Fall Foothills Fun

[N4teTheGreat]

Might have to make this a yearly thing post Kernville, as it stood this just seemed like a particularly fun way to get home. And it was! The plan was to take two days to get home and ride as many roads in the foothills that I could while keeping a relatively direct northern course.

Sundays route looked like this:

The planned route was around 277 miles though I didn't end up making it that far (more on that later). Given the relatively short number of miles I decided to up late at the fire pit on Saturday night and take advantage of the check out time the following morning. They had actual coffee at the Riverview Lodge so I had a few cups of that while enjoying the view and waiting for things to warm up a smidge.

Along with the coffee, lots of water was consumed while I slowly packed up and shook off maybe just a bit of a hangover.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

I finally got on the road around 10:30. Mountain Highway 99 heading north out of town is a great road. Scenic, nice sweepers and the views just get better as it climbs. Fall was in the air, and showing on the oak trees.

Looking back towards Kernville.

It wasn't too long before I hit a little snafu in my plan..

I'm not sure I believe that sign, but deciding I didn't wanna risk back tracking probably saved me time on muddy dirt forest roads, and M-50 was pretty good anyway.

From M-50 I turned right onto M-90 headed towards Springville, different road, same fun and views. In both cases the pavement was what you'd expect for a forest road, decent shape with the odd pothole or debris here and there. It was still brisk out and I was keeping the pace reasonable so as not to get surprised by ice, deer or whatever lay around a tight corner. Still plenty quick to be entertaining.

Felt like time was short for rides like this before the snow really sets in.

Caught a few areas with some aspen in full fall regalia

M-90 eventually becomes 190 and, well, you can see why I didn't stop for a single photo...

I decided to stop for lunch in Pierpoint, calories and caffeine to keep me moving.

I managed to get one pic of 190 on my way down the hill. It doesn't do it justice at all, you should definitely go see it for yourself.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

190 continued on and remained relatively empty all the way to Springville, Aside from a few folks enjoying a fall drive, I had it to myself. In Springville I gassed up and then headed out on Wagner Drive aka Yokel Vallehy Drive, aka M-296. It's a goaty bit of pavement with a nice mix of twisty elevation changes and straight shots across open spaces.

From Yokel I picked up 198 to head back up into the hills and Sequoia / Kings Canyon. I wasn't sure what the roads would look like with the shutdown, but I was glad they were open. Despite the great views in the park I didn't get much in the way of pictures because I passed A LOT of people on the way up the hill and at least one person was audible in how hurt their feelings were. I'm not sure the wave I gave after I passed them and another car in front of them helped any, but it didn't matter because I was gone.

I wasn't gonna stop and get passed and or scolded by all those cars when I had all of this in front of me...

I eventually stopped for a quick break at random, drank some water and held my pee since all facilities were closed. Lots of folks off hiking or just setting up for lunch on the picnic tables in the area.

Now that I was in the thick of the park I kinda gave up on getting around traffic and just hung back and took in the views. The weather was great and it is a pretty part of the world. I eventually pulled off once back in the national forest and found their facilities to be open.

Obligatory Sequoia pic

There was apparently a very big stump from an old tree somewhere further down the hill but I decided to keep moving.

190 turned to 180 and I hustled down the hill to get gas and pick up another back road. 180 is full of fast sweepers and while there are better secondary roads, I didn't have time to visit Dunlap, or stop for pictures. At some point traffic came to a standstill and I couldn't figure out why two cars in either lane ahead weren't moving. Eventually things got going and as I got close there were a few stopped cars and a slightly nervous looking dog trotting up the road. Not much I could do on a bike and it seemed like folks were trying to get the dog so off I went.

Quick gas up and I was on to Elwood road heading towards Piedra and Pine Flat lake.

From Pierdra I turned onto Trimmer Springs RD< daylight was waning, but it sure was pretty.

