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View Full Version : My trip to California - Lots of thumbs - really long post


sameerrao
09-05-2004, 08:28 PM
I was over last weekend for four days to California combining a two day company meeting with revisiting some old favorite roads and a trip to Sequoia and King's Canyon National Park and then Yosemite National Park on Saturday and Sunday. Drove about 1300 miles total over 2 1/2 days. Quite tiring but awesome. After the flat roads in Texas it was nice to catch some curves and elevation changes :D

1. Skyline Drive

Made my way to Skyline Drive (Highway 35) - this is a very curvy road offers views to the Pacific Ocean on one side and the cities on the Bay Area on the right

Miles of this
http://img22.exs.cx/img22/839/DSCN3828.th.jpg (http://img22.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img22&image=DSCN3828.jpg)

Alice's restaurant ... Iconic place ... usually there are some cool cars gathered there.

http://img22.exs.cx/img22/7592/DSCN3833.th.jpg (http://img22.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img22&image=DSCN3833.jpg)

Today there were some bikes only ... one looked like a Ducati Monster to me but I couldnt say for sure ..

http://img22.exs.cx/img22/2636/DSCN3838.th.jpg (http://img22.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img22&image=DSCN3838.jpg)

My ride for the trip ... Pontiac Sunfire .. a veritable rocketship :P

http://img44.exs.cx/img44/3458/DSCN3835.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=DSCN3835.jpg)

Views of the East Bay
http://img44.exs.cx/img44/2636/DSCN3838.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=DSCN3838.jpg).

http://img44.exs.cx/img44/4430/DSCN3844.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=DSCN3844.jpg)

The trees flashing past :)
http://img44.exs.cx/img44/555/DSCN3840.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=DSCN3840.jpg)

Views of the Pacific
http://img44.exs.cx/img44/1174/DSCN3842.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=DSCN3842.jpg)

http://img44.exs.cx/img44/9817/DSCN3846.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=DSCN3846.jpg)

A small lake
http://img44.exs.cx/img44/7674/DSCN3850.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=DSCN3850.jpg)

Looking down on Highway 92
http://img44.exs.cx/img44/827/DSCN3854.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=DSCN3854.jpg)

2. Highway 92 and Highway 1

Near Half Moon Bay there is a field where they grow Christmas trees
http://img44.exs.cx/img44/2213/dscn3857.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=dscn3857.jpg)

Wanted to take a pic of the Highway 1 sign .. frikkin polluting F250 ruined it - he gassed the throttle just as I clicked :(
http://img44.exs.cx/img44/4274/dscn3858.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=dscn3858.jpg)

Half Moon Bay ... nice beach ... unfortunately the water is too cold to do extensive swimming even in summer. All the beaches have a nice cliff on one side and ocean on the other view :)

http://img44.exs.cx/img44/1978/dscn3859.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=dscn3859.jpg)

http://img44.exs.cx/img44/6218/dscn3860.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=dscn3860.jpg)

http://img44.exs.cx/img44/2463/dscn3862.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=dscn3862.jpg)

Lot of strong wind here ... look at the lean of the poor trees
http://img44.exs.cx/img44/1752/dscn3863.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=dscn3863.jpg)

An interesting tree a few blocks away from the beach
http://img44.exs.cx/img44/5748/DSCN3865.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=DSCN3865.jpg)

Highway 92 again close to 280 ... nice lake split by the road
http://img44.exs.cx/img44/466/DSCN3870.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=DSCN3870.jpg)

Highway 92 W close to the bridge crossing the Bay
http://img44.exs.cx/img44/944/DSCN3872.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=DSCN3872.jpg)

Big ass bridge leading to the East Bay
http://img44.exs.cx/img44/6136/DSCN3877.th.jpg (http://img44.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img44&image=DSCN3877.jpg)

Went to a friends place in Freemont. How's this for a view a block away from his house
http://img25.exs.cx/img25/9716/CopyofDSCN3882.th.jpg (http://img25.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img25&image=CopyofDSCN3882.jpg)

3. Enroute to Sequoia and King's Canyon National Park
Started off early in the morning and drove down 101 ---> 152 -->5 ---> 198

View from Highway 101
http://img25.exs.cx/img25/323/DSCN3886.th.jpg (http://img25.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img25&image=DSCN3886.jpg)

Got onto 152 .. saw some Vipers in the rear view mirror .. quickly stopped on the side to snap a pic ... they were going at a pretty good clip :)
http://img25.exs.cx/img25/7465/DSCN3893.th.jpg (http://img25.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img25&image=DSCN3893.jpg)

