Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Yosemite, Sequoia's, all the way home

Ended up having to sleep in the motor home in Reno because all the hotels were booked up. Yes, all of them! We did check out a motel that had an hourly rate and when we rolled up at 1am they had a lot of, well, business. I wasn't comfortable being in that area on my moto so we shacked up in a big hotel casino parking lot. You gotta do what you gotta do


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I headed off for my next camp spot at Trumbull Lake just outside of Yosemite. I was bummed when I was making the plans for the trip because I wasn't able to stay IN the park. Fortunately and unfortunately the main road going into the Valley was closed because of fires. That must have sucked for all the holiday travelers who had been planning on being in the park and couldn't get in. Trumbull is pretty high up and I am now used to cooking, hiking, etc at altitude. The bike works great too. Never have to worry about her at all. The real plus was getting a real shower at the lake!


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The next morning was early as usual. I've also gotten used to this so I can maximize the daylight available and have a chance to explore the new place I would stay at or get side tracked along the way. 


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Mono Lake was beautiful but Yosemite was waiting around the corner. 


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Can't wait to go back to Yosemite for a few days. 


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The other riders I ran into along the way were great. Most of whom are from LA and I hope to see you all soon at the Rockstore. 


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From Yosemite I had to travel further West to get around the fire witch added almost 2hrs to my route that I had planned on checking out the park itself. Oh well. Next time. I checked out some great little towns along the way that I would most likely not go through otherwise. 


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You can't believe Fresno is at the base of Kings Canyon and Sequoia's. That place is not nice at all and the contrast is crazy of the two places. 


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My campsite at Lodgepole campground was perfect. It was as far back as you could get just about and will be going back for sure. 



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Also have to have a nice post ride snack. 


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Because the Holiday was over and everyone had left the park I had the Giant Sequoia's to myself. 8:30am and I was at the General Sherman Tree parking lot and four cars were there. Perfection for sure. When I got back to the parking lot I met some fellow Burners. They were thinking that the bike had Playa dust on it. I said yes it was and in true BM fashion hugs and stories were shared. 


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Funny thing thing is that this isn't the first time I've ridden through a tree on this bike


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Morro Rock was much the same. 


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The ride down the mountain was great and twisty. Really had to throw the GSA around moto style but she's a wonderful beast.


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 At the bottom it hit me that my trip was just about over. In hours I'd be home and thrown back into reality. I really want to keep this feeling of freedom and never forget it. It's why I love to write the ride reports. They bring me back to those places instantly. 


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Riding into LA over the Sepulveda pass was funny. Everyone doing the work thing and here I am all loaded up covered in dirt and dust. Love it!


I'll try to post a recap of favorites from the trip and also some gear favorites. Thanks for following and a huge thank you to my wife Stacy and buddies Gary and Andy for looking after me on the SPOT, etc. Wheew, what a trip. 


Also if you would like to get in touch with me, send me a note, etc. I would love to hear from the people I met along the way. Thank you for all of your kindness, help, great food and conversation. You have been a huge part of making my trip so wonderful. 


LoyalBMWAdventure@hotmail.com

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