Sequoia and Yosemite National Park ride

[Mark Borgeson]

This is a three day trip through the Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks. It is an early fall ride with medium mileage days. You’ll need to make your own hotel reservations in Oakhurst and Bishop on Friday and Saturday respectively. You’ll want to make your reservations ASAP.

 

Day 1, Friday 9/16/16, 250 miles. Day one starts in Bakersfield. We’ll meet at Zingo’s Cafe at 3201 Buck Owens Blvd., kickstands up at 8:00am. We’ll take General’s Highway into Sequoia National Park, meander through the Giant Sequoias, and have lunch at Grant’s Grove. We’ll continue through the Giant Sequoias and Redwoods to Oakhurst. There is a $20 motorcycle National Park fee for Sequoia.

 

Day 2, Saturday 9/17/16, 225 miles. Breakfast in Oakhurst and then head into Yosemite via CA41 N. First stop is Glacier Point. Then we’ll head into Yosemite Valley with a stop at Tunnel View. We’ll spend a few hours in the Valley and have lunch. We’ll exit Yosemite Valley via CA scenic route 120 to CA395. We’ll head S on 395 to Bishop. There is $20 National Park fee for Yosemite. We’ll have dinner in Bishop at Holy Smoke BBQ, an all time club favorite.

 

Day 3, Sunday 9/18, 300 miles. Ride home 395 S to LA\OC.

 

If you’re familiar with butler maps, these route includes many of the best rides in CA (G1, G2, G3). Click here for a map of day 1. Click here for a map of day 2.

 

Click Here for the calendar event.

Topic

[John Crittenden]

Sounds great, Mark!

[Richard Catarineau]

Is it on the calendar? If so, can you add links between the 2? (In the Board Members Guide)

[Mark Borgeson]

I was hoping to get the link fixed before Rick noticed it wasn’t there. Darn.
OK, it’s done.

[Bill Reitz]

Just a heads up, this is from the Bodie website: From U.S. 395 seven miles south of Bridgeport, take State Route 270. Go east 10 miles to the end of the pavement and continue 3 miles on an unsurfaced road to Bodie. The last 3 miles can at times be rough. Reduced speeds are necessary. Call the park if there are any questions about road conditions.
Not trying to scare anyone away just keep this in mind.

Prices
Adults: $8 per person
Only cash or checks are accepted at the Park Entrance Station.

Where is the Bakersfield starting point ? Will need to spend a night there probably.

[Mark Borgeson]

Meeting up at Zingo’s Cafe at 3201 Buck Owens Blvd

[Bill Reitz]

I was checking on lodging in Fish Camp, most places are B&B’s but nothing is available for Sept. 16th. I might suggest Oakhurst since there are so many more motels in the town and it’s only about 14 miles away. A bunch of us stayed at the Best Western Plus Yosemite Gateway Inn last year on our Sierra’s Ride.

[Mark Borgeson]

Thanks Bill. I initially thought about staying in Oakhurst. I’ll update the itinerary.

[Karl Wagner]

Sounds like a nice ride, hope to make Bodie, best ghost town in CA, heck if we can do ice we can do a bit of sand!

Thanks Mark!

[Tom Hooper]

Been on the Bodie road on my RT. Hard packed dirt with some washboard and gravel. not difficult if you go slow.

[Bill Reitz]

Good job on the planning Mark. If you call Holy Smoke the owner, I forget her name, will reserve seating for the group. She just needs a time of arrival and group size. She treated us very well two years ago and three years ago too. We sat outside once and inside once.

[Richard Catarineau]

FYI – It’s on the Ride List now.

[Mark Borgeson]

Rooms in Oakhurst are starting to fill up. This is a popular time of year for Yosemite. I was able to get a room here through Hotwire. 1 room 2 adults 2 queen beds. $150 including taxes:

Yosemite Southgate Hotel & Suites
40644 Highway 41
Oakhurst, CA 93644

Besides Oakhurst, Ahwahnee had some availability and is only 5 miles away.

Most places will cancel without a charge so make a reservation soon.

[Michael Pirosh]

Mike Pirosh has all of his reservations and ready to see Yosemite

[Bill Reitz]

Karen & Bill are ready, all nights reserved.

We got a room in Bakersfield Thursday night so we wouldn’t have to make it to Zingo’so early Friday.

In Oakhurst the Comfort Inn Yosemite still has rooms. It’s across the street from the Best Western Yosemite we stayed in last year.

For anyone interested, since this ride starts at 0800 in Bakersfield the Reitz’s, Wetzel’s, & Mr. Pirosh got rooms for Thursday night at the Best Western Hill House at 700 Thruxton in Bakersfield. This means you don’t have to get up SUPER early to make the start time. Let me know if you might do this and we can ride up together Thursday around noon.

