(Sierra Nevada Alternative Pacific Coast Ride Allows Cool Keen Lighthearted
Enjoyment Providing Our Pleasure)
Pictures, Trip Reports, Photo Links, etc.
The Riders…
Front Row: Pat Treiber
Second Row: John Treiber, Nancy Patterson, Bruce Mann, Tom Humphrey, Malcolm Cook, Dean Williams, Kel Williams, Dave Misunas, Sue Doehring
Back row: Bruce Pickett
And their steeds…
Attendees
| Name | Home City, State, Country | Bike Ridden |
| Jerry (Leroy) Brown | Santa Ynez, California | 1986? Honda Nighthawk w/California sidecar |
| Malcolm Cook | Brampton, Ontario, Canada | 1989 Canadian PC800 |
| Julia Coss | Elk Grove, California | passenger with Roy |
| Roy Coss | Elk Grove, California | 1990 PC800 |
| Sue Doehring | Rancho Cordova, California | 1990 PC800 |
| Ian Elder (in spirit) | (South Otago, New Zealand) | (1989 PC800) |
| Jim Geary | Felton, California | 1995 PC800 |
| Thomas E. Humphrey II | Brentwood, California | 1994 PC800 |
| Sandra Larsen | Pleasanton, California | passenger with Leland |
| Jim Ledakis | Great Falls, Montana | 1989 PC800 |
| Bruce Mann | San Jose, California for the moment | 1989 PC800 |
| Diana Mann | San Jose, California for the moment | passenger with Bruce |
| Dave Misunas | Santa Cruz, California | 1990 PC800 |
| Harry Mitchell | Great Falls, Montana | 1995 PC800 |
| Peter Noeth | Rocklin, California | 2007 GL1800 |
| Nancy Patterson | Newport Beach, California | 1994 PC800 |
| Bruce Pickett | Federal Way, Washington | 2005 GL1800 |
| Jason Scarborough | Santa Ynez, California | 2006? ST1300 |
| Leland Sheppard | Placerville, California | 1989 PC800 |
| Brian Soloway | Manassas?, Virginia | 2007? ST1300 |
| John Treiber | Lake City, Florida | 1996 PC800 |
| Pat Treiber | Lake City, Florida | passenger with John |
| Dean Williams | Springfield, Oregon | 1998 PC800 in glorious yellow |
| Kel Williams | Springfield, Oregon | 1994 PC800 |
| Jerry Williams | Thousand Oaks, California | 2002 GL1800 |
| Jerry Wright | Beaverton, Oregon | 1997 PC800 |
| 25 people | 21 bikes, 15 PC800s |
Leland Sheppard’s Trip Report
Hi Coasters and PCHers,
The 2008 September PCH ride is in the history books. It was a great ride marred by tragedy.
We started gathering in Cameron Park (near Placerville) on Saturday, the 6th of September. About 10 of us had dinner Saturday evening at Original Mel’s Diner (50s style diner) in Placerville.
Sunday, September 7th, quite a few of us went for the designated side ride. We had a good ride in spite of the fact that Jim Ledakis from Montana didn’t make it through one curve. His PC was totaled. Roy Coss, on his GL1800, ferried Jim for the balance of the ride back while Roy’s wife Julia moved over to the PC piloted by Bruce Mann. When we got near Cameron Park, I got my truck and took Jim to the local hospital to get him checked out. Turned out that Jim had broken his arm. We had dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Que Viva, across the street from the motel in Cameron Park.
Monday, September 8th, we left the motel in Cameron Park about 8:30 as we had a long ride ahead. We headed south on CA49, through Plymouth, Sonora and Jamestown. At Chinese Camp we turned south on CA120.
At Lake Don Pedro, we stopped and took a group photograph of the bikes and the people on the ride. We continued on up Priest Grade to Big Oak Flat where we stopped for gas.
Continuing on CA120, we stopped at the Yosemite north gate. I flashed my Golden Age Passport and they let 4 of us through the gate on it. When the 4th bike (Bruce Mann) also flashed a Golden Age Passport, they said to heck with it and let everybody else through on Bruce’s pass. Except for our Canadian visitor, Malcolm Cook. Malcolm had gotten into a separate line at the gate and ended up having to pay the motorcycle fee to get through…
We next stopped at Olmsted point, on the eastern side of Yosemite, where a nice view of Half Dome from the back side can be had. We continued on over Tioga Pass (9945 feet), out the eastern gate of Yosemite and on down the eastern side of Tioga Pass, a very scenic 12 mile stretch, to the town of Lee Vining.
