The Ride Home - Day 1

I left Sonora a little late in the morning at 10:45am, after an excellent and hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns, fruit, toast and coffee. I consulted with my Dad about which route to take home. I was considering taking Hwy 108 over the Sierras and then just hoping on 395 the rest of the way. However we decided that Hwy 49 would be a better route through some more familiar and yet very pretty country. Lots of rolling hills and oak trees, horse ranches and the like from Sonora to Auburn.

They have some kind of annual frog jumping contest in Angels Camp, thus there were frog signs and such throughout the town. Its hot here, 80 plus degrees and its not even noon.

I followed a white Harley from Jackson to Jct. 50 in Placerville. He gave me a real run for my money at 65mph+ through some great turns and hills. There is a pretty steep gorge down to the American River between Cool and Placerville (photo below). I almost lost my trailer (no brakes) coming the other direction last year on our way to a family reunion. This time I missed a couple of 15mph hairpin curves and ended up in the other lane, thankfully there were no cars there when I was. At 2:30pm I ate lunch at "In-N-Out Burger" in Auburn near I-80 and Hwy 49. Its now 88 degrees and getting hotter.

I grew up in the Sacramento Valley so this is my old stomping grounds. I pulled off the highway at Grass Valley and tootled up the road to the historic Empire Mines to take a short break. I need to get gas in Nevada City before heading up into the mountains again. Somehow I thought there were more exits to come before I turned off of Hwy 20/49 back onto Hwy 49 and quickly realized that there wasn't any more town (or gas stations). I thought that I could make it to Downieville, surely there must be a gas station there?

Soon I came to the Yuba River and man was it running. I couldn't resist and walked down to the water and dunked my head and shirt in to cool off. One of my favorite fishing trips of all time was with my good friend Tom from Honcut along the Yuba River. Thankfully I found a gas station in North San Juan and filled up (looking back I don't think I would have made it to Downieville). Then I passed an old swimming hole on Oregon Creek about 5 miles south of Marysville Road. Boy did I want to go swimming, but not enough day light to make it to Susanville.

I stopped in Downieville for a break and a beer. Thank God they have Sierra Nevada Pale Ale on tap at this little dive in the middle of nowhere. Downieville is a neat little town. It would be fun to do some camping along the river in this area. Just beautiful from there to Yuba Pass, awesome riding to with 45-55mph turns and hills following the river up to its origin in the snow pack. Again there is about 5 feet of snow on the side of the road at the pass.

Then the road quickly drops down to this high mountain valley to Sattley. I find myself traveling on the same  road from Sattley to Sierraville (Hwy 49/89) in the same direction that I came on the way to Sonora--wierd. I  had to get something to eat before hitting Hwy 395 at Hallelujah Junction, so I stopped at Hotel Restaurant and Lounge in Loyalton. This was a big mistake. I should have gotten a cold sandwich and a small salad. Instead I got chicken fried steak (that was drowning in a gallon of gravey) and beef barley soup. Horrible food and the service was sooo slooow.

Twenty minutes later I hit 395 just as dusk set in. 60 miles to Susanville. I was scared to death that I was going to see deer, but at 75mph there isn't a lot to do about it but get in behind a car and pray. I finally made it to Susanville about 10pm. I pulled into the same motel, the "Pine Inn", and the guy gave me the same exact room I had on my way to Sonora. Thank God they have a comfortable bed!