, the portions generous. Chicken cordon bleu for me;


And while the hostess was upfront that the apple pie wasn't homemade, the presentation, with TWO scoops of ice cream, a sprinkling of cinnamon and a drizzle of rum sauce, was the best I've ever seen.


Back at the motel, I renewed old friendships, met new friends, and gathered recon for Saturday's ride. Initially, I didn't want to head back to Yosemite, but several others convinced me that if I got there early, I'd beat the tourist traffic. Deciding on a pre-dawn take-off, I started to head to my room, but was stopped short by something, or rather someone, I didn't expect. Cav47, who had said he wouldn't be able to attend YFO, had managed to find an opening in his schedule. He loaded the FJR in his truck, high-tailed it from Illinois to Albuquerque, where he left the truck with HotRodZilla, and then rode to the rally. I had a few minutes to back- slap with him and 'pants before 'pants noticed RFH and Pops walking up the drive. As it was dark, they had no clue. Josh hid behind 'pants, and I managed to capture the moment these lovebirds locked eyes.




Ah, young love.
Next, Saturday, and homeward.

Saturday, I was rolling by 4:45am, headed back to the park on 140 to take in Glacier Point. The park gate sat unattended. A sign on the ranger booth said "If unattended, please drive in." Well, why did I pay for a park pass? I just need to get up earlier! Traffic in the park was almost non-existent, and I enjoyed the climb towards Glacier Point. Tunnel View offers a wonderful vista of the valley, so I pulled in. The sun was just rising, skies were overcast, and the air was dense, so the light wasn't good for photos into the valley...unless you brought a professional photographer to take your wedding photos.


Continuing on up, the road offers many great views. With almost no traffic, I could stop, switch off the engine and catch a moment of what this valley has been like for centuries upon centuries. At Washburn Point, I had the overlook to myself for a good 10 minutes. That's Nevada Falls to the right, Half-dome to the left.


Zoomed in a bit, the volume of water is astounding.


Just a bit further, the road ends at Glacier Point, a sheer wall that drops 3,200 feet to the valley floor. It was still early. A few people gathered along the railings, but everyone had plenty of room. I found a corner between two levels, and got some photos of the Ahwanee,


and Yosemite Falls. Combined, the upper and lower falls cascade over 2,400 feet. And from here, you look DOWN on them!




Then I put the camera away, and opened my mind to the beauty in front of me. Indescribable. As a kid in junior high and high school, our family took annual vacations in the car. The first was two weeks to British Columbia, and included my first views of the Rocky Mountains, and the western coastline. '75 was the east coast and DC, just before the Bicentennial. Another year was the canyon country of the southwest. They are highlights of my youth. Invaluable gifts my father gave us, by showing us the amazing beauty and wondrous landscapes beyond our backyard. Without saying as much, he showed me that all you had to do was go. He planted in me the love of travel, and appreciation for the miracles found in God's creation. And he was with me there in Yosemite as I shed tears, silently thanking him for that gift.





On the way back down, I stopped by one of the snow banks alongside the road and found this little guy locked inside.


Although he wanted to come back with me, he didn't appear to have the proper gear to withstand the heat in the valley, so I bid him farewell, and left him looking down the road for a more hospitable ride. Perhaps a Winnebago with a freezer.


Exiting the park, I saw the wisdom of getting in early. The line outside the south gate was TWO miles long. Have fun tripping over each other!

On my way up to Glacier Point, a two-up FJR passed by going down. We exchanged waves, and I wondered what time THEY had started out. On my way out of the park, going south on 41, I came up behind them. We tagged along together until we reached Oakhurst, where we pulled into the parking lot of Pop's Restaurant. (My theory is that having someone's name on the eatery greatly improves one's chances of finding pie.) After introducing ourselves, we wandered inside to a booth. (And here I must apologize to my companions: their names have faded from my mind. A delightful couple nonetheless. If you're reading this, DM me and I'll correct my oversight. EDIT: They are Brad and Christy. He's UberKul in the other sandbox.) The waitress handed out menus and I noticed most of the items were breakfast. Also a good sign for a restaraunt. However, a glance at my watch showed it was only 10:30am, and lunch was not yet being served. And thus, no pie. But the breakfast sandwich I ordered was amazing! Egg, bacon, and hashbrowns on sourdough. Sorry, no food porn this time, but make a note to check out Pop's if you're in the neighborhood.

