Heading East On The "Loneliest Hihway" in America

After several weeks in Northern California, and a great weekend in the San Francisco Bay area, we are making our way, east. We are traveling Route 50 across country. We made a very interesting ride, today, from San Ramon, Ca., where we stayed with our friends, John, and Dee, to Reno, Nv. we rode route 160, from San Ramon to Sacramento, CA. It was through the Sacramento River delta. What a ride! The waterway is an inter-coastal shipping route. We rode on the levee, for approximately 60 miles. Some of the most lush farm lands, you'll ever see! The above photo is one of many draw bridges, along the ride.

This photo, is another draw bridge, along the ride. We crossed five such bridges, as we went from one side of the river, to the other.

Upon reaching Sacramento, we decided to detour along IH 80, so we could ride across Donner Pass. The pass is at 7,500

feet.Beautiful riding, and chilly, too! There was a lot of road construction, so we couldn't stop, and take any pictures.

We rode on into Reno, and met up with our good friends, Dr Bill, and Sheri Avery, where we crashed out at their lake cabin. We will pick up route 50, in the morning, and head east, on the "Loneliest Highway" in America! This is one of my favorite rides, as I did it a couple of years ago, with a group of firemen, making a coast to coast ride.

A Day on the Bay of San Francisco

Boading the cruise ship for a tour of the San Francisco Bay.

A view of the San Francisco skyline as seen from the cruise ship.

The view includes the Coit Tower and Trans American Pyramid.

Pier 39 Harbor

Sea Lions basking in the sun at Peir 39.


Alcatraz as seen from the cruise ship.

D & D below the Golden Gate bridge while on the cruise ship.

When we returned from the cruise in the Bay area we toured around Pier 39 for a place to eat a late lunch. We decided on Bubba Gumps, which turned out to be a great choice!

Maritime Museum harbor with Alcatraz in the background.

Two story carousel on Pier 39.

Despite the wind and chilly temperatures, we had a great day in San Francisco.
Mark Twain was right, when he said "the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in San Francisco"!

Maggie Valley, North Carolina

While in Maggie Valley we took our friends Ron and Jackie to the Wheels through Time Museum. Before we toured the museum we enjoyed a picnic lunch along side Jonathan Creek which runs through the museum property.

When we walked up to the museum entrance Dale Walksler the museum owner met us and ask Darryl if he wanted to go for a ride. Darryl said yes, thinking he meant all of us on our own bikes taking a short ride. Actually what Dale had in mind was to give Darryl his own private ride on a side car racing bike. Darryl had to kneel, riding on his knees, and holding on to a bar in front of him. Dale tore off up the side of the mountain on an unpaved trail. Darryl says he never blinked and that his finger prints are still on the bars where he was holding on. Below is a picture of the bike with both Dale and Darryl.





Each year Dale raffles off a restored bike. This year he is raffling a restored 1947 Harley Pan Head. Darryl is hopeful that the winning ticket will have his name on it. He says this one is almost identical to one that his dad had.



Of course, I had to have my picture made with the bike too. I look really good sitting on red bikes. I am hopeful when we win this bike that I will be the rider! (not likely to happen)

Later in the week we were searching for a place to have our picnic lunch and found this table in the back of a Church as we were passing by and decided to have our lunch here. As you can see it is a kiddie table but, it worked for us too!

All atop the tower at Soco Mountains.

Ron & Jackie Woolworth atop the tower at the Soco Mountains.

Ridin' the 'SNAKE'

Nestled in a remote, high mountain valley of far eastern Tennessee, The Shady Valley Country Store opens it's doors and heart to the motorcycle and sports car community. Surrounded by 3 mountains and some of the most scenic rides in the eastern USA. Within a 12 mile radius from The Country Store there are 489 curves that the riders call "The Stripe-ed Snake" It can be very gentle and tons of fun or vicious and extremely dangerous, all depending on how well you handle "The Snake".

Darryl, Roy, Ron, Decah and Jackie at the Shady Valley Country store where we ate lunch after riding the 'Snake'.

The warning on the gas pump reads..... Venemous! Premium snake venum.
Roy, be careful of that snake venum.

The picture below is of the water aeration system on the river that runs through Holston Mountain recreation area. There were several men fly fishing when we were there.

The picture below shows the water aeration gates open and the water pouring through. When the gates opened the fishermen quickly got out of the water.

Ron, Jackie, Decah & Darryl at the river that runs through Holston Mountain.

Darryl & Decah on top of the dam looking back over the river.

Ron, Roy, Darryl, Jackie, and Decah taking a break at dam.

Beaverdam creek across from Backbone Rock tunnel.

Backbone Rock Tunnel is a long, narrow stone ridge that extends from adjacent Iron Mountain. "The rock" stands approximately 75 feet high and 20 feet thick.
Although we didn't take the time to climb the stairs to the top of the tunnel, you can actually climb to the top and look down to the road below.

Testicle Festival

While at Lake of the Ozarks in June we had an opportunity to go to the Testicle Festival in nearby Olean, Missouri. Evidently this is a big event held each year where thousands gather to have a "Ball"!

Views of bikes in downtown Olean.

It was a day of listening to bands play and meeting new faces.

Below are some folks we met while hanging out listenting to one of the bands play;

Mike, Julie, and Chuck.