[Bill Reitz]

It might still be HOT on this ride so check Cycle Gear, they have “Cool Vests” for only $35.00 right now.

[Mark Borgeson]

Thanks Bill! Cindy & I need some of these.

[Karl Wagner]

Ok, heck with this WORK thing….looks like a fun weekend, We are in! Will be at the Yosemite Southgate Friday night and Comfort Inn in Bishop. Anyone blowing up to Bakersfield early Friday morning let us know. Leaving the South Bay around 5:30 am.

Thanks Mark for setting this up!

[Mark Borgeson]

That’s great news! Glad you two can make it.
Cindy & I are driving up to Bakersfield Thursday late afternoon \ early evening.

[Karl Wagner]

Thanks, will coordinate if we end up going up Thursday, otherwise see you Friday morning.

K

[Roberto Giraldes]

Is still there a spot for one more rider on that trip?

[Mark Borgeson]

Absolutely! You just need to make hotel arrangements in Oakhurst and Bishop (and maybe Bakersfield).

[Roberto Giraldes]

Hello Mark! I’ve already done hotel arrangements and I intend to drive up to Bakersfield on Thursday early afternoon. My phone # is 949-3574438.
Thank you so much.

[Bill Reitz]

Welcome Roberto to the South Coasters. If you can make it three bikes are riding up to Bakersfield on Thursday leaving at noon from Spaghettini Grill just off the 405 at Seal Beach Blvd on the north west corner. We are staying at the Best Western Hill House.

Anyone else that has the time off is welcome to join us too.

[Roberto Giraldes]

Thank you Bill. I will be there.

[Larry Troffer]

I’m in. Reservations at Comfort Inn in Oakhurst and in Bishop. Best Western in Bakersfield on the 15th. Trish is improving every week, but not ready to ride yet. I’m not sure yet what time I can depart on the 15th, but will join the group leaving from Spaghettini if I can. Bill I’ll let you know.

[Mark Borgeson]

Whoo Hoo! Semper Fi 🙂
Cindy and I are riding up late afternoon \ early evening if you’re running late.

[Bikram]

Booked Comfort Inn (9/16) in Oakhurst and in Bishop (9/17).

[Bill Reitz]

Alright Roberto. Larry & Bikram we look forward to meeting you at Spaghettini Grill if you can make it. We will LEAVE at noon and travel up the 605 to pick up Diane & Bob near their home.

This is gonna be another epic South Coasters ride !!

[Karl Wagner]

Anyone interested meeting at La Canada Panera in the afternoon heading over Little Tujunga Cyn – Sand Canyon – Bouquet Cyn – Spunky Cyn – San Franscito Cyn – up to the 138 – 5 and over the Grape Vine to Bakersfield, let me know. Flexible on departure time in the early afternoon Thursday, but may get into Bakersfield a bit late! :0

[Karl Wagner]

Now what would be REALLY cool is if everyone, going or not, indicated that on the “Ride List” to help Mark out in his planning and know who is going. I would enable the ride leader, or any participant for that matter, to see who will be riding and to print off a list of participants with cell phone numbers to arrange meet ups……REALLY COOL feature……but we have to use it……. (do I sound like our Rick C??? Arg)

[Mark Borgeson]

Thanks Karl! That would be cool.

From our website, Facebook, and emails, I count 14:

Me and Cindy
Karl & Sharon
Mike Pirosh
Bill & Karen
Roberto Giralds
Larry Troffer
Bikram
Wentzel’s
Steve & Celia

Can anyone recommend a restaurant in Oakhurst? I haven’t made any arrangements for dinner there yet. We have a fairly big group. A lot of us are staying at the Comfort Inn and Best Western. Walking distance from there would be nice.

Other than Friday dinner, we have…
Friday:
Breakfast at Zingo’s
Lunch at Grant’s Grove
Dinner ??

Saturday:
Breakfast on your own
Lunch in Yosemite Valley
Ice cream on June Lake Loop.
Dinner at Holy Smoke BBQ

Sunday:
Breakfast – lots of choices. Eric Schat’s, Jack’s Waffle Shop, Denny’s …
Lunch on the road home.

[Bill Reitz]

For an ice cream / rest stop I might recommend the Whoa Nelli Deli on Hwy 120 just before 395 in Lee Vining. I believe you have a stop here already but just in case you don’t. When you go around the June Lake Loop a stop at Silver Lake might be nice. There is a large parking lot next to the lake, it’s on the left and is the second of the chain of lakes you come to.

Attached are some pix from the October 2014 Fall Color Ride stop at Silver Lake.

Sorry for the double post of the trees but I don’t see where to delete an extra image.

Attachments:

1. 

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2. 

   2014-10-11-12.21.00-1.jpg
   

3. 

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[Mark Borgeson]

I’m so glad you’re coming on this trip Bill! We’ll play it by ear and experience.

