Part 2 - Cycling up Rock Creek Road

On the 2nd day, Herb and I cycled from our campground to the end of Rock Creek Road, a distance of 57+ miles with an elevation gain of about 4,000+'. Rock Creek Road is another one of those classic mountain roads that dead-ends in the High Sierra canyons at 10,000'.

My real motivation was the Pie in the Sky Cafe located near the end of the road. It is famous for home-made pies! Yumm-ie!!

Near the end of the 9 mile climb gazing down on Rock Creek Lake

Stopping at Rock Creek Lake

Beautiful Rock Creek Lake, another popular fishing hole. This is where the trail-head to Mt. Morgan begins. The tall peak to the upper right is Mt. Morgan, 13,758'.

Little Lakes Valley Trailhead at 10,000' is the end of Rock Creek Road

Aaah! The main reason to climb 4,000'. My real destination.

Fresh home-made strawberry pie ala-mode and a good cup-o-joe. The pies are good as advertised!

Part 3 - Devil's Post Pile and Rainbow Falls

On the third day, Herb and I hiked the 5 mile trail taking us to Devil's Post Pile National Monument and down the San Joaquin River to Rainbow Falls and Lower Falls

Entering Devil's Post Pile

A jumble of multi-faceted rocks lying at the base of slender post-pile columns. The post-piles were created by slowly cooling lava.

You can see the tops of the columns by taking the High Trail. Moving glaciers more than 12,000 years ago scraped off the tops of the piles and polished them into a stone patio-like surface.

Post-piles sticking out at a 45 degree angle seen on the High Trail. Herb at the base of rocks.

The John Muir Trail travels over the San Joaquin River on a wooden rainbow bridge

Over the eons, glaciers and the San Joaquin River polishes the boulders as the river flows toward Rainbow Falls.

The dramatic Rainbow Falls plunges 135'

This young lad gets ready to jump into the brisk pool below the falls

We meet a cowboy and his beautiful horse at the Lower Falls

Part 4 - Camping at Brown's Owens River Campground

We camped at the Owens River Campground for 6 nights. Initially, this campground appeared to be unappealing lying in a flat tree-less, windswept valley. But spending one night will convince you that this campground lies in a special place.

The campground sits in the Long Valley Caldera and surrounded by a string of 13,000+' high Sierra peaks to the west and the Glass Mountain range to the east. The White Mountain range lies further east beyond the Glass Mountains.

The sunrises and sunsets are glorious and the night sky brilliant. If the conditions are right, the night sky is a stargazers paradise. We were treated to seeing shooting stars, many constellations, bright planets, satellites, and the wide swath of the Milky Way painting the night sky.

Herb and I arrived early and set up camp with the spectacular Sierra Mountain range as our background. With warm temps and no trees, a shade canopy is a necessity.

This is what we woke up to every morning!


The Yosemite fires created some smokey days but the sunsets were amazing. This is a shot of the Minerets basking in the pink glow of sunset.

This is not the Moon. The wildfire smoke made the sun glow bright orange at sunset.

A close-up view of the orange sun

Later in the week, the Yosemite fires seemed to be subsiding and created only a wisp of a pink cloud

Fellow hikers and cyclists from Grass Valley and San Luis Obispo arrive and begin setting up their tents

Reza from San Luis Obispo sets up camp in the high wind

Dennis taking advantage of the shade canopy. Strong afternoon winds bellow the canvas canopy and towels.

It's quite windy in the evenings so Herb gets creative. He cooks in the back of his van using it as a windscreen.

We were treated to a night of amazing star-gazing by our camp neighbors Dave and his daughter Abbey. He brought along a computer tracking 12" mirrored telescope enabling us to zoom in on the planets, stars, moons, nebulas, and other heavenly bodies.

Misc. Happenings

Alot of neat things were happening before I left on my Eastern Sierra trip. It was a busy time. Here are a few pics of life around the Masuda abode.

