Once they got their rooms, Dave and Shawn helped me unload the ST from the trailer.  Around 6:30pm we all loaded up in Chris’s car and went down to Jackson for dinner at Denny’s. After dinner we toured the parking lot and looked at a number of classic cars that were there for the Jackson Classic Car show the next couple of days.  Once back to the Lodge, Dave, Shawn & Diane and I jumped into the hottub. 

Saturday morning we went next door for breakfast, where we discussed what our route should include. Diane said she wanted to “see” snow. Not play in it, just see it. So we decided that a ride to Lake Tahoe would be prefect. That way Diane could see plenty of the white stuff. After breakfast, we all went back to prepare for the ride and met at the bikes around 8:30. Since it was a little warm, we all took our liners in our jackets out and in the saddlebags they went for when we would need them. Dave lead, followed by Shawn & Diane and then Chris & I brought up the rear.  Our Plan was to ride up 88 to 89 North and ride over to 50 then to Lake Tahoe for lunch.

As we ascended up the mountains, the temperature continued to decline. Once we hit about 7,000 feet, we could see snow all around. We eventually had to stop to put on our liners back in our jackets. After a couple of pictures of the fantastic view we had, we were back on the road. The snow was getting thicker and more plentiful in the higher elevations but it was melting off because there were many waterfalls coming down from the melting snow. A number of miles from our first stop, we stopped at a lake near Kirkwood. We were able to get up on the walkway over the dam and could see that the majority of the lake was still frozen over. The ice had to be a foot thick from what we saw. Also way up one of the mountains, you could see where a snow bank was hanging over just waiting to come down.

From the melting snow, many of the little valleys were flooded with the water and the rivers were overflowing their banks.   Needless to say, the ride was not just fun, but interesting to see Mother Nature at work.  We continued then to the 89 turnoff and followed Luther Pass road over to hwy 50. Other then a number of good size pot holes (we hit a few of them) the roads were clear (of snow and sand) and we didn’t even hit much traffic either!

That was until we hit Hwy 50. Once on Hwy 50, the traffic picked up all the way into Lake Tahoe. Although it wasn’t too bad since it was an off weekend. We wondered through town to a Carrows where we stopped and ate.   

After “fitting” myself into the booth, we had a nice lunch. We then discussed what to do for the next leg of the ride and we all decided that we had to at least go see the lake! After all that riding we needed to at least see it!...;-).

Not too much farther down (a mile or so it seemed) we came to a city park, right on the lake, and there is where our “going to” portion of the ride ended. We had traveled about 75 miles to that point.  We hung around there for a short time, taking pictures and just enjoying the view.

Our ride back took down 50. There were a number of waterfalls coming down at the sides of the roads, but there was one that you could see from one point that really required a better view. Unfortunately for us, we didn’t have the time to check it out. But it was sure neat to see.

After a short time 50 goes from one lane each direction to two. At that point the traffic thinned out and we were just enjoying a ride in the country with few cars here and there. Dave took us off the freeway at one point at for a TB & gas stop. We were there for about 30 minutes before deciding to follow HWY 50 down to Placerville and pick up 49 from there. 49 is not a straight shot, but at least it wasn’t too bad traffic wise. 

At one point I took over the lead and found some nice curves that I went in a little hot on, and Chris told me I really didn’t need to do that, but I went for several sets of them and Chris just buried her head in my back and hung on. The ST is so nice on roads like that. It takes those curves like it was made to!  (-:

On the outskirts of Jackson, I saw a Lowes and made a bee-line for it to pick up a couple of eye-hooks for tying the bike down in the trailer. Diane decided she needed a plastic Squirrel, and while she was in line I told her that there were several out on the road she could get for free! She didn’t go for it!

We made it back to the lodge around 4pm (I think) and we all headed for the spa. After a little rest, we all loaded back into Chris’s car and went to Pine Grove’s Pizza place, the same one we stopped at, at one of our previous Sabmag Spring Fling rides.

The next morning, I had Dave and Shawn help me load the bike in the trailer. Then I tied it down using the new eye hooks and they worked great! Shawn & Diane left right after that for home while we went down to the Sierra Restaurant to meet our sister and mom for breakfast.

After breakfast Chris and I took off to the east, backtracking our way two days before. We hit a lot of rain and even saw what looked like melted snow at one point, but once we were in Bishop, that was the last of the snow. We had a good drive home without any problems and got home around 9pm. That made for a long trip, but going up and down SR395 sure makes the trip more interesting. 

While there, we decided that whether Ron and Doe has another BBQ, we are going to meet there next year and ride the old gold country again! We really enjoyed ourselves and had a great time with our little group.  Hopefully, Gloria will feel better next year and will be able to make the trip.

Pictures of our Spring Fling: Spring Fling 2006 Pictures