Riding Last - A Sweeping experience with Pashnit Tours

[Fastfar]

When Pashnit invited me to sweep for the 3-day Sierra Nevada Tour, I jumped at the chance...I have ridden with a couple of Pashnit Tours and the class of people and variety of motorcycles makes for a very enjoyable time, as well, the route was through the heart of the mountain passes and foothills with a thousand miles of mostly twisties to ride. Yeah, I'll do it, even if I have to ride last in the sweepers role.

Tim and I met in Placerville about 5am June 16th for the 145 mile slab fest to Livermore where the ride began. What can I say about freeway riding that hasn't been said before, just do it and get it over with, so the speed limit was of little concern and we made the trip in great time, arriving about 7am to meet the group.

As always, a safety and route briefing was the first order of biz after which we saddled up and made our way across the valley, avoiding the main roads in a classic pashnit zig-zag of local routes and scenic treats.


By the time we got to Snelling for a gas stop and brief rest, the day was warming up and the riders were sorting out their place in the line of 14 bikes that made up the tour group, one of the largest tours ever for Pashnit Tours. Tim was adjusting the route as we went and our first real stop of the day, Glacier Point in Yosemite, was calling us, so we kept the stops short and made good time to the High Sierra.

Here the group looks out over Bear Valley I think, is that the little dragon down there?



A squadron of Gold Wings flew by on the way down the road we just came up...


This is what the sweeper sees a lot of, other peoples backsides...


It was getting hot at these lower elevations well before noon, so shade was a popular place at fuel/rest stops...


The real treat of this trip was the Yosemite waterfalls and rocky cliffs...







The group takes a cool break in the shade on the Swinging Bridge over the Merced River, deep in Yosemite Valley...


The bikes enjoyed the shade too!

[z_bassman]

Yosemite may well be my favorite place to relax.

[Fastfar]

Saturday found us on the road at 8:08 am from our lodgings in Sonora, headed up SR108 to Sonora Pass. The weather was perfect for a High Sierra ride, I wore my usual jeans and a t-shirt under the 'stich, no insulating layers necessary for the rest of the trip in fact, it was wonderful to have cool air flowing thru the vents in the riding suit as we headed up into the mountains.

Once at altitude, the group spread out as we captured photo opportunities and some riders turned around to re-ride certain sweet twisty sections of the road to the summit. At last, I passed by the group, temporarily released from the sweepers position to race ahead to the Pass...I love this road, it rocks and rolls with the best the Sierra's have to offer My FJR kinda likes it too!


Tim and Busa arriving at Sonora Pass


The Pashnit Tour Group at Sonora Pass


L to R: Maggie, Andre from SF, and pashnit


Steve and his new FJR made the trip from the LA area for this tour


Vince and his R1 clocked more single day miles on this tour than he has ever done before...!


Kevin from SF and Tim set up the camera gear for a 'posed' group pic...you'll just have to wait for pashnit to post his pics to see that shot.

[Fastfar]

Sonora Pass was not to be our only adventure this day, Tioga Pass opened this very same morning, and after a detour to Bodie, and lunch near Mono Lake, we would make the climb to the back way into Yosemite.

THE FLAT TIRE INCIDENT: Too much fun on the way to Bodie...

Kevin sez "this is not amusing"


The instrument of salvation...


...properly inserted...


...deftly trimmed...


...fully inflated...


and "Yes!" it's holding air without leaks...


4 heads are better than one

[Fastfar]

After Kevin, Ayumi and I made a backtrack to Bridgeport to obtain back-up tire repair kits, found at the local grocery/general store, we met up with the group for a late lunch in Lee Vining...
Lunch was pretty good and the service was good too...


A view of Mono Lake and the southern Sierra's from the road to Bodie...


Gas prices back at Bridgeport were a bit shocking compared to the west side of the Sierra's...



On to Tioga Pass,









Tim ('busa) leading Jeff (Aprilia Tuano RSV) and Steve (06' FJR) down from Tioga Pass on SR120.

[exwingnut]

Nice report John...another hard day at work, eh?

[Fastfar]

After another night in Sonora, (where I forgot my camera battery and charger so no more pics from me) the last tour day was spent in the foothills, riding Poole Station Rd., around Pardee Dam, Stony Creek and then SR 88 to Omo Ranch Rd/North South Rd., right past Sopiago Springs and onto Silver Fork Rd before lunch at the Kyburz Lodge...the group split up after a dash down US50 into the valley haze and heat, whilst I chose the more civilized path up Icehouse and then down Wentworth Springs Rd home to Georgetown...I finished with 970 miles in 3 days, the vast majoriy of it on twisty curvey and sometime goaty roads that truly exemplify the best of the Sierra's.

From Summits to sideroads, pashnit knows 'em all, and he set up a great tour through the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mtns and Foothills...thanks again Tim for the opportunity to ride with the Pashnit Tour, it has been the highpoint of my year...so far

[kluts]

Would have loved to be along on the trip. So beautiful.

[DavidO]

Originally Posted by Fast_Far

After another night in Sonora, (where I forgot my camera battery and charger so no more pics from me) the last tour day was spent in the foothills...

Aaacccckkk! Say it ain't so! Now I'll just have to ride those roads myself.

Love the photos John.

[Fastfar]

Originally Posted by DavidO

Aaacccckkk! Say it ain't so! Now I'll just have to ride those roads myself.

Love the photos John.

Alas it was so...

Of course the oversight required me to travel to Sonora on Tues AM to retrieve the items, cause tho the hotel would have fedexed em, I didn't want to pay for 'next day' or wait a week...tough choice, ride or wait

And Sean, Steve and Jim: let's go ridin the passes...or fergit about me, just go do it!