Monday, November 29, 2010

Hwy. 120, Black Ice

They don't call them the Sierras for nothing. At first, the road was dry, and the sun provided a bit of warmth.






























Before long, however, the sun, and with it, all sensation in my fingers, began to disappear...






























My loyal beastie was kind enough to warn me of the possibility of ice. Her temperature reading, however, proved
overly optimistic.
































Every ten miles or so, I'd pull to the side of the road and warm my hands on the idling tailpipes.







































And snap a photo or two...



































The manifest treachery of black ice, set in a stunning, snow-flocked landscape. When I finally reached the park entrance,
I was refused entry by two snotty female rangers due to snow chain requirements. They looked at me as if I had the plague,
then forbid me the last twenty miles into Yosemite Valley. Very pissed off, very cold, and very tired, I was forced to slog
back to Big Oak Flat, where I luckily found the Berkshire Inn.





The Innkeeper, Kevin, took his time coming to the front desk, but there was a fire going, and the 49er's game
was on. I put my boots by the fire and cozied up to the stove. Heavenly!































At last, Kevin appeared. I had him order me a pizza and a bottle of wine, which I polished off in no time. Warm and
well fed, I barely made halftime before crawling off to bed.




















Hwy. 1, to Yosemite

Once the sun came out, it was a beautiful day in Northern California. I stopped a couple of times along the coast,
then tried to put some miles behind me.






























I reeled off this tedious stretch pretty quickly...


















stopping in Manteca for gas and coffee. I was glad to be rid of the place as I tore up the first part of Hwy. 120.

Leaving Stinson

Stepping outside in the morning, the air felt especially crisp and cold. I huddled in the door beside this window box,
smoking a Djarum and warming myself with a cup of red chai. Contrary to my prior declaration, I spent the night
rolling dice and drinking Guinness down at the Sand Dollar with Michael and Nick. The bracing air wakes me right
up, however.






























As this close-up of my seat can testify, it was a really cold morning at Stinson Beach.






























My tent and bag spent the night outside, and in the morning, they were covered in ice, a sign of things to come...






























Nevertheless, fair and loyal Brünhilde started right up. Ja Voll!






























This is looking back at Aggie's, halfway to the beach.






























I love that rust-bucket Jeep (see previous post on Stinson Beach, CA, 1). Here's the hood with a coating of frost.






























Stinson Beach, CA.






















































I hop on my bike, heading for the High Sierra.