At Lee Vining, there is a Mobil gas station with the Whoa Nellie Deli inside. There they serve delicious food, prepared under the guidance of a 4 star chef (Matt “Tioga” Toomey). Lobster Taquitos, Wild Buffalo Meatloaf, grilled salmon salad are some of the delicacies served there. Outstanding lunch.
After lunch, we headed north on US395, past the turnoff to Bodie, through Bridgeport, past Sonora Junction, through Walker Canyon on our way to Walker. As we reached the northern end of the canyon, we started seeing emergency vehicles heading south on 395.
When we got to Walker, we pulled in at the Walker Country Store to gas up. At that point, cars started pulling in and asking us if we were missing any riders. We realized we were missing two bikes. People started telling us of an accident at the south end of Walker Canyon involving two people on a bike that “looked like ours.” We decided to head back south.
When we arrived at the scene, we told the fireman stopping traffic that we thought the accident involved a bike that had been with us and asked him for a place to park. After parking we talked with the highway patrol and with an eyewitness to the accident. We saw an ambulance leaving which, as it turned out, had John Treiber in it. He was being taken to a waiting helicopter to be airlifted to a hospital in Reno, Nevada. The paramedics were still working on Pat, at the accident scene, trying to save her.
We waited until it was clear that they had not been able to save Pat. At that point, we left. Dean and Kel Williams rode to Reno to be with John and the rest of us returned to Cameron Park and the motel. I went to Applebee’s and cancelled our dinner reservations; no one felt much like eating that night.
The other missing rider was Dave Misunas. Dave had stopped for pictures and had not seen where we turned off for lunch so had continued on and ended up back at the motel before us.
Tuesday, September 9th, we made the decision to continue the ride. We headed north on CA49 through the American River Canyon, through Auburn, Grass Valley and Nevada City. Just beyond Nevada City, CA49 turns north and becomes a 2 lane country highway again. We stopped for lunch in Downieville, at The Gallows Restaurant. Had lunch on a nice deck overlooking the Yuba River. Good burgers and hot dogs, among other things.
After lunch, we continued on riding along the river and climbing toward Yuba Gap. After cresting Yuba Gap (about 7000 feet, I think), we stopped at a Sierra Valley overlook for a photo and butt break. We rode on through Sierraville, Loyalton to Vinton and the end of CA49. We turned east on CA70 and rode to Hallelujah Junction at the junction of CA70 and US395. We filled the bike’s tanks and drained ours here.
We turned south on US395 and approached Reno, Nevada from the north. We stopped at the hospital in Reno where John Treiber had been taken. John’s sons Greg and Dave had arrived and we were to meet Dean and Kel at the hospital; they would join us for the rest of the ride back to Cameron Park.
From the hospital, we got back on US395 and headed south for Mount Rose Highway, NV431. We stopped at a station at this point so Dean and Kel could gas up their bikes. We then climbed Mount Rose from the east. After cresting Mount Rose, we stopped at an overlook which has the best view of Lake Tahoe (from a public highway) that I have ever seen. Great spot for a butt break and photos.
On down Mount Rose highway to the junction with NV28 at the north shore of Lake Tahoe. We took NV28 around the northeast side of the lake to the junction with US50. We then took US50 along Tahoe’s eastern shore back into California at South Lake Tahoe. Leaving South Lake Tahoe, we crossed Echo Summit on US50 and headed for Saint Pauli Inn along the American River. We stopped there for an excellent dinner of German food.
