Saturday, 18 Sep 2010
Saturday
Breakfast time
Our morning wake-up occurred at 6:30 AM. That’s what time the trucks come to empty the large garbage containers near the restroom and the center of the camp. By the time they are done everyone is awake. Perhaps some go back to sleep. I rolled out of my sleeping bag to start the day.
Bacon!
Marc cooks
French toast and bacon
Coffee makin’s
Mmmm, breakfast! Bacon. French Toast. Coffee. A bit
much compared to Cheerios and Oatmeal. There are no scales in camp.
Eat hearty.
King of the rock?
20 minute delay
Helmet cam
After breakfast clean-up and a little play time we geared up for a ride toward Kings Canyon. The Generals Highway has been under construction for the last 4 years that I can remember. During the week it is only open for one short period around 11:30. Weekends are better, with only a 20 minute delay.
Yeah, I know… Climbing, not climing. You’ll understand when you see the first video.
Bikes wait
Tom Bunyan?
Tom, get down
Didn’t chop this one
Cheap $%^&*
We took the road toward Hume Lake from the General’s Highway. Lots of smoke in the air from a fire in the area, a controlled burn, we hope. Once out of the park we stopped to pick up some felled wood for tonights fire. 30 minutes of work times 4 people plus one very sore back from a fall (Carl) to save $10. Are we cheap or what?
Hume lake
Tom and Carl
These images were taken in the haze at Hume Lake just before the Christian Camp. The lower in altitude we got the worse the smoke. We decided to continue the loop until 180 then head back toward camp with a stop at Wuksachi Lodge for lunch.
Out of the smoke
Generals Highway
About 7000’
Downhill side
Clear road
Waiting, again
Construction zone
After lunch Carl, Tom, and Gloria headed back to camp. I stopped at the store at Lodgepole to pick up some ice. The beer needed chilling. I got lucky at the construction zone, only having to wait 5 minutes or so before it was time to move in the downhill direction.
Once back in camp and changed out of riding gear I headed down to the river to splash some cold water and rinse off the dust. Tom and Gloria were already there. Wild man Tom was jumping and diving off of rocks and trying out the natural rock slide in both sitting and face down modes. I’m a wimp who prefers warmer water.
Carl’s dinner
This much cream
Mmmm, butter
Marc’s meal
Dinner happened mostly after dark. Before dinner there were some snacks, beer, chat, music, and a general good time.
Around the fire
After dinner the wood gathered earlier was put to use. Sitting around the fire was a good way to end a lazy Saturday. The last log went into the pit about 9:30. By 10 PM the fire dying and we were ready to retire to our tents.
