The Ride is the Journey

We left Roseville around 8am this morning. Much of today’s ride was familiar. Even though we’d seen the same chaparral oak foothills, it is always scenic. This time of year the grasses are still mostly green and the oaks’ leaves are bright green.

We often are asked why we don’t put the bike on a trailer and then ride once we’re there. The answer is… the ride is the journey! This morning, the grasses smelled sweet and moist. As the day went on, the aromas changed, the sunlight cast a new light on the scenery and the experience morphed. You just don’t get this experience in a car.

We hopped on CA49, a historic ride through California’s gold country. The foothills hug the Sierra Nevada mountains and wind through several historic gold rush towns – Angels Camp, Sonora, Jackson.

The stretch between Coulterville and Mariposa was a nail-biter with no guardrails. Switchback after switchback.

We soon left the foothills behind and entered the valley filled with orchards and vineyards. As Californians, we’re used to orchards, vineyards and multiple crops… but this was a first. A palm tree nursery.!

We could see thunderclouds forming over Yosemite to the east of us.

We arrived at our inn in Sanger around 3:00pm. This place has potential but we were disappointed. We were supposed to have a bottle of wine and a complimentary tasting awaiting us. Nope. Luckily the door code worked and we have a place to stay but the tasting room that is supposed to be open between noon and 5pm is closed. There is no one around.

We walked down the road to buy dinner and a bottle of wine to enjoy on the patio next to the vineyard.

Tomorrow we will see what we can of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Many of the roads are still closed.

Today’s barn pic!