Bruce and Diana Mann had taken their minivan and had driven to Bridgeport to pick up some personal belongings for John Treiber and had delivered them to the hospital in Reno. They caught up with us at Saint Pauli Inn and joined us for dinner. After dinner, Bruce assumed the role of “deer clearing device” and led us down US50 to the motel in Cameron Park. He said he felt like the pied piper…
There were no accidents on Tuesday… A sigh of relief was breathed by all…
Wednesday, September 10th, we started east on US50, through Placerville and Pollock Pines to the Sly Park exit . We rode past Jenkinson Lake to the intersection with Mormon Emigrant Trail. We rode to the end of Mormon Emigrant Trail and the junction with CA88. Thought we had lost a couple of bikes here so Jerry Williams and I left the group at the junction and started back to find Jim Geary and Roy Coss. Didn’t go even a mile before they passed us so we turned around and got back with the group. Turned out Jim’s speedo cable had gotten snarly; it gave up the ghost later that day.
We rode east on CA88, past Silver Lake, Kirkwood Ski Resort and Caples Lake. We crossed Carson Pass (8500+ feet) and headed down into Hope Valley and the junction with CA89. At Woodfords, we turned south on CA89 and headed through Markleeville to the junction with CA4. We turned and started toward Monitor Pass (8300 feet or so). A couple of bikes missed that turnoff but Roy Coss went after them and brought them back. Up over Monitor Pass to an overlook from which you can see half the planet. Well, not quite, but it is a spectacular view… After a butt and photo break, we continued on down the pass to the end of CA89 and the junction with US395.
Heading south on US395, we stopped for gas at the Walker Country Store. I had planned to stop for lunch at an excellent burger place in Walker but when we arrived I discovered that they had shifted to their “fall schedule” and were closed on Wednesdays. We cobbled together something to munch on back at the Walker Country Store.
After “lunch” we continued south on US395, through Walker Canyon, past the site of John and Pat’s accident, to Sonora Junction and the start of CA108. We turned west past the USMC Mountain Warfare Training facility and on up toward Sonora Pass (9600 feet or so) and its 26% grades. The road on the way up from the east side consists of VERY short, tight, steep turns and is a handful. Everybody made it just fine. Going down the western side of the pass, the grades are not so steep; only 23%. 🙂 On down the hill to Donnell’s Overlook where we took a photo and butt break. Spectacular view down into a steep canyon with a reservoir (Donnell Lake) at the bottom.
Continuing on down the hill through Strawberry, Long Barn, Twain Harte and on into Sonora. We took Mono Way through town which led us onto historic Washington Street, a narrow, winding, gold rush era street complete with most buildings being from that era.
We were now on CA49, the gold rush highway, heading north past Columbia, through Angels Camp, San Andreas, Mokelumne Hill and on back through El Dorado and Diamond Springs to Placerville. In Placerville, CA49 comes down a hill overlooking the town, on a 13% grade descent to Main Street. From there, we got back on US50 and back to the motel in Cameron Park. We gathered for dinner at the Sizzler Restaurant in Cameron Park, another walk from the motel. Again, no more accidents on Wednesday (or for the rest of the week).
Thursday, September 11th, we headed east on US50, over Echo Summit (7300 feet or so), through South Lake Tahoe, into Nevada. Skirting the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe, we turned onto NV28. Riding past the site of the old Ponderosa Ranch, we continued around the eastern shore getting great views of the lake along NV28. After passing through Incline Village, we turned onto Mount Rose Highway. On up the side of the mountain to the same overlook we had stopped at a couple of days earlier. We stopped again and got a morning view of the lake from the same spectacular spot.
On over the top of Mount Rose Highway (7000 feet or so), we headed down the eastern slope toward Reno. We got off the highway at Wedge Parkway and had lunch and gassed up. Mount Rose Highway (NV431) ends at US395. At that point NV341 (Geiger Grade Road) starts. This is the northern entrance to Virginia City, an old silver mining town. We stopped at an overlook for a great view of the valley and mountains around us. Geiger Grade Road is a newly resurfaced, wonderfully curvy road; we continued enjoying the twisties and the sweepers all the way into Virginia City.
In Virginia City, we found places to park, mostly on the main street and spent an hour or so exploring the town. It’s a gaudy, commercial place but most of the buildings are old and original so it is still an interesting place to visit.
Continuing on, we passed through Silver City (another small mining town) and saw the ’89 PC of Larry Steinberg sitting on a hillside above us. I don’t think Larry saw us but we waved anyway as we went by. We rejoined US50, rode into Carson City (capital of Nevada) and turned south on US395.