The golden hills of California ... awesome stuff
http://img25.exs.cx/img25/3185/DSCN3895.th.jpg (http://img25.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img25&image=DSCN3895.jpg)

The begin of the climb thru the hills :)
http://img25.exs.cx/img25/7061/DSCN3898.th.jpg (http://img25.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img25&image=DSCN3898.jpg)

A lake in the middle
http://img25.exs.cx/img25/1268/DSCN3901.th.jpg (http://img25.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img25&image=DSCN3901.jpg)

The hills by the side of the lake
http://img25.exs.cx/img25/1051/DSCN3903.th.jpg (http://img25.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img25&image=DSCN3903.jpg)

How about this? Cool isn't it :)
http://img25.exs.cx/img25/3426/DSCN3904.th.jpg (http://img25.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img25&image=DSCN3904.jpg)

Close to Sequoia NP
http://img13.exs.cx/img13/3475/DSCN3907.th.jpg (http://img13.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img13&image=DSCN3907.jpg)

http://img13.exs.cx/img13/9644/DSCN3908.th.jpg (http://img13.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img13&image=DSCN3908.jpg)

4. Sequoia National Park and King's Canyon National Park
Home of the world's tallest trees.
http://img13.exs.cx/img13/9306/DSCN3910.th.jpg (http://img13.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img13&image=DSCN3910.jpg)

Tunnel Rock
http://img13.exs.cx/img13/4976/DSCN3911.th.jpg (http://img13.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img13&image=DSCN3911.jpg)

View from the General's Highway
http://img13.exs.cx/img13/214/DSCN3917.th.jpg (http://img13.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img13&image=DSCN3917.jpg)

The road splits among the trees
http://img27.exs.cx/img27/4871/DSCN3921.th.jpg (http://img27.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img27&image=DSCN3921.jpg)

Your neck hurts to look so high up .. see how small the car is by comparison ...
http://img27.exs.cx/img27/3959/DSCN3919.th.jpg (http://img27.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img27&image=DSCN3919.jpg)

A fallen giant Seqouia ... see the diameter of the thing compared to the car
http://img27.exs.cx/img27/6844/DSCN3924.th.jpg (http://img27.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img27&image=DSCN3924.jpg)

The "General Sherman" biggest tree there .. named after a Civil War hero
... data ...
http://img27.exs.cx/img27/3417/DSCN3930.th.jpg (http://img27.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img27&image=DSCN3930.jpg)

... the base ...
http://img27.exs.cx/img27/8493/DSCN3927.th.jpg (http://img27.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img27&image=DSCN3927.jpg)

... its the one in the middle ... the Sequoias dont look as tall as they actually are because they are pretty wide unlike redwoods which are slimmer and look taller as a result
http://img27.exs.cx/img27/7541/DSCN3931.th.jpg (http://img27.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img27&image=DSCN3931.jpg)

Now that's what I am talking about ... lovely valley
http://img27.exs.cx/img27/2715/DSCN3934.th.jpg (http://img27.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img27&image=DSCN3934.jpg)

Another ..
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/9900/DSCN3944.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3944.jpg)

The "General Grant" tree ... slightly smaller than Sherman
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/1188/DSCN3942.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3942.jpg)

Came across a valley of trees that were leafless. Was after a fire to renew the soil there ...
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/652/DSCN3948.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3948.jpg)

Exited the park from the King's Canyon side
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/327/DSCN3952.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3952.jpg)


5. En-route to Yosemite via route 99

Envy the cows :D
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/9531/DSCN3954.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3954.jpg)

The rising moon - love the colors on display here
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/3649/DSCN3957.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3957.jpg)

http://img39.exs.cx/img39/5687/DSCN3961.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3961.jpg)

6. Yosemite NP
Definitely one of the best natural wonders of the world in my book. Last time I was there I hit two trails and hung around the base valley. This time IO drove thryu every square inch of the place 8)

En-route ... why I love California
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/5591/DSCN3963.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3963.jpg)

Every 50 metres I stopped the scenary was that beautiful ... Half Dome here ...
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/5838/DSCN3977.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3977.jpg)

With me blocking the view ;)
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/1638/DSCN3978.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3978.jpg)

Wish it was a better car .. the view deserved better :(
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/564/DSCN3981.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3981.jpg)

A look to El Capitan - tall granite mountain on the left up to half dome the furthest away in the centre of the picture
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/6962/DSCN3986.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3986.jpg)

El Capitan closer up
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/1005/DSCN3988.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3988.jpg)

A reflecting pool near El C
http://img39.exs.cx/img39/9500/DSCN3991.th.jpg (http://img39.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img39&image=DSCN3991.jpg)

