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The Yosemite Camping & Ahwahnee Brunch Ride Sept. 1, 2007
Laurel's Excellent Ride Report & Photos
This was a "Ride to EAT" classic! Breakfast Saturday morning was at Doug's Place in Castro Valley. Nice BIG breakfast. Wonderful hash browns with onions and three sausage patties. Yum-YUM!!! Our ride leader, armed with the latest in motorcycle GPS & mapping technology, took us on the scenic route through beautiful downtown Manteca. After Allan's flat tire, a mutinous rouge led us away from the traffic of CA-120 to some roller coasters & empty curves a little further north. Lunch was at a sinful ice cream shop in Jamestown. Some had dessert while others continued to digest their breakfast and dream about dinner at the lodge tonight... After lunch the GPS led us up a twisty hill outside of Sonora to see a man about a horse. The man wasn't there, but the horse said to follow the mutinous rouge again. He took a wrong turn too, but delivered the group safely to the entrance of Cottonwood Road. Where the ride leader pumped up Jim's low front tire. Twisties down the canyon to cross the creek and back up the ridge on the other side. Repeat two more times to reach Cherry Lake. Hunters were the only other folks we saw. Two patches of green slime got folks attention, but all survived. The 2nd GPS-implanted rider didn't arrive at the lake, so we assumed it led him on a few shortcuts. Up one more ridge and down into the Tuolumne River Canyon. Up the other side and then a left on Mather Road with its northerly view of the canyon. Twisties with a view! Evergreen Road to the Lodge. Nice cabins! A well-stocked bar quickly filled with many riding and driving Northstars and families. Many toasts were made and drinks consumed. Hello Kitty arrived with Craig for our humble distribution. Did I mention MORE toasts & drinks? Kari & I shared the Elk Tenderloins and the Red Trout. Both were EXCELLENT!!! Thanks Kari! Sunday morning was cool and beautiful. Construction traffic delays caused some of us to be a little late for the Ahwahnee brunch reservation, but they seated us next the original group in 10 minutes. Ahhhh, what a FEAST for brunch! We were 17 Northstars and guests in a Feeding FRENZY!!! Afterwards we crawled out to the lawn to bask in the sun and moaned in gastric delight. Lisa led the fearless foursome (Lisa, Catfish, Jim, & Diter) out of Yosemite towards "the Horny Toes in Cathy's Valley." The others were staying an extra night at the lodge. Lisa was futzing with something in her left hand as we crossed the valley floor and suddenly there was a cloud of dust I rode through. My face shield was open, so some got on my face and into my eyes. Then it dawned on me... AAACCCKKK, ITS CRAIG IN MY EYES!!! Lisa was in a hurry after that. She was riding well and assaulting traffic like a real dues-paying Northstar! 140 had little traffic and was quite fun. Lisa passed a gas station I was sure Diter needed to see, so I waited for Jim & Diter there. Well, until it became apparent that they weren't coming anytime soon. So I rode back towards Yosemite to see what's up. I met Jim who pointed behind himself, so I continued on to find Diter. Diter was on the side of the road with his Duc and appeared OK. He said he had crashed. I parked & Jim returned. The front wheel was badly broken and wouldn't roll past one of the brake calipers. We got it to a save spot. Diter had scuff marks on his Aerostich and damage to one boot. One lucky guy! About this time Lisa arrived to help haul Diter's stuff with Jim, while Diter pillioned with me. In Mariposa, Diter arranged for & left with a tow truck while the rest of us waited and told stories. The truck returned and Diter climbed back on board with me for the ride home. Lisa was hauling ass. Jim was flogging the KLR650 to keep her in sight. Diter & I were cruising in the back. When I saw Jim drop rapidly out of view over the top of a J14 hill, I downshifted and nailed the throttle. Diter & I & the Caponord got some nice AIR as we launched off the hilltop! WHEEEEeeeeee... After the curves & roller-coaster hills, we continued on J14 across the valley to a dinner stop by I5. We filled our bellies again <BURP!> We then hopped on the freeway and delivered Diter & his stuff to the Pleasant Hill BART station. Great ride everyone! Catfish ...
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