23-SEP-2006
In search of open roads...
In a car everything you see is just more TV. You're a passive observer and it is all moving by you boringly in a frame. On a cycle, the frame is gone. You're completely in contact with it all. You're in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming.
- Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance -
23-SEP-2006
Honda CBR-1100XX in Sport Touring mode
Put on my 3 Givi hard cases, packed with 3 days of clothings, sleeping bag, toiletries, hot and cold weather gear, water and snacks and we hit the roads...
Pasadena to Fresno, California
Departure = Sept 2006
Total = 284 miles
Motorcycling Requirement #1: A motorcycling road between point A and point B shall not be a straight line...
Paths less traveled...
Motorcycling Requirement #2: A path between point A and point B shall be the longest possible...
From [1] to [9] : beautiful California roads - Little Tujunga, Sand Canyon Rd, Vasquez Canyon Rd, Bouquet Canyon Rd, Elizabeth Lake Rd, Pine Canyon Rd
Fresno - Little Dragon - Yosemite - Fresno
Total = 250 miles
Motorcycling Requirement #3: If there exist more than 1 path that connect point A to point B and if they are all of the same length, the most curvy one shall be selected...
From Fresno, we'll sample the famous California Little Dragon, highway 49, then make a loop to Yosemite and circle back to Fresno.
23-SEP-2006
Little Tujunga Canyon road, CA
23-SEP-2006
A nice road side restaurant...
The sign is "a German Sheperd wearing a hat" but I didn't see any GSD around...
23-SEP-2006
But the business hours seem a little odd...
23-SEP-2006
The owners probably live here and run the restaurant as hobby...
This nice rock house is right behind the restaurant
23-SEP-2006
Ready to get on the road again
I'm on the left. Vu with his helmet-mounted camera on the right. Eugene was taking pic for us.
Vu's BMW R1200GS is the most impressive with GPS, Telecom, walkie talkie, helmet camera and tons of other gadgets!
23-SEP-2006
Eugene was checking the map on my magnetic map holder
and Vu was playing with his gadgets...
23-SEP-2006
Bouquet reservoir
It looks nice but it's inaccessible. What the heck? They put fences all around the water.
23-SEP-2006
This was all I saw: nice roads and sceneries
23-SEP-2006
Found these little canyons everywhere...
Is this why all roads here are called "canyon roads"?
23-SEP-2006
XX on Pine Canyon Road...
Isn't this what motorcycling is for?
23-SEP-2006
It sure looks interesting...
But if the 2 GS guys didn't want to try it I'm not going to try on my XX
23-SEP-2006
Old Ridge Road
Does anybody find the right sign funny? Does it mean that if I want to do some target shooting I better do it now before I pass this sign?
23-SEP-2006
I just love the serenity of this picture...
23-SEP-2006
What's this?
I don't know what this place was but it looks so cute.
23-SEP-2006
Pine Canyon Road, California
23-SEP-2006
Incredible view...
and got to soak it all in from the seat of a motorcycle
24-SEP-2006
Yosemite Bank, Yosemite, CA
24-SEP-2006
Mariposa, CA
It's 43 miles to Yosemite straight but we were not going to follow the sign. We took Little Dragon instead.
24-SEP-2006
A man and his best friend
When I stopped at a gas station at Mariposa, I saw this gentleman pulled in with his dog passenger. I went over and asked him and he said his dog loves to ride motorcycle. He even got a pair of sunglasses for him and he carried him in a custom made leather pouch where the dog can stick his legs out to hold on to the gas tank. It was so cute!
24-SEP-2006
Little Dragon - Highway 49!
24-SEP-2006
Little Dragon - hw 49
The road on the upper right corner winds down all the way to the bridge at the lake way below. It was a great ride!
24-SEP-2006
A lone motorcyclist
Aren't we all loner and independent? Motorcycling is not really a team sport...
24-SEP-2006
Fremont's Fort on top of Little Dragon
24-SEP-2006
My XX feels right at home...
24-SEP-2006
Perfect pavement, smooth curves
24-SEP-2006
Brake, lean, accelerate...
24-SEP-2006
Sunset at Yosemite
Take off the helmet and gloves, sit back and take it all in...