April 11-13, 2015 CA49 Golden Chain Highway-Hornitos-Sequoia N.P.-June Lake 1000 mile loop!
Day 1 – Leaving Auburn, CA we travelled the Golden Chain Highway (CA49) through the gold country of California including San Andreas, Angles Camp, Sonora and Jamestown.
We deviated our course to visit Hornitos, CA which reminds me of the Clint Eastwood movie, High Plains Drifter in which he had the town painted red. In 1932, the John Wayne movie, Haunted Gold was filmed here, including scenes inside the local watering hole.
About the only thing happening in Hornitos, is the local watering hole which is a frequent destination for riders from the bay area.
Back on CA 49, we arrive in Oakhurst for the night; the southerly end of the Golden Chain Highway.
Day 2 – We are on our way to Sequoia National Park
Riding the General’s Highway, named after two of the largest and most famous giant Sequoia trees in the park, the General Sherman and General Grant, provides ample photo opportunities.
No, you are not seeing double! Look again, the bikes have different paint schemes.
Portions of the highway are notoriously steep, narrow, with numerous switchbacks. Gearing down, we enjoyed this downhill run!
I can’t wait to ride this again. The picture doesn’t do this road justice!
Leaving Sequoia NP, we rode over CA155 dropping down to Lake Isabella, before connecting with U.S. 395 heading towards our overnight stop in Lone Pine at the Dow Villa Motel. When we checked out in the morning, there were 30+ motorcycles in the parking lot.
On Day 3, we rode the June Lake Loop Road as we pushed north on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada.
