May 14-15 Cycle rides

On Tuesday afternoon, Jerry fired up the dirt bike and did his own thing…following roads and not so roads through the mountains of the Sierra Nat. Forest.  Had a wonderful time.  While he was gone, Vicky, our next door neighbor and I played games.  I taught her Farkle and she taught me SkipBo.  Had a great time.  When Jerry got back we had happy hour, then to a Mexican restaurant in Oakhurst for dinner.  Yummy but another noisy atmosphere. 

Wednesday found us back on the BMW.  Took small local roads today through the countryside.  This bush/tree was prolific throughout the area we traveled.  Sweet aroma.

 

Overlooking Oakhurst town.

Entrance to a driveway made out of horseshoes.

 

Wide open ranges for cattle.  Miles and miles…

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As we approached Raymond, CA, this home popped out of nowhere.  Love the architecture, paint and gegaws.

 

Stopped in Raymond…all we saw of Raymond was two bars…not sure if there was more as we turned East from here.  Thought we’d get a cool drink before going back home.  This building was closed but as we were getting back on the bike, Bill, who leases the bar portion drove up and offered to show us the inside as it was built in 1890 and is an historic building.

 

 

The inside was full of memorabilia, a blood stained Viet Cong flag, a WW II flag, and the Seebees flag (Bill’s personal memento as he was part of that group.  This bar is very supportive of the military and had hats from patrons representing various military groups and other memorabilia.

Bill continued with local history.  Early on (prior to highway 41 being the southern gateway to Yosemite) the train from the south stopped here at Raymond…the end of the line.  Patrons going to the National Park would then climb into stage coaches to complete their journey. 

 

After thanking Bill for the tour, we went across the street to the Raymond General Store and bar and had a drink and talked a bit to the locals there.  The General Store had photos of the old times (as did Bill’s bar) – stories and pictures of the quarrying operation nearby – and the huge log flume built for moving logs from up in the mountains where they could be transported to mills.  There was one photo of a trestle built over a ravine that had to be at least 150’ above the bottom of the gulch.  Wow!  Wish I could have gotten a picture of it.

A very interesting stop.  As we were approaching Coarsegold, the town just south of Oakhurst, this was a view of the Sierra Nat. Park mountains.  Certainly beautiful scenery – peaceful and serene.

 

Stopped at a BBQ restaurant for a BBQ sandwich – excellent!  Another “life is good” day.  We are certainly blessed to be able to do this.