Over Tioga Pass To Tuolumne Meadows and Beyond!

The sun in Mammoth Lakes is shining and the sky is clear... In a short while we'll be climbing on the Raider for our first trip into Yosemite by way of the Tioga Road and through Tuolumne meadows on top.

Maybe I can find out the proper pronunciation of that along the way some where...

Tuh-oh-loom-nee? ... or... two-Wall-uh-MEE?  ;) or... "the Meadows on top of Tioga?!" :)

The road only opened two days ago after being dug out of the winter snow.

Neither of us has ever been up on top. Every previous trip has been made too early in the spring or too late in the fall and the road was closed. This year, with it opening far earlier than is common we're finally in the right place at the right time.

I expect we'll make the swing south from where the road comes out to Yosemite Valley itself. Heidi has some shopping goal in mind at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Village.

You can take the girl out of the city... but you can't take the shopping out of the girl.

The saving grace is that the wallet don't allow much to run wild... and the bikes cargo capacity would shut that down even if somebody found a way to get crazy!

Then we'll have to decide whether we want to complete today's circle by just returning over Tioga or run a lil' farther north through Chinese Camp to come back over 108 and Sonora Pass.

To me that'd be a fine ride... buuuuut... the front seat is a lil' bit more comfortable than the pillion... we'll have to see how good she's doin' settin' back there. :)

See you in the morning with the story and some pics of a Yosemite ride!
***being 330 miles or so for that circle... I expect it'll be an over and back ride ;)***

Splittin the Wind in Californy
Brian