half-dome part 01

time now to relay some of our adventure from last week. a week ago sunday we all got up early. the night before i had done all the last minute packing and preparations. although i could have used a few more hours sleep i was excited for the trip. we loaded up the bike and said our goodbyes. and then we were off.
sunday morning is always my favorite time to ride. as all the world still slumbers from the late night saturdays, there is something so very quiet and peaceful on the sunday morning road before the sun has climbed. we headed out the the old hwy 40 route to auburn and then through 49 past cool and on to john sutter's famous mill. we stopped here briefly for water and a cliff bar. jake was feeling a little woozy, and the brief rest and snack helped calm his stomach.
then it was back on the bike to finish out this section of twisties and into old placerville. we stopped again for breakfast here at mel's where our mascot "josh monkey" who belongs to jake's little brother, ordered for us.


after adding some more weight to the bike we pressed on. through nashville and plymouth. past amador and jackson and then stopped again in san andreas for fuel. again josh monkey proved an invaluable traveling companion as he offered to top us off as we took turns using the restroom. we motored on across the beautiful 49 gazing off to our right at one point to catch a full view of mt. diablo in the east before dropping into angel's camp.


past this we continued across the melones reservoir and into sonora. we stopped for lunch at a sandwich and yogurt shop and by this time this main street was crowding up with the summer commuters. after lunch we hopped back on the bike now in the heat of the day and continued. outside sonora we saw the first signs we were getting closer. through chinese camp and on toward groveland. after finishing the long climb up between moccasin and big oak flat we stopped to gas once more.

signs on the road warned of potential 2 hour delays at the entrance to yosemite but never saw them. outside the park entrance we stopped for the obligatory self taken photo. we chatted briefly with the lady ranger at the entrance as we paid our fee and told her why we had come. she was quite impressed that jake would be taking on half-dome as she herself had not yet attempted it. as we rode on now through the beautiful long and windy road secure in the knowledge that we had made it this far, everything felt right, like it had all come together. it was going to be alright now. we had made it...


(to be continued)