June 13, 2011 on the outskirts of Sacramento CA<\/p>\n
For those who are counting, I\u2019ve tent camped two nights (John bet I\u2019d get 4 nights on the ground, over 6 wks).\u00a0 I rather like being outside, the air mattress is comfortable, the weather has been cool and dry, and then there are no bed bugs to think about in the middle of the night.\u00a0 The price is better than a motel if only slightly.\u00a0 I pulled in yesterday just before dark too tired to be picky and paid $36 to sleep on the ground!!!<\/p>\n
Yesterday morning I headed north from Visalia into the Sequoia National Park on Hwy 198.\u00a0 The roads within the park are varied and include wonderful twisties that help rub rubber from the outer edge of my tires.\u00a0 Not too far in, I stopped at a bathroom,\u00a0 and as I made a hard right turn onto what I know now was recently tarred gravel, I found myself sliding on what felt like greased ball bearings.\u00a0 At that point, the Wing decided to lie down for a brief rest.\u00a0 The bike wasn\u2019t hurt and neither was I.\u00a0 I was really mad at myself, though, \u2018cause I should have known better.\u00a0 A group of bicyclists had also stopped for a rest and four of them picked my bike up, while discussing how heavy it is.\u00a0 In response to my mumblings, one of them laughed, \u201cI didn\u2019t get a picture of it, so it didn\u2019t happen!\u201d\u00a0 We joked; then they rode down the mountain and I headed up.\u00a0\u00a0 I went through a long stretch of construction with one lane of traffic; the road was mostly dirt, some gravel, and plenty of potholes along tight curves. \u00a0I\u2019d had my wake up call in the parking lot, so I was VERY careful.\u00a0 .<\/p>\n
I spent some time walking amongst the Sequoias, the Gentle Giants.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to put to words the experience of sharing oxygen with other living beings who are so old and magnificently large.\u00a0 But words like small, fragile, fleeting, insignificant came to mind when thinking of us; enduring, strong, and wise were inadequate synonyms for the Gentle Giants.\u00a0 The short hike to the General Sherman tree is at 7,000 ft, so I was huffing.<\/p>\n
Within the Park there were stretches with snow on both sides of the road and warnings like \u201ctire chains may be required at any time\u201d and \u201cwatch for ice in shady areas.\u201d\u00a0 Throw in a few tour buses and motor homes, salt with loose gravel, spice with incredible scenery and you have your hands full on a bike.\u00a0\u00a0 I left the Park on Hwy 180 West, heading down to Fresno and Hwy 99 north.<\/p>\n
Back on a freeway, I began to make good time and wonder where I\u2019d stop for the night.\u00a0 It had taken much longer in the Park than I thought, and I was getting tired.\u00a0 But soon I dropped in behind a green Triumph Motorcycle and enjoyed \u201cbeing with\u201d another biker.\u00a0 I rode with him for about 100 miles; he obviously knew the road though there were a couple of times I thought he would earn us both a speeding ticket, Several times he made room for me or \u201cwaited\u201d so I could join him after we were separated by traffic.\u00a0 Then I needed to stop for gas, so I signaled to him, waved, and pulled off.\u00a0 That\u2019s one of the many things I enjoy about bikers \u2013 sharing the road and courtesies with someone whose face you never see.<\/p>\n
After a 367 mile day, I stopped for the night and set up my tent (man, I wish they wouldn\u2019t put tent sites uphill on gravel!!!)\u00a0 This morning I met a lady who was also brushing her teeth in the campground bathroom; she and her husband both ride.\u00a0 They came over to my tent briefly, took a post card, and gave me a good luck hug.\u00a0 She added, \u201cRemember to have fun!\u00a0 The kids want that.\u201d\u00a0 Great reminder.\u00a0 I\u2019m making this ride for the kids, and I want to do it their way, which is the fun way.<\/p>\n
Today I\u2019m chilling out; for some reason, I\u2019m tired \ud83d\ude09 I hope to go the Shriners Hospital in Sacrament, and then I\u2019ll move on towards Blaine, WA.<\/p>\n
So far I\u2019ve ridden 3,114 miles, and I\u2019m still smiling.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve added more pictures on my photobucket site http:\/\/s1141.photobucket.com\/albums\/n595\/gypsyjudge\/<\/p>\n
If the link doesn\u2019t work, do a copy & paste and that should get you there.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
June 13, 2011 on the outskirts of Sacramento CA For those who are counting, I\u2019ve tent camped two nights (John bet I\u2019d get 4 nights on the ground, over 6 wks).\u00a0 I rather like being outside, the air mattress is … Continue reading