14th May
As I left my room to start the familiar task of ramming my possessions into too small a space (if it all fits first time – I’ve definitely left something in the hotel
), I see that another bike has pulled up overnight…
…it’s Jay Jobes, who rejoices under the name of ‘Sasquatch’ on ADVRider (a mystifying choice of name
). He’s on his way back home to Boise, Idaho after taking his Triumph to a business meeting in California. We chat for a while as we load our respective bikes – Jay has made some impressive modifications to his bike, more due to the lack of aftermarket parts available for the Tiger in the USA. I’m particularly impressed with his combined crashbars / highway footpegs / radiator & sump guard…
We go our separate ways, but not before Jay has extended an open invite to me to stay with him & his wife if I find myself in Idaho again. Once again, I’m struck by the generosity and hospitality extended to me in this country…
I ride up the 207 into Nevada. On the far side of the hill, I’m delayed by about 20 minutes at road works. They are using a convoy system, with a ‘pilot’ car guiding, to allow 15-20 vehicles at a time to pass a single lane section of road.
The view’s pretty nice, though…
At the valley floor, I turn right along Highway 88. The ‘phone company has done sterling work here, obeying their prime directive*…
I ride up the 395, heading south and east towards the east entrance to Yosemite, as I’ve heard the Tioga Pass has opened today. As I top the Conway Summit, Lake Mono is laid out before me…
Shortly afterwards, I fill up with fuel at the town of Lee Vining. I rather miss the old days, when bandits had to wear a mask to rob you…
This means petrol prices have just about doubled since I arrived here at the beginning of February. Although still a relative bargain, when compared to prices in the UK, the economy won’t be able to stand a price increase gradient like this for long…
Never mind, I turn west towards Yosemite, and am immediately rewarded by magnificent views, despite the FAA trying to play noughts & crosses in the sky…
I get to Ellery Lake and stop when I see Kevin (left) and Mike, from Colorado, who are riding the pass on their 1100 & 1150GSes.
I am subjected to an interrogation about everything fitted to my bike (including my expired Tax Disc), before we exchange details and they ride ahead (I overheard Kevin’s brief to Mike “I’m not going to be stopping unless there’s a spectacular view”). I follow, slowly taking in the spectacular views …
…and there are lots of them…
…in fact, there’s nothing but spectacular views…
…though I never see Kevin & Mike again…
The mountain streams are rushing, full of unbelievably cold melt-water.
But there is still an abundance of snow, and another cold snap could easily close the pass again.
I’m tired (again
), so I decide to find some accommodation nearby and come and see the main part of the park tomorrow morning. I eventually find fairly austere, but very expensive, accommodation at Lake Yosemite Lodge. I set up my laptop in the public lounge area and, whilst typing my journal, fall into conversation with Pat, a very sprightly 63yr old who, after retiring from the Dept of Homeland Security early last year, spends much of her time travelling around the USA in her small camper van. We chat away for a couple of hours, towards the end of which, one of the middle aged ladies that works in the reception area, asks Pat if she’s staying in the Lodge (where I am). She says no, she’s in their campsite. The woman then tells her that the ‘facilities’ (electric light, presumably) are for residents only. I’m astounded by her rudeness and tell her that, as a resident, I’ve asked Pat in as my guest and that I don’t appreciate our conversation being interrupted. ‘Oh, alright – it’s just I have to obey the rules you see’. Must be a retired Customs officer…
*Extract from AT&T’s Corporate Instruction to Linemen:
As I left my room to start the familiar task of ramming my possessions into too small a space (if it all fits first time – I’ve definitely left something in the hotel
), I see that another bike has pulled up overnight…
…it’s Jay Jobes, who rejoices under the name of ‘Sasquatch’ on ADVRider (a mystifying choice of name
). He’s on his way back home to Boise, Idaho after taking his Triumph to a business meeting in California. We chat for a while as we load our respective bikes – Jay has made some impressive modifications to his bike, more due to the lack of aftermarket parts available for the Tiger in the USA. I’m particularly impressed with his combined crashbars / highway footpegs / radiator & sump guard…
We go our separate ways, but not before Jay has extended an open invite to me to stay with him & his wife if I find myself in Idaho again. Once again, I’m struck by the generosity and hospitality extended to me in this country…
I ride up the 207 into Nevada. On the far side of the hill, I’m delayed by about 20 minutes at road works. They are using a convoy system, with a ‘pilot’ car guiding, to allow 15-20 vehicles at a time to pass a single lane section of road.
The view’s pretty nice, though…
At the valley floor, I turn right along Highway 88. The ‘phone company has done sterling work here, obeying their prime directive*…
I ride up the 395, heading south and east towards the east entrance to Yosemite, as I’ve heard the Tioga Pass has opened today. As I top the Conway Summit, Lake Mono is laid out before me…
Shortly afterwards, I fill up with fuel at the town of Lee Vining. I rather miss the old days, when bandits had to wear a mask to rob you…
This means petrol prices have just about doubled since I arrived here at the beginning of February. Although still a relative bargain, when compared to prices in the UK, the economy won’t be able to stand a price increase gradient like this for long…
Never mind, I turn west towards Yosemite, and am immediately rewarded by magnificent views, despite the FAA trying to play noughts & crosses in the sky…
I get to Ellery Lake and stop when I see Kevin (left) and Mike, from Colorado, who are riding the pass on their 1100 & 1150GSes.
I am subjected to an interrogation about everything fitted to my bike (including my expired Tax Disc), before we exchange details and they ride ahead (I overheard Kevin’s brief to Mike “I’m not going to be stopping unless there’s a spectacular view”
). I follow, slowly taking in the spectacular views …
…and there are lots of them…
…in fact, there’s nothing but spectacular views…
…though I never see Kevin & Mike again…
The mountain streams are rushing, full of unbelievably cold melt-water.
But there is still an abundance of snow, and another cold snap could easily close the pass again.
I’m tired (again
), so I decide to find some accommodation nearby and come and see the main part of the park tomorrow morning. I eventually find fairly austere, but very expensive, accommodation at Lake Yosemite Lodge. I set up my laptop in the public lounge area and, whilst typing my journal, fall into conversation with Pat, a very sprightly 63yr old who, after retiring from the Dept of Homeland Security early last year, spends much of her time travelling around the USA in her small camper van. We chat away for a couple of hours, towards the end of which, one of the middle aged ladies that works in the reception area, asks Pat if she’s staying in the Lodge (where I am). She says no, she’s in their campsite. The woman then tells her that the ‘facilities’ (electric light, presumably) are for residents only. I’m astounded by her rudeness and tell her that, as a resident, I’ve asked Pat in as my guest and that I don’t appreciate our conversation being interrupted. ‘Oh, alright – it’s just I have to obey the rules you see’. Must be a retired Customs officer…
*Extract from AT&T’s Corporate Instruction to Linemen:
