Day 4 Oakhurst to Yosemite to home
Wheee! Day 4 is another roll-iciking day, a variety of all rides. Getting anxious to be home with my wife and regular day-to-day life. But first...
The road up hwy 41 into the southern entrance of Yosemite is packed with motels, eateries, and touristy what-not stores. I did stop earlier at the 41 Trading Post which has a variety of authentic and kitschy western items. Some very nice and vintage stuff. Generations of owners.
Then rural, a couple of small communities, and into the park. The road immediately north of Oakhurst is a nice twisty climb...jump in before that RV and enjoy the gap to the next car. :ride
After the gate and the nice entrance person (aren't they all?), I stopped at the Pioneer History Center and did a quick tour of their carriages and wagons, buildings and covered bridge, and big Gray Barn with a talkative volunteer. Nice if you have a little time.
On to Yosemite Valley with traffic, little by little, upping the cruising speed. Really, 35-40 mph is enough to get you there, not be bored, and admire the scenery. Enjoy the relaxed pace.
The valley, of course, is filled with a bouquet of mother nature's stunning work. But it's also filled with crowds of tourists. And while it's great to see so many enjoy the sights, it's welcome to find a quiet spot to commune with nature's spirits. But the hike I planned was subverted by my late start and dinner plans with family. I promised myself to return soon with more time and ambition to experience the park.
Leaving the valley of hwy 120, patches of burned areas remind me of the most recent and earlier fires. :wtf I'd seen this on the Minarets Road loop, hwy 120 hwy above Groveland, and other areas.
I took the opportunity to enjoy Priest Grade to ride down New Priest Grade, up Old Priest, and down NPG again. When I came up to a group of slower-moving vehicles I slowed to a safe stop on the side, waited to see a vehicle approaching from behind, the enjoy the open gap at my own tempo.
At Chinese Camp I turned west onto Red Hill Rd, a quiet, patchy, scenic "shortcut" back to where Le Grange road meets hwy 120. I recommend it, if you have a little more time and suspension travel. :thumbup
On the way home, I took French Camp Rd, a diagonal northwest ""shortcut""" to hwy 4. Then 4 to Byron, and Marsh Creek Rd twisting back home.
All together, an awesome ride with great to outstanding riding, scenery and roads. A little history mixed in made it even more interesting. Better long-range planning would probably have given me more options for lodging at more reasonable prices. Oakhurst is well-situated for this area, with lots of support options.
Today 250 miles, total for the four days 800 miles. Good weather window with some very cool mornings, very warm afternoons in valleys, and very light rain very occasionally. Very, very good. Outstanding roads and scenery, highly recommended!
Central Sierra Day 1.jpg
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Central Sierra Last Day.jpg
