clydascope

Winter is here but the riding remains fabulous. On New Year's Day I rode up Silver Canyon and out to the locked gate at White Mountain Research Station - at 12,000 feet! A few shots from up there...

Spur of the Moment ride up to WMRS yesterday afternoon/evening

Between wrestling the bike fixing flat tires and picking it up after dropping it multiple times I blew out a hernia. Had it repaired, was down for a month or so but am finally feeling like a whole person again. Some shots from my first few rides... chalk bluff road warm springs road south lake last night's sunset

^^^ That's why I've lived here for thirty years! Great photos, looks liked I missed some fun riding (except the upside down bit!)

That salt tram ride is incredible, glad to see you were able to get up there. Looks like the snow stayed up this way. How was the dust storm? Sorry I didn't make down over the weekend, turned out to be a hernia and not the flu after all!

Went down to Independence yesterday for a deep pit BBQ fundraiser for the Eastern California Museum and spent the night at Oak Creek.

^^^ Tom's Place campgrounds are open now, some of the lower ones in Rock Creek opening next week. Probably Memorial Day for Rock Creek Lake.

Took a spin from Bishop out Fish Slough to Chidago Canyon then on to Benton for a party that didn't materialize. Fun day ride.

Went out over the weekend with an old friend from Yosemite who is back on this side of the mountains. We climbed up a steep rocky road above Chalfant Valley in the White Mountains, the pictures don't do it justice...

Nice Randy, I hadn't seen this before. You sure do get out there!

^^^ I did make it across to view the Middle Palisade region - its still looking wintery up there! Between the haze and my camera acting up on me I don't have any good pictures. I would imaging the high peaks will melt out fairly early this year - Tioga Pass Road is already open from the east and should be fully open by mid week!

the tube from my recent adventure Took a spin up coyote flat today - 10,000 feet and no snow at all. I think its gonna dusty this summer! my nemisis - sand fraiser goes down! up high coming down

Not much dirt riding lately, but lots of commuting. Had my coldest ride ever a couple weeks ago, 15° and snowing in Mammoth Lakes. Brrrr! Big excitement last week on Friday coming home - rear tire blowout at 70 mph! here's the whole story: http://inyobellyproject.blogspot.com/2012/04/when-practice-becomes-reality.html

Yeah, Pat's pretty cool. And 70. Harry is 74. The old guys kicked ass!

Great shots Randy! Pat bought a new '09 DR650 a few weeks back, then Harry decided he should get one and the two of them hatched this plan. Kevin and I went along for support. But you were with us in spirit Randy. When I first showed up in Lone Pine the old guys looked at my bags and questioned why I had so much stuff. I told them about riding with you last summer when you were fully loaded and that I've been practicing as often as I can to haul a big load in rough terrain. Must of had 60 pounds of gear, fuel, water, food, tools etc. fueling up in lone pine the dirt monster

Kevin did ride the Ducati Monster dual sport convertion. This was his first real test of it's abilities, for the most part he loved the way it performed. It was interesting to ride with all three members of the team, Kevin financed the build, his dad provided the original bike and Harry was the fabricator. A few minor issues came up but all in all it proved to be a hell of a machine. Harry & Kevin checking out an issue with the kickstand back at pavement after Titus Canyon - look at the sandstorm blowing across the valley! My camera took a dive on me in Titus Canyon and I only got a few shots with my iphone. Back on the road Pat & Harry went back to Lone Pine on pavement, Kevin & I came back to Bishop on the Death Valley Road via Crankshaft Crossing and Eureka Valley.

Day 2 started cold and blustery, first stop the ghost town of Rhyolite, NV My traveling friends had over 100 years of dirt biking experience between them. After Rhyolite we went down Titus Canyon

Then we came out to the Saline Valley Road over Hunter Mountain and ran into a gang from ADVRider's n00b rally on to Teakettle Junction and finally out to Scotty's Castle where we fought 40-60 mph winds all the way to Beatty to finish Day 1.

After postponing a Death Valley trip for a week due to weather issues four of us went out for a weekend windstorm adventure. About 375 miles in two days... Two of us rode from Bishop to Lone Pine, two trucked there. First thing was to climb up the Yellow Grade over Cerro Gordo and down the back to San Lucas Canyon

That rock has gotten scarier! Been goofing with the photo editor, from last Sunday...

Did a 175 mile back road/dirt loop in a crazy storm ride over the weekend. Friday from Bishop to Lone Pine with threatening skies and howling winds: Riding back today it was cold but clearing out:

Is there any calcite visible at that mine? There is a mine near where I live that has some incredible crystals...

Were you ever the Apple Blossom Queen? I'm too a native New Englander and grew up on the remains of an apple orchard. There's nothing like fruit off the tree but mom's apple butter was one of my favorite preserves. Not much of a cider fan though.

Hey Randy, I'm not much of a single track rider but look forward to riding with you if you make up here. I went out to Apple Hill Ranch south of Bishop yesterday for a tour. Five minutes off the highway. They are the only certified organic farm in the area and have a U-Pick operation with some great produce.

It's been the driest winter I've seen in nearly 30 years here. This shot was taken last winter and is the same stretch of the Sierra seen in the last photo... Let me know if you want to go riding!