Bodie via Yosemite and Stanislaus in three days

[ngng]

Took off Friday, rode out to Glory Hole Camp (nice site, horrible name), was high 30s. Next day we rode up and over Sonora Pass (California 108). Set up camp at June Lake around 19:00, temps were high 20s. It's always interesting when your beer stays cold, no mater how long you've been holding it! Woke up to weather in the low 30s, rode to Bodie Ghost Town. Spent a few hours there, and headed home through Yosemite on Highway 120. I need a new seat.

[the darth peach]

Nice!

Bodie is cool, huh?
Glad to see the pics as I missed my ride out there this year.

[hankgs]

I bet the traffic was light through Yosemite this time of year... Love the STi in the pics too!

[manfromthestix]

Nice RR, I especially like your writing style! You have a way with(out) words.

Beautiful country, reminds me of my former home in Wyoming.

If your stock seat is killing your butt, have you tried a sheepskin? I've had better results from that simple fix than any custom seat I've tried.

Doug

[ngng]

Here's a video my buddy put together!

http://vimeo.com/53030603

[ngng]

Originally Posted by manfromthestix

Nice RR, I especially like your writing style! You have a way with(out) words.

Beautiful country, reminds me of my former home in Wyoming.

If your stock seat is killing your butt, have you tried a sheepskin? I've had better results from that simple fix than any custom seat I've tried.

Doug

I try to keep it simple!

I have not tried sheepskin, what is the deal with that? How does it help?

[ngng]

Originally Posted by hankgs

I bet the traffic was light through Yosemite this time of year... Love the STi in the pics too!

Not a soul was out on the road, it was great.

[manfromthestix]

Originally Posted by ngng

I try to keep it simple!

I have not tried sheepskin, what is the deal with that? How does it help?

A bit of extra padding is always good, but the best part is keeping your butt dry. I used one extensively on several BMWs I've owned over the years when doing long trips and it really helps, even when it's cold. Since moving from Wyoming to Virginia I've become even more of a fan because when it's 90 degrees and 95% humidity it's essential to keep from sweating and giving yourself monkey butt. I've got a custom seat (waffle weave cover, gel foam, etc.) on my GS and even with that and cycling shorts on under my riding pants it's not enough, so I use the sheepskin pad (and one for my wife too) and it really helps. I made my own, just got a skin from a leather shop, some elastic strapping, and some nylon buckles, but if I had to replace them I'd just go with an Alaska Leather pad and not bother making my own. I spent about the same $$$ on my custom as the AL pads cost. You can get different thicknesses from AL as well, and they're cut for specific bikes.

It really works, and is WAY cheaper than a custom seat. I tried it first on my 1100RT because I thought what if I invest $$$$ in a custom seat and it still sucks??!? I bought my GS used and it came with a custom seat but it still sucked, so I swap the sheepskin around different bikes and bingo, no more monkey butt. It also helps keep your butt warm on cold days, and makes a great extra cushy layer for your camping pillow as well (unless you had chili for dinner prior to riding ). The skins are machine washable, too...

Doug

[dmasters458]

I was thinking about taking my wife for a ride over thanksgiving from Oakland to Mammoth Lake through Yosemite, then from Mammoth lake up to South Lake Tahoe. I just had two questions since this ride was so recent. 1. I would be doing this ride on a Concours 14 and it looks like the road to Bodie is just dirt. Is it passable on a street bike? and 2. Does anyone know what weather/road conditions are like for bikes in South Lake this time of year? I am new to the area and am not familiar with riding conditions this time of year. I'm from Buffalo, NY so I do have some experience riding in snow but I don't want to.

[Falcon86]

Awesome photos!

That old town looks straight out of the set of There Will Be Blood!

Very cool!

[ngng]

Originally Posted by dmasters458

I was thinking about taking my wife for a ride over thanksgiving from Oakland to Mammoth Lake through Yosemite, then from Mammoth lake up to South Lake Tahoe. I just had two questions since this ride was so recent. 1. I would be doing this ride on a Concours 14 and it looks like the road to Bodie is just dirt. Is it passable on a street bike? and 2. Does anyone know what weather/road conditions are like for bikes in South Lake this time of year? I am new to the area and am not familiar with riding conditions this time of year. I'm from Buffalo, NY so I do have some experience riding in snow but I don't want to.

The road up to Bodie is just dirt, you'd probably be okay, since cars run it too. IIRC, ski/snowboarding season has started in Tahoe already. I would not ride through there. The pass we took over Sonora was closed the weekend prior, so, I think all the high alt passes are getting questionable

[bomose]

My wife and I went to Bodie a few years ago.A really neat place to visit. The headstones in the cemetery were works of art.

[katbeanz]

I saw a pbs documentary on Bodie long ago and became somewhat obsessed. It was worth the trip. You got some nice shots there!

[UpST8]

Great photos, especially like the night shots. They told the story well.

Didn't expect the video to have a beginning like it did!! Water x4

Bodie just made the short list.

[rgiroux]

Originally Posted by UpST8

Great photos, especially like the night shots. They told the story well.

Didn't expect the video to have a beginning like it did!! Water x4

Bodie just made the short list.

yeah, those nite shots were nice!!