South Fork Bishop Creek

 

Moved on up to Lake Tahoe. Very pretty, but VERY CROWDED! Not my style. Took a look at Donner Lake and Donner Pass. Nice ride, very twisty and a nice climb up Donner Pass on the old road that parallels Donner Lake, but with all the traffic and bicycles I did not get to enjoy it much. Stopped at the park to learn about the Donner Party. Damn. Tough life back then.


Got a National Geographic map of the area to try and find some "Roads Less Traveled" with some success. Found "Cascade Lakes" near Soda Springs. Pretty rough dirt road and one really nasty, rutted descent / ascent, but it was worth it. After the end of the road took a 1/2 mile hike to "Long Lake". half a dozen families "Dispersed Camped" around it, but not at all crowded. Really nice place.

 

Hmm. Having trouble getting my picture of "Long Lake" to post.

 

Lake Utica, near Arnold, California


Have not posted to this in a while, but I am still on the road. Left Tahoe and went to Arnold, California, and lost internet service. Great riding around Arnold. Road Ebbetts Pass, Sonora Pass, visited some beautiful alpine lakes on the West side of the Sierras. Saw one from near the top of Ebbetts Pass and found the way in to it on a Forest Service Topo map, Lake Utica. 2 miles of gravel, but very much worth the trip.

 

Well Worth the stop. They Sho nuff got some Big Trees! I walked the trails near sunset, had the whole park pretty much to myself, and the setting sun in the canopies of the sequoias was a real treat.

 

Sonora Pass Vista


Fun ride. Not too challenging. Great vistas!

 

A Vista from Ebbetts Pass


OK, this one was pretty challenging. 24% grades in some blind corner switchbacks, no centerline mark, and you might just meet a cager pulling a camper in the middle of the road! Once again, Excellent scenery, but pull off the road to enjoy it. This road required my full attention!

 

Hwy 1 just North of Jenner


Moved out of Arnold to the Russian River. Stopped in at the Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa for some Pliny the Elder IPA, Most Excellent! Then went on down to Forestville to ride the river and the coast. Great Location! In second growth Redwoods, 30 minutes from the coast. Armstrong Redwoods State Park well worth the visit, but the ride on 116 down to 1 and along the coast was the reason I came.


I rode the Oregon Coast couple years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't say the Cali coast is any more or less scenic, but there is so much more of it! Could entertain myself here for a Very Long Time, but sure could not afford to live here! Talked to some people about their cost of living. I own a 1700 square foot house and 11 acres in Louisiana I paid $180,000 for. Talked to a lady from Sunnyvale who owns the same size house on a postage stamp lot (80 by 100 feet). $1.2 MILLION! DAMN!

 

Great pics, done 2 coast-to-coast roadtrips but not one up the west coast, its on my bucket list.
What camera you using?

 

Nice trip and pics. That is one big tree.