Ride today from desert up to Big Bear Lake.

[donaldcc]

   Been working too hard this last week.  Two day meeting for work at the Hotel del Coronado on beach outside San Diego.  Great place, lots of history, built in 1877.  "Some Like it Hot" with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe was filmed there. 16 presidents have stayed there.  Nice place, but it was work, not play.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_del_Coronado

    Back on Sat. to the desert and a 12 hour shift on Sunday. 

     But today I'm off for a ride on Valkyrie.  Still hot as he!! here in desert (can you say 102 degrees).  I decide I need to go up in elevation and down in temperature and I head out on little traveled desert roads, through windmills and up to high desert for about 50 miles.



     I get up to Yucca Valley (named after the yucca plant) at about 4000' and make a left turn onto the road below.



    It is definitely cooler so I follow Old Woman through high desert for about 40 miles on pretty straight 2 lane road and then cut off south and really start heading up into mountains and forest.  Tight, twisting turns and switchbacks many posted at 10-25 mph.  Its all National Forest for the rest of ride until I head home.
   


   I end up at Big Bear Lake at about 7000' in elevation and take a ride around the lake.  Its about 7 miles long and 2 1/2 miles wide.  Ride around the lake takes you up to about 8000'.  Cool, lots of great scenery and quite a few motorcycles to wave at during the ride.



   I was able to find a nice parking spot next to the lake.  Couldn't figure out why no one else was parking there and taking in the view.



    I even stop by the ski resort thinking I might make a few runs, but wouldn't you know it, they weren't even open.   



    After about 70-80 miles through the forest I see a bear and figure that I better give it up for the day.  Filled up the tank, had an ice tea and head down out of the cool forest and back to the hot desert.



    Back home after 250 miles having a cold brewski and feeling much better!! 
   

[JimL]

Nice ride report, thanks for sharing the photos.  Hotel del Coronado is now on my "to-do" list!

[Kendall]

Thanks for the ride report and Pics.. I miss Big Bear Mnt and the areas.. i grew up in San Bernardino..   Thanks

[highcountry]

Looks like it was a great ride.  My Navy buddy lives in the Big Bear area.

[alph]

I was able to find a nice parking spot next to the lake.  Couldn't figure out why no one else was parking there and taking in the view.

maybe, just maybe it was the NO PARKING sign under your kickstand!!!

on a serious note, my dream cycle ride would be running up to kings canyon in california to ride up and see the great sequoia trees again!!   those are the most beautiful trees in the world!!  imagine a tree trunk the size of a two car garage!!  check out how small the people look on the bottom right of this picture!!

[Jess from VA]

Donaldcc, thanks for the blast from the past.  Spent five years ('87-'92) at March AFB CA and took that ride up to Big Bear many, many times on two-wheels.  Also had lunch at the Coronado Hotel a couple times.

Only place I ever wore jeans and a Tshirt  in San Bernardino, and every bit of gear I owned up on San Gorgonio (Big Bear) with snow.....all on the same day.  Don't miss the desert heat though.


When I lived out there, there was a big flap over wimmins wearing thongs on the back of sport bikes in Palm Springs.  The city fathers and mothers made it a misdemeanor if a person's "anal cleft" could be seen in their riding gear.  [Johnny Carson even did a bit on this one night.]  Of course, all the young kids on their sport bikes were out with their girls on the elevated tailpieces wearing thong bikinis up and down the main drag...... and many of us on base had to go check it out for ourselves.  

[donaldcc]

   Have been to many of the mtns in the Sierras in the cage.  Yosemite countless times, winter, summer, spring.  Has to be one of the most beautiful.  Will try on the Valk this year.