We turned off US395 onto Jacks Valley Road (NV206) and rode through Genoa (Nevada’s first settlement), past Walley Hot Springs (locally famous resort) to the junction with NV88. We turned south on NV88 and, at the California border, saw it turn into CA88. Through Woodfords, through Picketts Junction and on up toward Carson Pass (8500+ feet). After cresting Carson Pass, we stopped at Caples Lake for a butt and photo break. Normally gorgeous Caples Lake is about half empty. The spill gates at the main dam are leaking and the lake has to be drained down in order for them to be repaired.
We continued on past Kirkwood (ski resort) and Silver Lake to the junction with Mormon Emigrant Trail. This is a forest service road which is maintained as an alternate to US50 which on the western slope of the Sierra is prone to landslides which often close the road, sometimes for weeks. This 30 mile stretch of road is used mainly by logging trucks; we saw perhaps 6 cars (3 each direction) in the 30 miles…
Arriving at the western end of Mormon Emigrant Trail, we were passing lovely Jenkinson Lake. We turned right onto Sly Park Road, made our way out to US50 and back to the motel in Cameron Park. We had dinner at a Round Table Pizza across from the motel.
Friday, September 12th, we again started south on CA49, through or near several gold rush era towns. At Angels Camp, we turned east on CA4, heading toward Ebbetts Pass. We passed through Murphys, Avery and Arnold.
CA4 gets pretty exciting up toward the top of the pass. It is excellent pavement but it is one wide lane for about 30 miles near the top. One has to be VERY careful to stay near the right edge of the road.
As if to demonstrate, a jerk in a big dually pickup came roaring around the corner at me, right in the middle of the road. Having seen it before, I was prepared for him. I had also warned everyone that this might happen and to be on the lookout. At least one other person reported finding him in the middle but after that he apparently came to his senses and stayed to the right. Like CA108 (over Sonora Pass) this road is challenging. Most of the really steep grades (24%) occur east of the crest (about 9300 feet).
We found a couple of spots, one near Bear Valley, on the way up, and one just past the crest, to stop for photo and butt breaks. Then we made our way to the bottom of Ebbetts and the end of CA4. There we turned east on CA89 and headed up over Monitor Pass to US395. Turning south, we got gas in Walker and managed to get a good burger at Walker Burger on this day.
After lunch, we turned back north on US395, rode over Monitor Pass on CA89 and down through Markleeville where met Dave Misunas and stopped long enough for Dave to finish his ice cream. 🙂
We then went to Woodfords and the junction with CA88. We rode back up over Carson Pass but instead of turning on Mormon Emigrant Trail, we continued on down CA88 through Hams Station, Volcano and into Jackson. In Jackson, we turned north on CA49 and made back into El Dorado. Turning west at Poor Red’s in El Dorado, we made our way back to the Motel. Dinner that night was again at Que Viva Mexican Restaurant.
Saturday, September 13th, we bade our goodbyes and the few people who had remained through Saturday, headed for home.
The 9th annual PCH ride had come to an end.
Pictures (links only) and trip reports will also be posted on the ride web site as they appear.
Leland
In Memoriam: Pat Treiber
To John with our sympathy:
Blessings on your healing.
Jim Geary
Our thoughts are with you.
Bruce & Diana Mann
Get better soon and sorry for your loss.
Jerry Williams
John: Our thoughts and prayers are with you through this difficult time. We are so sorry for your incredible loss.
Your friends, Roy & Julia Coss
John: Thanks for letting Dean and I help and for sharing some of your memories. Be patient and let God help you heal. You know we’ll be praying for you.
Your friend, Kel Williams
John: We will miss her wonderful bright spirit. Heal well and fast.
Dave Misunas
John: I was so very sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Jerry Wright
John: I’m terribly sorry about Pat. I hope you heal well and quickly.
Leland
John: You and your family remain in my heart and prayers every hour!
Dean Williams
John: My most sincere condolences.
Harry Mitchell
John: My heartfelt sympathy – broken shoulder
Jimmy Ledakis
Best wishes
Tuppie Tom
Time is too slow for those who wait
Henry Van Dyke
too swift for those who fear
too long for those who grieve,
too short for those who rejoice,
but for those who love, time is eternity.
Hours fly, flowers die,
new days, new ways pass by,
Love stays.