Don't remember the name of this one
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/5986/DSCN3995.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN3995.jpg)

Half Dome closer up
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/7028/DSCN3996.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN3996.jpg)

Yosemite falls - not ... it was nearly bone dry ... well me taking a leak could have generated a greater fall :lol: Actually I came at the wrong time - this thing is a gusher during spring ...

http://img9.exs.cx/img9/4243/DSCN3998.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN3998.jpg)

En-route to 120E - quite a few bikers ...
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/7595/DSCN4002.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4002.jpg)

En-route to the Tioga Pass
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/5827/DSCN4010.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4010.jpg)

Looking down at Tenaya Lake
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/4581/DSCN4011.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4011.jpg)

Tenaya Lake .. the water changes color from green to blue depending on where you look
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/1408/DSCN4013.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4013.jpg)

http://img9.exs.cx/img9/8598/DSCN4014.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4014.jpg)

http://img9.exs.cx/img9/4875/DSCN4020.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4020.jpg)

Clouds changing the colors on the mountains
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/8799/DSCN4021.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4021.jpg)

Tioga Pass ... elevation 9945 feet
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/4484/DSCN4025.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4025.jpg)

Saw a Cobra exiting the park
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/219/DSCN4026.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4026.jpg)

Drove back to the Hetch Hetchy reservoir on the West side of the Yosemite ... it was dammed in 1913 to provide fresh water to San Francisco.
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/6923/DSCN4027.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4027.jpg)

http://img9.exs.cx/img9/7813/DSCN4033.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4033.jpg)

A waterfall downstream of the dam
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/6089/DSCN4034.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4034.jpg)

7. The route back to the Bay Area

A humble version of the Stelvio Pass ... nice road though even though I was balked by 2 RVs on the way down
http://img9.exs.cx/img9/8396/DSCN4038.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4038.jpg)

http://img9.exs.cx/img9/8734/DSCN4041.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4041.jpg)

http://img9.exs.cx/img9/935/DSCN4039.th.jpg (http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=DSCN4039.jpg)

SilviaEvo
09-05-2004, 08:32 PM
at least the car wasnt a Ford Taurus or somethng

sameerrao
09-05-2004, 08:35 PM
at least the car wasnt a Ford Taurus or somethng

True :) The small size helped on the downhill section but sucked big time on any uphill section as you can imagine

tigerx
09-05-2004, 08:39 PM
was the cobra real or a replica?

sameerrao
09-05-2004, 08:41 PM
was the cobra real or a replica?

No way of finding out - it was a 427 - it looked real enough to me 8) and was driven by a woman with her teenage son by her side 8)

RC45
09-05-2004, 09:02 PM
Great pics there Sameer.. :)

graywolf624
09-05-2004, 10:40 PM
"Half Moon Bay ... nice beach ... unfortunately the water is too cold to do extensive swimming even in summer. All the beaches have a nice cliff on one side and ocean on the other view "

Hey I was there saturday.. looks to clear to be then though. Drove down 92.. then all way down 1 to monterey..then all the way up to frisco.

Going back tomorrow.. one more week.

sameerrao
09-06-2004, 12:19 AM
"Half Moon Bay ... nice beach ... unfortunately the water is too cold to do extensive swimming even in summer. All the beaches have a nice cliff on one side and ocean on the other view "

Hey I was there saturday.. looks to clear to be then though. Drove down 92.. then all way down 1 to monterey..then all the way up to frisco.

Going back tomorrow.. one more week.

Suggestions for things to see :

1. Napa valley
2. Big Sur - best view on Highway 1
3. Hearst castle - place from movie "Citizen Kane" - cool pool there
4. Yosemite - 4 hours away - possible on one day if you have the endurance
5. Muir Woods /Sausalito/Mt Tamalpais. Highway 1 back to the Golden Gate - the scenery from the movie "Basic Instinct" - the ride back from her place in the hills to SFO
6 Seqoiua NP

All of the above places are definite must-see. See what fits in your schedule. PM if you need more info...

TT
09-06-2004, 04:16 AM
I'm speechless :D I absolutely love such kind of pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

stradale
09-06-2004, 05:16 AM
^^^ What he said... :shock:

Absolutely brilliant! I want to see it in person... :P

Mr.T
09-06-2004, 09:46 AM
Some of those sceneries are beautiful! Thanks for sharing them.

sameerrao
09-06-2004, 12:11 PM
Thanks guys for your kind words .... It was certainly a weekend to cherish for the rest of my life ...

possessed_beaver
09-06-2004, 12:49 PM
nice pictures man!!!

you can rely see the counrtyside develop and change throughout you're trip!!

schweet!