2014 Tahoe

Day 9

September 26, 2014 rick wojack

At the meeting last night we were told to expect BIG winds today. Most of us had to get up for a nature call during the night and were amazed how strong the winds were blowing during the night.

By the time breakfast rolled around the wind was howling! Suppose to be 30-40 miles and hour AND a head wind!

On the way out to town we all gave the lucky grizzly bear a rub on it’s none to get our good luck wish.

Some great views on the way out of town as we headed to the June Lake loop on our way to Mammoth Lake, our home for the next two nights.

The wind was HORRENDOUS as we road right into it. The wind was blowing us to the right and left, and actually stopped our forward progress in several instances. The forecast had been updated to 60 mile an hour gusts on the ridges. Within the first 15 miles at least 12 people bailed out and sagged into Mammoth lake. Seven more would also sag in before the end of the day because of the wind. In two cases several of the ‘lighter’ weight riders, including Josie, were blow off the road and crashed. Luckily all the mbbt riders had enough ‘ballast’ onboard and although we were tossed around for the whole ride did not get blown off the road.

There are four lakes on the June Lake loop and the first one, Grant Lake, actually had whitecaps on the lake.

The ‘wide open’ landscape allowed the wind to really get a run at us before were blasted.

Grant Lake, as many of the water features in the Sierra, are low because of the lack of snow last winter.

Here you can see where the dock normally would be and where it has moved because of low water. Didn’t stop the wind from blowing!!!!

Some of the best scenery we have seen on the whole ride . . .

You can see how strong the wind was with the flag standing straight out as we rounded the south end of the lake.

Between the first two lakes was this hydro plant that was capturing water from this waterfall .

Once we got into the wooded areas and sheltered it was great riding onto the next lake . . .

Here is a rather precarious situation with this ‘balancing rock’ next to the FD. Not an issue maybe except here in Mammoth Lake there are 3-4 earthquakes everyday. Today there was one measuring 3.5 on the Richter Scale . . . and we didn’t even feel it!!

Looks like the ocean!

Let’s go surfing!

Finally got to the first rest stop where one of the features was ‘Kevin’s Snack’ featuring bite size bagels with peanut butter, raspberry jam AND Nutella! Let’s load up.

Gary, one of the staff, Don our oldest rider at 82 and Don the Mechanic holding onto each other to avoid being blown away!

This is what you like to see on the Garmin GPS profile an uphill followed by a BIG downhill . . .

. . . and Greg leads the way. . .

. . . but gets passed by BillyB.

We finally exited the highway onto the Mammoth Lake Scenic loop which was actual constructed as an alternative exit avenue for the city of Mammoth Lake should they suffer a disastrous earthquake.

A high point as we ride a fast downhill into the city.

Here is Marcia with a sad looked on her face nursing an injury she suffered when she was blown off her bike out on the road!!!!

BillyB has arranged a condo stay for us in Mammoth Lake with a friend of his who owns the condo. Nice place! Here Bill relives his near blow down from today’s wind.