I saw another biker stopped by the reservoir and pulled off myself. Turns out he was stopped to get pictures of a tarantula in the road. Good thing I didn't smush it because I definitely didn't see it.

I grabbed a shot and took off as I had a ways to go and not a lot of light left.

 

[budman]

That is so cool. Always fascinated with the foothills but never rode any of it. Looks sweet.

Thanks for sharing it!!

 

[N4teTheGreat]

I continued onward towards Trimmer and turned onto Maxon road. The sun was clearly starting to set, and I was certainly kinda in the middle of not quite nowhere. Sure was pretty though.

Road was pretty darn excellent too.

Next up was Tollhouse road. I was starting to keep my eyes peeled at this point on the off chance I saw a motel, because of course I didn't have a planned destination.

The golden hour was pretty golden though.

The road was a proper hoot, but given the time of day on a Sunday I expected, and saw quite a few people coming down the hill from their day up at Shaver lake, etc so I made sure to hug the fog line in case anyone was hooning home to Fresno.

I turned off Tollhouse road where it meets / joins 168 and picked up Aubery road. This road was residential at first so I was cooling my heals as it was getting very dusky and I didn't wanna meet a local head on.

Eventually I realized I could see Yosemite in the distance, pretty cool.

At least I assume that is it...

About halfway down the hill I was really running out of light.

By the time I got into Auberry it was completely dark and I didn't relish the idea of pressing on at night. But I also didn't see anything in town. I decided to stop at the market, and get a snack and some water and then suck it up and ride on. The owner was very chatty and told me there was in fact a motel in town. He called the guy up and handed me his phone and I got a room booked up. Sweet, grabbed supplies for the night, thanked the owner and rode over to my spot. I didn't realize it until I looked on maps, but, I was not the only daddy in the hood apparently

I got a text from my buddy who has my location "How's daddy treating you?" and I had no idea what he meant until he sent me a screen shot. I was amused.

That said, anyone who provides actual coffee with my motel stay can in fact be my daddy.

Dinner, and it was not too long before I was headed to bed.

 

[ThumperX]

Inspiring write up, I know those roads.

 

[PaulR]

Super Cool Nate!!!
You a great rider must have been fun!!!
PaulR

 

[stratslingr77]

Nice write-up! I'll need to explore that area some more. Please, please, please tell me you rode the Sierra Vista Scenic byway out of North Fork into Bass Lake!

BTW how's that Leatt helmet after your XD4?

 

[deathbug74]

much familiar scenery up there, love those roads great writeup and photos too

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Super Cool Nate!!!
You a great rider must have been fun!!!
PaulR

Thanks it was a great ride, a nice mix of sight seeing pacing and edge of the tire fun.

Nice write-up! I'll need to explore that area some more. Please, please, please tell me you rode the Sierra Vista Scenic byway out of North Fork into Bass Lake!

BTW how's that Leatt helmet after your XD4?

Well shit, I totally missed that one, guess I'll have to head back up there!

The Leatt is pretty good, lighter an quieter than the XD-4, not quite as refined but it still feels high end. I am liking the photochromatic shield so far, wishing the peak was just a smidge longer for better sun protection, but it still worked well enough in the late day sun. It has been giving me a slight headache when pushing into headwinds. It's a snug fit as a large but measured the same as the XD on the sizing chart. Could be a slightly different shape or could just need to be broken in. I recall the XD doing the same for a few rides so I'm not too worried about that. Haven't had any heavy cross winds yet so I can't say how it does there, but I didn't feel any pull on the highway upwards of 80 mph so it seems good there.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

On Monday it was time to go home, eventually. My route, despite missing the above mentioned Sierra Vista Scenic Byway was looking pretty good, at least until I had to cross the valley, no avoiding that slog.

Google won't route through Wards Ferry but it is doable, ignore the signs saying it's closed, they're not your real dad.

