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Ugh - 08.28.07
originally, the title of this thread was going to be called "Finally," as it's been twenty days since i've been on a proper ride. after today's events, i decided "Finally" was no longer appropriate, and that "Ugh" was a much better match.
the day started off okay. i got a later start than intended; i'd left some work unfinished at the bookstore and stopped by there first to get it done before melissa kicked my ass for not doing it. didn't leave Auburn until around 11am.
i'd been wanting to to a ride to Lassen Volcanic Park as it's one of the few places in california i have yet to go. i looked up maps, routes, and all that hullaballoo in search of a fun route that wasn't too long, as i was already pressed for time. there were none to be had.
so i decided to do half a ride to Lassen. i'd intended on riding to Crecent Mills by way of hwy 49 > hwy 89. from there, i was going to cut east through Genessee, loop around Antelope Lake, shoot across Janesville Grade Rd to the 395 in Buntingville, fill up with petrol, backtrack a ways and hit Mitford Grade all the way down to hwy 70, make a few small detours from there like to Davis Lake and such, then head back home. i had it all planned out...
but no. it was not to be.
i made my way up hwy 49 from Auburn... i really hate that stretch of 49 from auburn to Nevada City. it's all straight. lots of traffic. lots of LEO. lots of ugh. but it was the fastest way, so that's what i did.
the stretch from Nevada City to North San Juan was pretty good. i'm on a brand new set of BT014s...first time i've ridden them in about 15K miles and 10 sets of rubber, so i was just reacclimating myself to them, not doing anything crazy, not going too fast...until i hit my favorite section of 49 up there, starting about 8 miles south of Downieville. then i ramped it up hard. well, i did for all of 6 turns, cause i'd caught up to a CHP.
*sigh*
i followed him all the way to Downieville through the best tarmac 49 has to offer...at the speed limit. i'd thought about stopping and waiting for him to get ahead, but that was a roll of the dice i wasn't willing to take. i stop in downieville and get petrol. i leave. i'm just about to get outta Downieville when there he is again, right in front of me. i follow him for the next 17 or so miles...at the speed limit...until i hit the turnoff to Gold Lake...he turns too.
"you gotta be fuggin kiddin me!" i thought to myself. f-that. i stopped and hung out for a few while talking to some harley dude that had just busted out his fishing pole to do a little bit of trout fishing.
so i continue on and all is well. the same CHP passes me coming the other direction ~10 miles later. no biggie, i was just chillin.
i get to Graegle and decide that i'm too pressed for time now to even do the loop i'd settled on. it was 1:30pm when i left Graeagle and headed north to Quincy with Bucks Lake Rd in mind. i'd remembered seeing it on the map earlier this morning, and it looked interesting.
great road indeed! like a "loller" coaster. well, that is, until your rear tire goes flat. i was about 22 miles into the 41 miles of Bucks Lake Rd. lemme tell ya, there ain't nothin up there.
you'd think that with the kind of riding i do on a regular basis that i'd be carrying space blankets, flashlights, machetes, homing beacons, satellite phones and bear repellent, let alone a tire repair kit, eh? alas, i am much more stupid that you may have previously thought.
i caught a lucky break. the forest service road repair guys happened to be driving by...with an enclosed trailer attached to their truck. i loaded kitty and they drove me ~10 miles further to their shop. they had no plugs though. there were no stores of any kind for miles. there were 4 houses spread over about a mile though. i started to walk and go door to door. the last place i ask, they have one. schwing!
3 hours after going flat, my tire is plugged and i'm on my way. it's 5pm. i go straight through Oroville, hop onto hwy 70, and slab it home. ugh
a whole lotta nuthin, really.
chippie hung in front of me for about 25 miles of sexy road. *cries*
lotsa these in gold country.
north end of Downieville
bling!
not quite the donner tunnels, eh?
did a little off roading today. not much though.
Bucks Lake Rd...the open section. and right when my tire goes flat.
no idea what lake this is.
pretty unique suspension bridge design though.
'nutha bridge shot.
last pic... i nearly started dozing off from all the straight-lining i did on the way home, so i stopped in marysville for a few mins to wake up.
END
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Originally Posted by 23109(c)
