Day 10: Yosemite

Long days, and wicked busy nights, trying to keep up with all these people who run me ragged!  I'll try to catch up quickly on Day 10's ride through Yosemite.  It started very cold with ice on my bike.  It seems that the water sprinklers went on during the night, and, since my bike was parked at the end, it got wet, and the water froze.

Ice on my bike...

Some neat falls near Mammoth Lakes, on our way to Yosemite

Group pic #one million

Dave, Ruthie, and Ron

Then, on to Yosemite.  What a beautiful place!  Pictures can't capture it.  You have to see it up close and personal to appreciate its beauty.

Guido at a rest area

Curt

Incredible scenery

Dave and Clara taking it in

My office

Moi

Half Globe Mountain

Curt by Half Globe Mountain

Darlene and Brian

Susie and Guido

Fred and Jim

Joy and David

Hunter allowing a VERY curious Chinese young lady to sit on his bike.  It was hilarious.  She spoke no English, but when she got off, she fanned her butt.  He taught her the word, "Hot."  She said it back.  That was the only English I heard from her.

And, of course, she struck a pose while Hunter used her camera to take a pic, and I used mine.

One of the many beautiful Yosemite falls.

It was just breathtaking

Susie

David and Joy

Day something- can't remember

Ok, so I haven't written a blog entry lately. I figure outsourcing the blog work to Mike would suffice. He does a nice job and works for drinks.

But anyway, thought I would at least check in every now and then. Since my last entry we have met up with the Eastgate Harley group in Vegas and are now just outside the Sequoia Park in California. We came through Mammouth Lakes yesterday on the way here. Today we rode through some major twisty roads with elevation changes from around 3000' to 7000'.

Problem with the tight twisty roads, combined with the desire to live, is that you dont get to look at a lot of scenery. We did make several stops to take pictures so that was nice.

Hot again with temps up to 97, in spite of a cooler start of around 55 degrees. Tomorrow will be hot as we head to Carmel on the coast. Getting close to 3000 miles on the bike since we left. Will likely hit our last year number of 6000 miles on this trip as well.

Here are some photos of the recent days:





Out in Death Valley- named for its lovely vegetation






One of the beautiful waterfalls in Yosemite






Who knew the old girl was holding up a drink





trees are so big in Sequoia you can't get in a picture and get the whole tree





Our friend when hydrating in the hot climates

Day 9: Beatty, NV to Mammoth Lakes, CA

Hills and canyons, hot and cold.
Riding a Harley never gets old.
The scenery is awesome, it makes one feel blessed.
But riding with friends is what makes it the best.


What a great ride today!  Our elevations ranged from over 7,000 feet above sea level in Mammoth Lakes, to 90 feet below sea level in Death Valley.




From Beatty, we headed west into Death Valley.  We left early, so as to avoid as much of the mid-day heat as possible.  It was a comfortable start, but as soon as we descended into Death Valley, temps quickly rose.  Our route took us down to where we were below sea level!  We stopped for some pics at a rest area, close to that point.

Pulled into a rest area in Death Valley for a break.

Pretty hot, but not for long...soon to climb into cooler air.

Adjusting riding gear to the weather

A lot of metal in the middle of nowhere

David Bowen, the ride leader.....best Road Captain EVER.

Darlene and Brian

A group pic, excluding Curt, who took the pic.

From the Valley, we climbed hard, back above sea level, and on toward the sky.  We went up, then down, then along a ridge line with spectacular views.  I can't take pics while riding, but it was phenomenal.   As someone said at our stop, "If you didn't like this last stretch of riding, you need to sell your bike."

We stopped at one of the overlooks.

The Davids

Dave Martin and me.

The horses took a quick nap after all that climbing.

Guido, getting reservations for dinner.

Fred, just being Fred.  Great singer, too!!

Mary, texting Guido.

The hotties.

We arrived in Mammoth Lakes early, so everyone did his or her own thing for a few hours.  I worked on my bike, and fixed some fairing trim that was coming off, other guys washed their bikes (CURT!! whose bike needed it more than anyone's!), and some went to take in a lunch.  Then, we all decided to hop on the trolley that makes a circle of the surrounding area.  Here are the pics:

Here we are, on the trolley, touring Mammoth Lakes area.

Beth and Hunter

Clara and Dave, Darlene and Brian

Tom and Jim, cheerleading

Mike and Mary

Me, taking of picture of myself through the bus driver's rear view mirror

Mike and Mary in front, Fred and Bev behind them

Temps here are GREAT!!  It cooled off wonderfully this evening...no shorts for me for the first time of the trip, and, in fact, I wish I'd have worn my jacket to dinner.  Forecast low tonight is 31 degrees!!  We plan to leave later than usual...9:00am...to allow the sun to rise and warm things up a bit.

Until tomorrow....

Mike

Day 8: Las Vegas to Beatty, NV

Curt and I joined up with the rest of the people last night, and then, this morning, met them at the Harley Dealership here in Las Vegas, where they picked up their bikes that had been shipped.  What a fun time, watching all of them load up their bikes... trying to fit all the stuff into their bags that they need/want for the next week.  The dealership wheeled each of the bikes to a parking ramp, which made for some great photo ops.

Parking the bikes so they could be loaded up.

Parking continues

Lots of metal lined up

Everyone busy loading up the bikes

Susie and Guido

Me, watching everyone else work.

Can all these bags possibly fit on the bikes?

Beth and Chief...what a team!

Dave and Clara striking a pose.  

Susie loading up the bike

Jim working hard, while Bev is supervising Fred

...and Fred listening carefully to Bev's instructions

Darlene and Brian are ready as always.

Tom, riding single this time, has PLENTY of room!

Our favorite cheerleader Joy.  She keeps us balanced at all times.

We got all the bikes done and ready, and headed north and west into California, and then back into Nevada.

We stopped for the night in Beatty, NV.  A nice casino and swimming pool next door, where we all sat around in the shade and wonderful warm, dry breeze.  Palm trees, rugged mountains.  Just beautiful.

Guido and the girls in the background playing cards

On to California tomorrow!!

Mike