Our Western Rally Page Western Rally Photos Blog Entry Index At Home Final Dinner and Awards Lost Again South Lake Tahoe - Again HWY 108 Tahoe Bound The Merced River The Yosemite Valley Glacier Point is cool Yosemite Bound We all made it An H20 Lunch Calaveras Big Trees Holly Tight Twisties Batman It's Transition Day And Lose I Did Out for the evening Pollock Pines Immagrant Trail Road Carson Spur Summit Stop From Kingsbury to Caples Lake Hunting for Gold The Night Life The Run To Home Virgina City Tahoe's West & North Shores The Gathering First Ride Trickling In Coming Even Monday!! 7/19 West Coast Magnas Home

23:50 on 07/23/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 At Home I got the experience of dodging a deer leaping across HWY50 in front of me, in the dark, on the way home and seeing 4 others that were thinking about making me dodge. It was a fabulous trip. Great routes. Awesome roads. Beautiful scenerey. New friends. Cool Magnas. Perfect memories. I can hardly wait for next years rally! Other Link: http://www.magnariders.com 20:30 on 07/23/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Final Dinner and Awards The group that was left gathered for a final meal at Marie Calendars, along with awards and prizes from MRA and Cycle-istic.com. It was Dobie, Val, Pat, Jan, Debbie, Ian, Ron, Mary, Todd and myself (Keith). It was a pleasent meal with new friends and conversations about experiences in common. Most stayed the night. Todd took off from Oregon and I headed back down HWY50 in the heat of California's Central Valley. 19:00 on 07/23/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Lost Again Dropped another $40 while trying to win back my other loss. Damn. 16:00 on 07/23/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 South Lake Tahoe - Again We have made it back to the beginning. Val was absolutely right. The best part of Sonora Pass was coming down the east side. Stunningly beautiful with fabulous curves. The was a little road sand for a while but it quickly disappeared. My camera ran out of power in the middle of Sonora Pass so there are no pics or video of Montiro Pass along HWY88. It's to bad because it was great too. Coming the last 45 minutes into South Lake Tahoe on HWY88 we saw a first sign of thunder clouds. It held out except for about 15 minutes worth of light showers just outside of the city near the HWY50 junction. We were lucky! 13:30 on 07/23/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 HWY 108 We've made a couple of stops along the route to Tahoe so far. Donnell Lake, with it's short walk and beautiful vista was the most memorable. We spent a long time relaxing and staring. Val says the best part of the HWY108 Sonora Pass is yet to come. There was a lot of chatter at the next stop. One single particular curve caught a whole bunch of us off guard. Survial reactions kicked in for a few of us. I know my eyes got real wide as my practiced turns won out over my panic reactions. We had a leisurely lunch at the Dardanelles (we had to because we had to wait for the "cafe" to pluck the chicken for Debbies salad). They served up a very tasty burger. Link To Photos: http://www.chromevisions.com/westcoastmagnas/mrawesternrally/photos/group.mv?1090908249 7:30 on 07/23/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Tahoe Bound Well, I'm up early again, but still not early enough for breakfast with the gang. Today we run the HWY49 twisties again and then the scenic and cruvy Sonora Pass. There willing be Ralliers breaking off all day at different points along the route to head for home. It adds a touch of saddness to the day. But The Twistites Will Fix That!! hehe 16:00 on 07/22/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 The Merced River The great roadbed and sweeping turns of HWY140 aloong the Merced River made for a fast and fun cruise back to the heat of Mariposa. The group got pretty stretched out, but all rounded up again at the motel pool. We all had a good meal together at the quaint Happy Burger - with the Most Menu Items in The Sierras. You should have seen the ridculouosly large wiener Doug ordered (or then again maybe you shouldn't have). And Todd wanted a banana - but the only one he could order was in the huge banana split he wolfed down. Link To Photos: http://www.chromevisions.com/westcoastmagnas/mrawesternrally/photos/group.mv?1090908228 14:30 on 07/22/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 The Yosemite Valley After the Tunnel Turnout vista point, we motored down to Bridelveil Falls. A quick hike to the base of the falls and then a relaxing lunch along the resulting creek. A quick tour of the valley roads. Watch Out For The Tourists In Cages Looking At Moutnains! A quick tour of the valley loop with stop for shopping at the Yosemite Village stores with a crowd worthy of Disneyland. 13:30 on 07/22/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Glacier Point is cool HWY41 into Yosemite was fabulous. It was a great ride with long sweeping turns and tight s-curves all mixed together. The cagers were even polite enough to use turnouts. Yea! Glacier Point was as fabulous as ever. The fires made it a bit hazy but still beautiful. The pics are worth a look! On the trip into Glacier, Todd and Pete got quite the heartrate increasing suprise. As we did the switchbacks just before arrival at the "Point" a deer jumped the road infront of Todd and a second jumped the road between Todd and Pete. Wake up boys! Glad all worked out okay. Link To Photos: http://www.chromevisions.com/westcoastmagnas/mrawesternrally/photos/group.mv?1090908223 7:00 on 07/22/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Yosemite Bound Well, this morning we head off for the anticipated Yosemite tour (and 15 degree cooler temperature). I get to lead the group to the meeting point 10 miles out of Mariposa where Dobie is meeting us. Hope I don't screw it up. We're leaving early to miss the oversized RV crowd lugging up the hill. But we'll take a breakfast break in the metropolis of Oakhurst. It's the only way the group can get me there for morning food, ride awhile first. 15:30 on 07/21/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 We all made it The twisties were awesome! I love to ride HWY49. I tried once again to get some riding shots. I think I need to stick to the fashion and sportswear I'm good at though. But take a look. It's really hot! Now that we're all checked in - the gang is heading for the pool to cool down before dinner. Link To Photos: http://www.chromevisions.com/westcoastmagnas/mrawesternrally/photos/group.mv?1090908263 1:30 on 07/21/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 An H20 Lunch Well, we've dropped into the small town of Angels Camp for lunch. It's some where around 95 degrees worth of dry heat here. The first thing everyone ordered was a pitcher of water - each! -- Now were off to play on the HWY49 twisties. 