But first, coffee

I made a half pot of coffee and enjoyed it thoroughly while slowly packing up and letting things warm up a bit. I wasn't in a hurry with less than 300 miles on the route today.

Eventually though, it was time to get moving, and it was another beautiful fall day.

Powerhouse road out of Auberry was a treat with a nice collection of corners and views.

I suspect last time I was up this way rode north of Bass Lake, so riding the south shore was interesting, albeit very residential which prevented maximum hoon.

The road West towards Oakhurst was goaty for a moment, then fast and smooth.

I stopped in Oakhurst for a quick bite figuring I'd not need to stop aside for gas the rest of the day.

Food was good, and they had a display case with Uranium glass, which I've never seen in person before.

Next up was the good part of 49, aka the little dragon or whatever.

I reeled in a few ADV guys I'd see at the cafe, but I didn't feel like going fast enough to pass them at their pace, so I used those moments a photo ops. This is probably the only reason I have photos of that road because other than them and one truck, there was no one out there so it was easy to get into a flow.

Another photo op

And another one

Once the road straightened out a bit I peeled off onto Greeley Hill Road to Cuneao Road to Priest Coulterville Rd. What a glorious sliver of pavement that all turned out to be.

After a quick stop for gas and water I headed on to Wards Ferry Road, slightly nervous as I had no idea what the state of an unmaintained road that was closed do to subsidence and landslides might look like after the recent rains. Turns out it was fine, and pretty damn cool, but not a road to haul ass on.

Oh, I did.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

The canyon this roads descends into, crossed and ascends out of was putting in it's fall best.

The main bridge was something to see. I interesting mix of lazy tags and well executed murals.

Go Ride Bitch

I'm guessing that truck didn't drive down there...

The road ahead

Riding out was just fine, there was a narrow section covered in a land slide and plenty of rough pavement and blind corners so I wasn't rushing things, but it was fine.


The stretch between Tolumne Rd and Big Hill Rd was largely residential so I kinda forgot to stop for photos. Big Hill Road was great, it was interspersed with residential bits so the pace varied, but there were plenty of remote parts to wick it up on.

Yankee Hill to Parrots Ferry road finished off the foothills and brought me to 4. Time to slab, but, I had one last diversion planned.

Hunt Road

Goaty, (so very goaty, I was wondering if anything was gonna rattle off) twisty and mostly empty.

And then Salt Spring Valley RD. It was kinda straight and meandered it's way to Salt Spring Reservoir which was closed that day.

That connected to Rock Creek Rd, which, as the sign notes, was nice a twisty.

And goaty

I eventually made it to Milton (CA Historical Place #262) and there there was nothing more to do but follow Milton Road to 4 and make my way back to SF.

Made it back to SF around 7ish with some rear tire to spare, just barely.

 

[budman]

Nice.

Seems @mean dad has been around those parts.

 

[mean dad]

 

[NorCalBusa]

Nice write up, well done sir. Been on a lot of rides, single and multi day, all over those roads- great flashback as its been years.

Is that dirt bike instructor Rich Oliver still doing classes in Auberry?

 

[toothoreo]

Yop, Rich Oliver is still teaching dirt biking skills: https://www.richoliver.net/

I took his fun camp a couple years ago and it taught me a lot, plus Rich is funny and I used to watch him race at Laguna.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

I could use a refresher from Rich, did his school not too long after he'd moved it from his place to Auberry, well worth it.

 

[wheel_muse]

Nice write up N8! Thanks for sharing. I wanna check out some of those roads and sights

 

[bikeama]

Nate, great write up of the foothill roads. Hunt road is famous for patches on the patches and potholes in the potholes. Too bad you went down Salt Springs off of Hunt road. If you stayed on Hunt you would have seen the new pavement before you got to Milton.

Hunt road starts at 5:10 on the video. Goat starts where the new pavement ends. The DJI has great image stabilization.

 

[Cabrito]

Nice tour Nate! I love the Wards Ferry Bridge mural..