May 3, 2000 - Packed (mostly) and heading out for a 'shake down' trip to Yosemite. We started by heading south on 49 from Placerville.

Our first stop was at an overlook of Lake Don Pedro where we met other bike travelers (some from Germany, and one from Idaho).

Our first camp site (in Yosemite Valley). We use power from the bike to blow up our air mattress (not lazy, just efficient).

With the tent set up, its time to wander around the valley in search of our evening snack (apples, cheese, cookies, and white zin - it's fun with no adults on the trip). Half Dome is in the background. On a prior trip we hiked up the back side to stand on the top with Collin (Jym's brother).

Yosemite Falls - When you are surrounded by trees, you tend to forget that you are in a huge glacier carved canyon with 3,000 foot vertical sides. But, through every break in the trees, your eyes are treated to visions out of travel books, and you are again filled with a sense of wonder.

Since it was a wet winter and the spring runoff is in top gear, Bridalveil Falls is spilling more water from the hanging valley than we have seen on previous trips.

From the parking lot at Tunnel View, we started up the trail to Inspiration Point, leaving the bikes behind. The sign for the trail up to the point said 1.3 miles - piece of cake - and the view should be worth it.

As we progressed further up the trail, our past (filled with desk jobs and too little exercise) began to catch up with us. But the view kept getting better - so on we went, with more rest stops per foot traveled.

After scaling our personal Mt. Everest, we arrived! And the view is certainly inspirational. On the left is El Capitan, Clouds Rest in the background, Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, and Bridalveil Falls in front of Cathedral Rocks.

Yosemite Valley - one of earth's unique treasures. As we sat and lofted special wishes and thoughts for friends, we contemplated our own good fortune. This is a place everyone should experience.

Back in the valley, we stopped at the chapel where we were married 21 years ago.

Having left Yosemite, we traveled down to Oakhurst then started back up Highway 49. The twisty road up the right bank of the river (Hwy 49) is one of the Sierra's great motorcycling roads.

At a brief rest stop in Coulterville, we saw 'Whistling Billy'. It is a narrow gauge steam engine that only went four miles back and forth from a mine to the ore crushers.

We have spent the the last four days at the farm tweaking our machines, technology and complement of take-alongs (May 6 through May 9). Tomorrow morning we leave for Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks and won't return till sometime in the distant future. Wish us luck.

We arrived at Kings Canyon late afternoon on the 10th and paid a visit to the General Grant Grove a short distance from the campground. The tree in front of the five sequoia is an average sized fir tree.

Further into the grove is the General Grant Tree. Although it is not the largest, it is impressive at about 280 feet tall, more than 25 feet in diameter and pushing 3,000 years old. Sequoias grow naturally only on the west slope of California's Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Redwoods only grow in a narrow band along the Pacific Coast and are taller than Sequoia, but more slender and not as massive.

The practice of naming individual Sequoia has been abandoned - what a shame. Each of these giants has a character all it's own.

That night, the temperature got down to 33 degrees - we thought this was a summer trip!

The morning brought warmer temperatures and a delightful ride into Kings Canyon. It is another example of a glacier carved canyon. 

One of the stops along the way to the 'End of the Road' at the back of the canyon was at Grizzly Falls.

Also along the way (in Sequoia National Forest) is Boyden Cave. It is one of the better known commercial show caves in the California. In the Kings Canyon area there are about 200 caves - you just have to find them!

If you look close, you can see Ann on the road. This is the way into Kings Canyon.

Looking back on the road into Kings Canyon. After we left the canyon, we headed down to Sequoia National Park. As soon as we got to the visitor's center, it started to snow! Needless to say, we decided not to camp there for the night, and headed down the mountain.

We ended up in Horse Creek Campground at Lake Kaweah. It is managed by the Army Corp of Engineers, and is one of many in the water resources system.

On our way south, we made our way up Mount Palomar by the back way to see the 200" Hale Telescope. 

Although they keep visitors behind glass, you can see the telescope and people working on the setup for the night's viewing. The mirror (made of pyrex glass) took thirteen years to grind and polish. The road back down is basically a long series of linked switchbacks that seem to attract a LOT of local motorcyclists - especially of the sport bike, racer wannabe variety.

The next day, we went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Here, one of the park personnel was giving a talk about African Eagles.

One of the neat attractions is the butterfly environment. After walking through the airlock, its flowers, shrubs, and butterflies everywhere! The tendency is to duck when they get within four feet of your head, but if you stay still, they will either miss you, or land on you.

After a ride on the tram around the outer perimeter of the enclosures, we took a walk along the near side. First along the path is a few Giant Eland.

Further along the path is the Kori Bustard, one of the heaviest flying birds along with the turkey and condors. It does, however, prefer to walk (like the turkey). 

Still further around, you can see a Cheetah daydreaming about lunch on the hoof. They do however keep the predators separate from the herbivores.

As a major part of the park, there are many flora exhibits. One of these is the fuschia greenhouse. Others include a herb garden, a bonsai display, an Australian rain forest, and a California Desert Habitat.

On the morning of the 15th, we made it to the first of the four corners of the lower 48 - San Ysidro, California. It took us a while of wandering around before we found someplace at least semi-official to mark the occasion.

After wandering back up the coast via Imperial Beach, Silver Strand, Coronado, and the San Diego waterfront, we wound around to Point Loma and the Cabrillo National Monument. It commemorates the discovery of the harbor by the Portuguese navigator Cabrillo in 1542.

This is the 100 year old lighthouse at Point Loma. Although it is no longer in use, it is a wonderful display and a peek into the lives of the early lighthouse keeper and family (true hermits).