Dawn and Jeff's sunflowers are really shooting up. Before I left, the stalks were over 7' tall. When I returned 7 days later, it grew another foot and the four stalks have flower blooms forming on the tops. Hoorah! Pretty soon I will have flowers and seeds for Patti's birdy friends.

Sophie (in the basket), Susan and Peter stopped by to wish me bon voyage.

Sophie is a cute little gal and well behaved. She loves to go on a bike ride.

What great timing. My friend, Dennis, from Monterey and fellow Bike Friday owner stopped by and spent the night before my departure. He was completing a 3 week, 500+ mile loaded tour of Northern California. He caught the Capitol train the next morning back to Monterey.

I had time to begin packing my Bike Friday for the Fall Japan trip. See how the folding bike fits snugly in the Samsonite suitcase. I can check it in as two of my check-in luggage and thus avoid paying any extra fees (I hope?)

Close the suitcase and I'm ready to Rock n Roll!! Pretty cool huh?

Oregon Trip - Part 1 - Bicycle Tour

The June 26th to July 8th trip to Oregon is seperated into four parts. Part 1 is devoted to the 6-day bicycle tour of the Willamette Valley and Cascade Foothills organized and led by Dennis Engblom. In 6 days, we covered 235 miles and climbed nearly 10,000'.

Part 2 is a visit to Silver Falls State Park, a spectaculer gem of a park with 10 magnificient waterfalls pouring over basalt cliffs into a deep canyon.

Part 3 covers a post-bike trip drive over the Cascade Range to Sisters where we spent a couple days hiking along the roaring Metolius River, a spring-fed river, and a short and heady hike up to the top of 6,436' Black Butte, a giant cinder cone offering panoramic views of the Cascade Range.

Part 4 is a trip to Diamond Lake and Crater Lake where we camped for 2 nights watching a spectacular sunset on Mt. Thielsen and a final grinding bike ride from Diamond Lake to the rim of Crater Lake.

Note: To view enlarged photo, mouse over picture and click

Our bike tour started at the beautiful farm of Bill and Karen Farmer located about 8 miles west of Salem. Bill and Karen are long-time friends of Dennis. They live and restored the Victorian farmhouse of Bill's grandparents. The Farmer family settled in the Willamette Valley 150 years ago so their roots are deeply rooted here.

The view of the beautiful back "40" landscaped with trees, shrubs and flower gardens.

Bill and Karen were gracious hosts and fed us hearty farmer-sized dinner and breakfast.
L-R Dennis, Dick, Bill and Karen

A giant black walnut tree dominates the back "40"

Dick and I camped on the back "40". An old barn and several out-buildings were home to owls.

The first morning and ready to roll. Wagons Hooo!!

Catching a ride on a ferry crossing the lanquid Willamette River

Dennis plotted out a great route on very quiet back country roads. Our three bikes were the only "vehicles" on the ferry.

End of our first day at the Waterloo County Park along the Santium River. A rip-roaring waterfall dropping about 8'.

How to cool off a teardrop on a 100 degree day

A homemade "cowboy" camper from Pendleton

Arriving at the Green Peter Dam on the Santium River and heading into the mountains.

Taking "5" at the Dam

Quartsville Road follows a wild and scenic river

Looking down on rip-roaring Quartsville Creek

Our campground at Yellow Bottom on Quartsville Creek

Dennis leaves a messy table

The fully-loaded Bike Friday worked out quite well. It's quite the little burro.

The Willamette Valley is known for covered bridges

Start of our big climb from the valley to Silver Falls State Park

Beautiful rolling hills of wheat. The fertile volcanic soils of the Willamette Valley yields a diverse variety of crops.

Rows of blueberries bushes nearly ripe for pickin'

On our last day, we swung through Salem and visited the State Capitol

Looking up at the impressive ceiling rotunda

The Capitol Building is very impressive. This newer version replaced the old one which burned down in the 1930's.