May 16, 2005

Snow Grabs Passes...Bikers Grab Quarters

But not before we finished out business at Atwater.  We arrived at the Castle Air Museum at 10:00 hours and were granted access to the museum grounds where we met and talked with Katie Hammer and the camera man, Alex, from KFSN-TV in Fresno, California.  We did an interview, took some pictures, and told more lies (I really have to work on getting my life in order).  Dave Wood and his associates and the KFSN crew were more than generous in their time and consideration for us four phantom pholks. A brief account of our visit is on their web site at http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/news/051605_nw_vets_f4.html. [Close the new window when finished to return here]

We left the Castle Air Museum and took back roads to California 49 riding north.  Our plan was to cross the mountains on Route 4 then go north to Lake Tahoe.  We rode so many twisties and turns and ups and downs we can't recall them all.  The flats of the San Joaquin Valley gave way to wonderfully curvy and gorgeous hills.  We wound our way through this beautiful country noting the cumulous clouds loitering around us as we went.  It was truly a perfect day.  The temps were mild.  The sun was out. We were in hog heaven.  What more could you want?

We stopped at one especially beautiful vista for pictures and as we walked to a good vantage point and returned we noticed a young Chinese man with his very young son (2? years old) admiring my bike.  The father gestured for permission to take a picture of his son standing near my bike.  I returned the gesture that the son should sit on the bike.  We finally communicated enough for a great picture session with wife and other child overlooking a reservoir. The picture included with this journal says it all.

A way across the mountains to South Lake Tahoe is what we needed. As we worked up Route  49 we passed State Route 108 with a large sign stating the road was close at the summit due to snow. Not a problem as we were going to use Route 4.  Same problem at Route 4 miles up the road.  And at Route 88.

At one point near Placerville, CA, Jake and I became separated from our chase driver and spent about 45 minutes finding and hooking up with him.  The mountain geography renders FM communications useless in many instances so out in helmet and in cab radios were of little help.  We finally connected using cell phones, found they had close the highway east and returned to Placerville for the night.  Tahoe would have to wait.  Our first 'not on the itinerary' event.

But we remembered the awesome turns, ups, downs of the day.  It was truly an unrepeatable day.  Sunshine, a little shower that we almost welcomed and, with a five minute run afterward was, blown dry.  We ended the day 60 miles shy of target, road weary but happy for the great ride.

Here's a very few of many, many pictures (Full Album HERE):