podsnel
<font color=blue>just skippin' around, amusing mys
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2007
- Messages
- 7,069
After not too long on the drive east, we stopped for a bite at red Robin- yummmm...
"He is a loathesome, offensive brute. Yet I can't look away."
Plus, there's a picture of Kramer on the wall!
Back on the road, we passed the windmills which seemed to go on for miles in every direction....
Yea, here comes the fun!
So...I have this friend, Kara- you may remember her as Karajeboo- anyway, she had gone to Yosemite the summer before- and had a very, very hard time on the 120 into the park. You see, there is this one stretch that is known to be particularly challenging- both height wise and curve wise. Not a place where you would want to be driving at night, in the dark, I can promise. Anyway, she was SO freaked by this road, that once she got to yosemite, she was afraid to go anywhere- so, while I was pretty sure that would not happen to us, I didn't want to do anything crazy, either. Mainly, I wanted to avoid the section called "Old Priest Grade". Trust me, the new and improved Priest Grade is hairy enough!! There were actually signs telling you to turn off your A/C- this road is FAMOUS for people overheating and getting stranded.
That's not it- that's just pretty.
This too- and oh, look- arrows. Does anyone want to volunteer and explain what arrows mean (just in case any bike riders from CC are reading).
I do really enjoy the "driving" part of these vacations. The forced togetherness of a four wheel vehicle through unknown but repetitive terrain does make for some fun times...
Click to play
Here we go-
We let a tow truck pass us at one point- he OBVIOUSLY was MUCH better at driving this road than we were!
Click to play-
We could see the Old Priest Grade across the ravine- I read that it shaves 20 minutes off of your time, but- that was 20 minutes I was happy to have from the looks of what I saw over there!
It took about 3 1/2 hours, I think, to get to Groveland- where we would be staying at a historic (and haunted!) inn called the Hotel Charlotte. We chose this place because it is right outside the park and would be a perfect way to get an early start on Yosemite! The hotel looked charming, and it had recently been taken over by new, young owners who have been refurbishing. The hotel offers a couple of Grand Suites, which are 2 bedrooms sharing a private bath. We were in rooms 1 & 3. http://www.hotelcharlotte.com/ The reasonable rate included a nice breakfast in the morning to send us on our way. And the hotel boasted a creative restaurant which we were looking forward to. And as if all that wasn't enough of an incentive to stay in Groveland, there was one more- the oldest Saloon in California is across the street. SOLD!
The boys were happy to have their own beds and a little down time- so while they chatted on the computer with friends at home, Pods and I went across the road to see a man about a horse....
"He is a loathesome, offensive brute. Yet I can't look away."
Plus, there's a picture of Kramer on the wall!
Back on the road, we passed the windmills which seemed to go on for miles in every direction....
Yea, here comes the fun!
So...I have this friend, Kara- you may remember her as Karajeboo- anyway, she had gone to Yosemite the summer before- and had a very, very hard time on the 120 into the park. You see, there is this one stretch that is known to be particularly challenging- both height wise and curve wise. Not a place where you would want to be driving at night, in the dark, I can promise. Anyway, she was SO freaked by this road, that once she got to yosemite, she was afraid to go anywhere- so, while I was pretty sure that would not happen to us, I didn't want to do anything crazy, either. Mainly, I wanted to avoid the section called "Old Priest Grade". Trust me, the new and improved Priest Grade is hairy enough!! There were actually signs telling you to turn off your A/C- this road is FAMOUS for people overheating and getting stranded.
That's not it- that's just pretty.
This too- and oh, look- arrows. Does anyone want to volunteer and explain what arrows mean (just in case any bike riders from CC are reading).
I do really enjoy the "driving" part of these vacations. The forced togetherness of a four wheel vehicle through unknown but repetitive terrain does make for some fun times...
Click to play
Here we go-
We let a tow truck pass us at one point- he OBVIOUSLY was MUCH better at driving this road than we were!
Click to play-
We could see the Old Priest Grade across the ravine- I read that it shaves 20 minutes off of your time, but- that was 20 minutes I was happy to have from the looks of what I saw over there!
It took about 3 1/2 hours, I think, to get to Groveland- where we would be staying at a historic (and haunted!) inn called the Hotel Charlotte. We chose this place because it is right outside the park and would be a perfect way to get an early start on Yosemite! The hotel looked charming, and it had recently been taken over by new, young owners who have been refurbishing. The hotel offers a couple of Grand Suites, which are 2 bedrooms sharing a private bath. We were in rooms 1 & 3. http://www.hotelcharlotte.com/ The reasonable rate included a nice breakfast in the morning to send us on our way. And the hotel boasted a creative restaurant which we were looking forward to. And as if all that wasn't enough of an incentive to stay in Groveland, there was one more- the oldest Saloon in California is across the street. SOLD!
The boys were happy to have their own beds and a little down time- so while they chatted on the computer with friends at home, Pods and I went across the road to see a man about a horse....
I am so impressed! And I love a meal where the food is fabulous and the servers are very not pretentious. 
So glad that the actual restaurant staff were just as they should be - you know, like humans! 
on the weather when you get home. I hear it's not pretty. Well, it's pretty, just not the sort of thing you want to deal with after a fabulous time in warm paradise!
We had more of an issue trying to get out to Columbus, Ohio, this past Friday- we arrived 5 hours late- it was the pits!
I know Ive said it a million times, but you really do such a wonderful job on your TR and all the planning that you do. Anyway, I just have to share that your TR came in very handy recently! We had my 19 year old nephew from Ohio visiting us and I was at a loss as to what to do with him. 
It was a very last minute trip so I was really scrambling. Then I remembered your Segway tour of Golden Gate Park. BTW - Your tip regarding the Goldstar 50% off discount was the best! Id never heard of them before and generally dont like the Groupon type discounts (way too many restrictions). Goldstar has the discounts without the hassles. In fact, I use them now all the time for shows like the SF ballet, the theatre and Disney on Ice. I cant believe I was paying full price all these years. But, I digress . . . Back to the Segway. I would never have thought of doing that in a million years, but it was so much fun. Such a neat way to see the park as well! We all had a great time! It will definitely be on our list of things to do when we have friends in town. 
and I thought I would kill him when we got done (if I didnt die of a heart attack first). Well, we made it up and back down and had an amazing day. He had more confidence in me than I did and took such good care of me on the mountain that I knew he was the one for me. 
Shortly after that I did my first century ride - all 100 miles! And the best part is that we have been happily married ever since.
SO SO SO happy I was able to help YOU, who has given ME so much this past year! I don't like restrictive discounts either, so I think that Segway one is great- and I am so happy you enjoyed your tour! Did you have a funny guide? I think they do an excellent job over there, and it truly is SUCH a beautiful park. 
It really was fine, we just went 20 mph as was posted- it really was beautiful there.