After brunch, we headed north to Mariposa. My companions pulled into the lodge for a nap, having risen at 3:30am to see the sunrise over Glacier Point. During which, they also witnessed a marriage proposal! Yosemite is a magical, and romantic, place. I stopped briefly to top off the ice in my hydration system, and then headed back out to enjoy another ride highly recommended by the locals: Highway 49 north of Mariposa, also referred to as the "Mini-Dragon."

Views were nice, but one has to pull off to enjoy them. This is a technical road, many stretches have no guardrail, and more than once, I was surprised by oncoming traffic crowding the line.





At one pull-out, the view was apparently a real panty-dropper for someone.


I rode to Sonora, then took HIghway 108 to the east until I decided it was time to turn around and retrace my route back to the lodge. Didn't want to be late for dinner!

Dinner was great! Tables and chairs took over the courtyard, and the catered meal was quite tasty. A sampling of some of the ever-shifting conversations happening.
















The sun set. I returned to my room to fetch one last chilled beverage to wrap up the evening. Unfortunately, the room frig was set j-u-s-t a bit too cold, and when I popped the top, a geyser ensued. Catching parts of the frozen foam: my helmet, wallet, clothes for tomorrow, coffee maker, the wall, and floor.


I cleaned up as best I could, then grabbed a still-liquid beer from a lower shelf, and went out to explain to Craig why our room would smell like a fraternity's basement.

Sunday started early, rolling at 4:45 again. Inside a helmet that smelled like a fraternity basement. And as the Mini-Dragon was my route out, I was glad I'd ridden it twice yesterday. Seeing for the first time in the dark would have been puckerriffic.

There wasn't much time for flower sniffing or photo taking on the ride home, but across the Sierras I did pass a still-frozen lake.


The route home included HIghway 50 across Nevada and Utah. There are spots along America's Loneliest Road where you truly are alone...at least long enough.


There was more to wring out of her, but the front end started feeling light, so I eased back to a more moderate pace. A buddy in Grand Junction, CO let me crash there for the night, then Monday it was home. And on Wednesday evening, I started dismantling the deck (see post 1)...which is now complete, so I guess I'm free for another trip!

To friends old and new, it was a pleasure seeing you. And to Tyler, thanks so much for putting this soiree together. It was absolutely wonderful and far too short. But I'll be back. All I have to do is go.

Well done, Craig!! I enjoyed meeting you.

Next time... LET"S go!!!

Craig, that was Just Wonderful. Damn Well Done.

Some Redfish Thoughts:

Yosemite was as wonderful for me as it was for you.
Your father teaching you the value of travel resonates with me. I enjoyed that part of the RR more than anything.
WHY did you have to get pics of me hugging Cav47? Why? It's bad enough to be caught on camera hugging a man... hugging an UGLY man in public is just humiliating! I will not lie, I had a rare moment when I saw my friend. Sorry sack of shit that he is. I should choose my friends more wisely.
Pop and I rode Hwy 49 North toward Sacramento that Sunday morning. We were not fast but nobody was there to crowd us either.

The pics, the story, the entire RR was wonderful and I appreciate you sharing it with us.

I love me some b-bops

Redfish wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2017 4:58 pm WHY did you have to get pics of me hugging Cav47? Why? It's bad enough to be caught on camera hugging a man... hugging an UGLY man in public is just humiliating!

I agree, Cav47 must have been quite humiliated.

Great RR, you guys are making me sad I missed out. Another time perhaps.

Fuel costs for trip, guesstimate $150.00
Hotel costs for trip, guesstimate $400.00
Awesome ride report with a captured pic of the RFH/Cav 47 bromance.... PRICELESS!

Thanks for posting!

Wonderful RR, thanks!

Thanks for that! Awesome report!

Nice job, sir! My father also taught me about wanderlust, and I thank him for it often.

Your photos reflect a natural beauty and tranquility that are often the inspiration for my trips.

BkerChuck wrote: ↑Mon Jun 19, 2017 7:57 am Awesome ride report with a captured pic of the RFH/Cav 47 bromance.... PRICELESS!

Yeah...I could see that turning into a meme...

Fantastic report. Loved the back story about travel lessons learned early.

Andrew is my dear friend and yes, one of the multitude of reasons I ride 992 miles across the Mohave desert that day was to make sure I got to see him and Pops. If that qualifies as a bromance, so be it!! lol. I am confident in my sexuality! I love this community of riders.