[Mark Borgeson]

Latest and greatest routes.
These GPX files are no good. I’ll upload new ones after the club meeting today.

Attachments:

1. Yosemite1.pdf
2. Sequoia-day-1.gpx
3. Yosemite-Day-2.gpx

[Karl Wagner]

Looking great Mark, do we really have four days of work between us and this ride……arggg! Ask Erasmo, running Kings Canyon up an back is worth being a bit late for dinner in Oakhurst….wherever we end up going to dinner! So many nice roads……so little time!

[Mark Borgeson]

Thanks Karl. T-3 and counting…

[Roberto Giraldes]

Unfortunately I can’t go on this trip. I have a herniated disc and last Thursday I had another crisis while I was working out. I am taking anti inflammatory medicine and I don’t know how my back will react after 6 and 7 hours riding. I really wanted to ride with you all guys and know that places but if I am afraid I could be a problem If my back gets worse. Ride safely and enjoy the trip.

[Mark Borgeson]

Well that’s too bad. We were all looking forward to riding with you too. I think you made the right decision though. Get better and see you on the next one.

[Erasmo Brenes]

Yes, I agree. The Kings Canyon route is worth it 🙂

[Roberto Giraldes]

Thank you Mark.

[Mark Borgeson]

The weather forecast looks FANTASTIC. A slight chance of afternoon rain in Sequoia NP. Other than that, Sunny with daytime temps in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Perfect.

Thursday – LA, Sunny, 77/61
Thursday – Bakersfield: Sunny, 87/63
Friday – Bakersfield: Sunny, 92/65 (we’ll be out of here before it gets hot)
Friday – Sequoia NP: Mostly Sunny, 20% afternoon rain, 59/39
Friday – Oakhurst: Sunny, 87/59
Saturday – Oakhurst: Sunny, 89/59
Saturday – Yosemite NP, Sunny, 76/54
Saturday – Bishop: Sunny, 81/44
Sunday – Bishop: Sunny, 84/44
Sunday – LA, Partly cloudy, 84/64

[Mark Borgeson]

My current count is 7 bikes with 11 riders. I’m assuming the Wagner’s are riding 1 bike because it’s too far for Karl to ride on his own.

We unfortunatley lost Roberto and I haven’t heard from the Bennett’s so I’m not counting them.

[Mark Borgeson]

My current count is 7 bikes with 11 riders. I’m assuming the Wagner’s are riding 1 bike because it’s too far for Karl to ride on his own.

We unfortunatley lost Roberto and I haven’t heard from the Bennett’s so I’m not counting them.

[Bikram]

Leaving from OC on Friday at 3:30ish in the morning, wake up at 2:30ish! Who else is leaving OC on Friday?

[Mark Borgeson]

Wow, you’re the man.
Cindy & I Are leaving at 4:00pm Thursday if you change your mind.

[Karl Wagner]

Yeah Mark, we are one bike, I need Sharon to pinch me every so often to keep me awake! See you Thursday, this is going to be a good weekend!

[Mark Borgeson]

Thursday? Oh yeah, Thursday 😉

[Mark Borgeson]

Okay, the final GPX files are posted here. Thanks to everyone for the help, especially the Master Router, Bill Reitz.

Attachments:

1. 2016-Sequoia-Yosemite-day-1.gpx
2. 2016-Sequoia-Yosemite-day-2.gpx
3. Yosemite.pdf

[Bill Reitz]

Mark I think you’ve done a fantastic job of preparation, thank you. The only thing left to figure is a starting time for Saturday & Sunday morns. Since the hotels have breakfast of some sort I doubt anyone will want to go to a restaurant. I would pick a place, maybe a gas station, and say we leave from here at whatever time.

Oh, what time are the dinners in Oakhurst & Bishop ??

[Mark Borgeson]

I’ll have a handout at the start of the ride with all the info.

Friday starts at Zingo’s, Kick sands up at 8:00am.
Lunch at Grant’s cove on your own.
Dinner for 11 at Yosemite Gateway Restaurant, 6:30pm reservations.

Saturday starts at Oakhurst Chevron, 40219 CA-41, Oakhurst, CA 93644, at 8:00am (too early?)
Lunch at half dome village on your own.
Dinner for 9 at Holy Smoke BBQ, 6:30pm.

Sunday starts at Bishop Shell, 466 S Main St, Bishop, CA 93514, at 9:00am

[Karl Wagner]

You had better have your own ride date correct!! :0

[Mark Borgeson]

Ha Ha Ha Ha HA 😉

[Bill Reitz]

Saturdays 8am start is early but the reward is spending more time in Yosemite so its worth it.

[Karl Wagner]

Schedule looks great Mark, 8am is not to late of start Saturday, we can wait until Bill gets up……. 🙂

[John Crittenden]

You all have a great and fun and safe journey. Beth and I are taking four days to AZ in the cage!

[Author]

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