Sonora Pass, Route 395, Monitor and Carson Pass Ride June 2-3, 2018

My birthday fell on a Sunday this year so I had approval from the family to do a ride Saturday and Sunday as long as I was home by dinner Sunday for some cake. The kids are in the middle of finals so there were no family plans for the weekend as well.

I wanted to get up to the passes earlier this year, but it was darn cold, but this weekend looked ideal. The plan was to ride Sonora Pass over to the 395 and play around a little and to check out Bodie. I left the house around seven in the morning and was over the pass by around 10:30 or so. It was a nice sunny 61 degrees at the pass which was great.

Heading up the 108 towards the pass ...

Sometimes it is crowded up at the pass elevation sign, but today I had the whole place to myself ...

At the bottom of 108 is the USMC cold weather training base - my wife's father trained here so I stopped for a picture ...

Cheeseburger in Lee Vining at Whoa Nellie deli - this is a gas station with good food at the bottom of Tioga Pass...

Stopped for a picture of Mono Lake ...

The road to to Bodie Ghost Town...

Lake Topaz...

Heading home on Monitor Pass - not a soul in site ...

Carson Pass...

Carrizo Plain, Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, and Highway 1 Ride May 3 through May 4, 2018

I had a couple days for a ride and the weather in the Eastern Sierras did not look good so I headed south to the Carrizo Plain. I left my house around 8:30 in the morning and ripped down Highway 101 to Paso Robles. Someone had told me about a good Mexican restaurant called Papi's in Paso Robles so I could not miss it since it was on my way.

Nice taco plate at Papi's in Paso Robles ...

After Lunch I took SR 58 out to Soda Lake Road to Carrizo Plain...

Arrived at Carrizo Plain...

Soda Lake Road turns into a nice fun dirt road...

This is hard to see, but out in the distance is a huge salt lake...

After visiting Carrizo Plain it was time to get some rest...

The next morning I headed to Fort Hunter Liggett and out to Nacimiento-Fergusson Road...

This is a fun road which drops you down into Big Sur, but be careful since really a one lane road with two way traffic. I came around a corner and was confronted with a Cruise America RV taking up both lanes... 

Finally made through the Las Padres National Forest and see the fog from the Big Sur coast...

After dropping down to Highway 1 I went over the Bixby Bridge and headed home.

 

Drive to Tahoe May 3 - 4, 2018

I wanted to get out for a night after tax season. I was going to ride up, but since a little cold and a new BMW 535i in the garage I decided to do something different and take the car. I have been to Tahoe many times on the GSA so though this would be fun and it was. I left home around 10:00 and arrived in time for lunch at my favorite pizza joint - Blue Dog Pizza. After lunch I checked in to the hotel and went for a drive over the Kingsbury Grade and down to the 395.

Not a lot of snow, but plenty of water in the lake.

Passing through Sacramento...

Heading up to Echo Pass...

Dropping down into Tahoe...

The beach at Zephyr Cove that the family goes to when camping with the RV... 

Blue Dog Pizza for lunch...

Heading down into the Carson Valley after going over the Kingsbury Grade...

Looking back at the Eastern Sierras  off the 395...

Playing with the BRP in Tilden Park April 25, 2018

I took the BRP out for a spin in the evening since it has been a while since I had taken her out. Still a lot of fun to ride and what power. Lucky to have such nice riding so close to home.

Ride up PCH to Jenner for Lunch April 23, 2018

With the nice weather I jumped on the GSA and rode up PCH to Jenner for Lunch.

I dropped my son Matthew off at school first and headed out around 10:00.

I went across the San Rafael Bridge to Highway 101 up to Petaluma and headed west to Bodega Bay.

Once in Bodega Bay I was on the PCH and what a nice day it was - clear and warm, but not hot.

First Ride After Tax Season April 18, 2018

I had a great tax season, but no time to ride. First day off today so I decided to go for a ride on my favorite local roads. Bear Creek up to Tilden and back.

Skyline Drive Ride February 3, 2018

Nice weather out so I decided to get my work done early today so that I could take the GSA out for a spin. I headed up to Tilden Park and took Bear Creak Road to Skyline Drive to Redwood Road. Once I hit the Anthony Chabot Campground I turned around and retraced my steps.

Great ride. Had three deer and five turkeys run across the road in front of me. Plenty of time to react so was just a nice view of nature.

Felt like I needed to clear my head so I wanted to focus on enjoying the ride instead of trying to capture GoPro footage so I left the GoPro at home. However, that didn't stop me from taking a few pictures.