Motorcycle Rides

Mono Basin Trip

Today I left Stockton about 7:30 and headed for 108 and my first trip over Sonora Pass from the west side. I wasn't able to join the Father's Day ride already in progress near Dardenelle's Resort so I stopped at the camp site and left a KLR kind of note for the riders. Traffic was light and I made good time over the 9600'+ pass and down to Mono Lake. It took me about 4 hours to cover the 190 or so miles. I did a little exploring along the County Park road, 395, and some of the open dirt roads in the basin. I also dropped in on the Forest Service visitor center, the Mono Lake Committee visitor center, and the Lee Vining Community Center where the bird Chatuagua (sp?) was underway.

I wasn't able to catch up with any of my old friends or get more info on the mountain beaver that was captured on the school grounds earlier this week. I had a light lunch back at the County Park and headed back up 395. I paid $3.00/gal (ouch!) for regular unleaded in Bridgeport and figured out that I got about 52 mpg on the trip over. I decided to head back home via Monitor and Ebbetts passes and also took a side trip on Burcham Flat road to retrace the ride we did there last summer. I got some good pictures looking down into Walker Cyn at the redesigned river far below. I had trouble with my front end in the soft dirt along most of this road. I nearly went down a couple of times.

I saw lots of bikes through out the 417+ miles I put in today. Just about everything but a KLR although I guess I did see the KLR campsite at Dardenelle. Good weather except for a strong cross wind at times, dry eyes from the bright sun and vibration problems that left me with a sore shoulder and grip during the ride back. Carrying everything in a day pack that spent most of the ride on my rack seemed to work well over all. I'll get some pictures up on my KLR site on mac.com soon.

Dale
/glad I was able to get out today and even get in some dirt time.

Asbestos, Rare Plants, and Off-road

I've been in the area but not ridden the trails. This is something I want to followup on for a combination of reasons. I want to know more about the wild pigs and rare plants management issues as well as the ORV uses and restrictions needed. Maybe I can combine all of them for a late fall visit...

Don't let the good times roll?

Did it!

Today I decided to try for something that has been on my mind for a while. I took highway 26 up above Moke Hill and cut across Ridge Rd to Railroad Flat. From there, I followed Summit Level Rd which shows up on many regional maps as connecting across the Calaveras watershed over around Dorrington. My maps are not very up to date and the road is not marked with many tempting logging roads that cut across it. I managed to work my way through a very interesting downhill stretch under shady cover around the Mountain Ranch. From there I climbed back out into drier, rocky and dusty sections and had to do some guess work to get across. I did make it and turned 14,000 somewhere along the way. I came out at Dorrington just above where you come out when you come across the Stanislaus watershed from 108 like we did last year. There is another longer way across from West Point (Winton Rd.) that appears to come out above Cabbage Patch. I'll have to give that one a try maybe later with a gps and/or better mapping or another rider.

Very interesting and I might have to try coming back down this way off highway 4 some time...

Backroads Diary

I just came across a link to someone who apparently maintains a blog on his experiences with his KLR. I'm going to check it out and see what I think later. For now anyway, here's the link Backroad Diary

Dale
/inside reading when I should be out