12:00 on 07/21/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Calaveras Big Trees Californias giant redwoods are an impressive sight. The group is at this very moment walking the well tended trails leading past some of natures oldest and grandest living trees. Check out the photos too. Link To Photos: http://www.chromevisions.com/westcoastmagnas/mrawesternrally/photos/group.mv?1090908181 11:30 on 07/21/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Holly Tight Twisties Batman Ebetts Pass DOES have some of the tightest twisites and hairpin switchbacks I've ever experienced. And no center line makes it a little freaky too. I treied to get ahead of the group to take photos as they rush by - but damn if they didn't catch up to fast and I wasn't ready. Damn speed racers :-) 6:30 on 07/21/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 It's Transition Day The trip from Tahoe to Yosemite over the much hyped Ebetts Pass and it's lane and a half summit. Well see if it lives up to the billing. Most of the group is down at the preferred and frequented IHOP for a group breakfast. I used the time to sleep a little extra and will mak edo with a banana. 23:00 on 07/20/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 And Lose I Did Now I'm $40 on the losing end of the gambling. Some dips just don't know when to quit. 17:00 on 07/20/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Out for the evening Some of us are heading off for more food. And I'm sure some will head back to the casinos (I need to lose that $40 I made last night). 12:30 on 07/20/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Pollock Pines We stopped for a relaxing lunch in Pollock Pines at La Hermosa - a nice Mexican place. They even handled 15 separate checks well. Then we ran back up the 50 for an hour and a half to get back into Tahoe. The group split up for a lazy afternoon. Some slept, some swam and some worked on their bikes. 11:15 on 07/20/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Immagrant Trail Road From long sweeping turns to tight little twisties, this was a fun little road. There was almost no traffic allowing us to ride as we please. A few spots of fallen rocks otherwise a great riding road. 10:30 on 07/20/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Carson Spur Summit Stop We also made a quick stop at Carson Spur Summit. A quick look over the edge, and a couple of photos and off we go again. Link To Photos: http://www.chromevisions.com/westcoastmagnas/mrawesternrally/photos/group.mv?1090363219 10:30 on 07/20/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 From Kingsbury to Caples Lake We headed out of Tahoe on 207 and found ourself at the top of Kinsbury Grade waiting in one lane only construction traffic. After ten minutes we were able to get back on our way. We threaded our way through some high country meadows and then into ski resort area. We stopped of at a small scenic lake, Caples. The quaint cabins and serene sailing/fishing lake looked perfect for a getaway spot. 8:50 on 07/20/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Hunting for Gold It's time for us to start gathering up for Day 2's ride. We're off to California's Gold Country by way of twisties. Pics and review later. 18:00 on 07/19/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 The Night Life A little over half of us found a Round Table for diner. It was kind of crowded, but we were able to scare off the other patrons very quickly. They were leaving tables, cleaning them for us and one guy gave us a free pitcherof beer and the ran out the door. By the time we got our food, we were the only folks in the place. The MRA gang. Then about half the pizza group hit the casinos. A little slots, a little trivia, some blackjack, etc. I won $40 at the blackjack table myself! 15:00 on 07/19/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 The Run To Home Then we slow cruised to & through Carson City,and the fire was hardley even noticable. We finished up with a quick ascension back up to Lake Tahoe via the long, steep fourlaner. And no a couple of hours to lounge around. Noonish on 07/19/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Virgina City After a fast, twisty run over Mt.Rose and down into Nevada, we arrived at the historic town of Virginia City. Be all split upfor acoupleof hours to shop and eat. This town is all about the old west. Saloons, buck board wagons, cowboys, gunfights, old fashioned candy and treats, gambling and much more... Link To Photos: http://www.chromevisions.com/westcoastmagnas/mrawesternrally/photos/group.mv?1090281754 10:00 on 07/19/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Tahoe's West & North Shores The route was busy, even on a Monday, with tourist traffic. We even had a jacka$$ in a massive RV with trailer decide TWICE that he deserved to be driving right where our MRA riding line was. But the views and the road were spectaclular and everyone enjoyed the ride. You can see a few vistas and a group picture in the photos area. Link To Photos: http://www.chromevisions.com/westcoastmagnas/mrawesternrally/photos/main.mv 9:00 on 07/19/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 The Gathering Everyone should upat 9:00am fueled and fed for the final introductions and the start of Ride 1 - Lake Tahoe. The weather was beautiful, just warm enough that mesh was enough for some people. We spent some stoplight time on the way out of South Lake Tahoe gtting to the scenic ride up Tahoe's westcoastline. 8:22 on 07/19/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 First Ride Today we're all off to tour the lake,then hit Virginia City. Hope to have some pictures and stories up tonight! 19:00 on 07/18/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Trickling In We finally arrived in Tahoe about 7pm. We weren't the first but we weren't the last. We had a great ride in. Beautiful day, light traffic and decent roads (hwy50). 17:29 on 06/28/2004 -- posted by: PokeyV65 Coming Even Monday!! 7/19 We will begin this running blog on July 18th, 2004. It will start with the pre-rides informal meeting or the trip to Tahoe. For more information about the MRA Western Rally and how you can participate, go to one of these links: www.cycle-istic.com/MRArallywest_2004.html www.magnariders.com www.WestCoastMagnas.com © 2004 kewpro.com