The Breakfast Club: 2022 Kings Canyon

Pictures start here

Thurs–Sun, 22–25 Sep 2022

Harry writes:

Nine riders met at Flapjacks in Tres Pinos for breakfast on Thursday 9/22/22. Afterward, we departed for Kings Canyon.

With Chris W, Jag P, Thom M, Carl T, Harry B, Fred M, Russ D. and Ran B. all riding BMW’s, it was only proper to have Marco lead on the KTM. Russ departed from the group due to volunteer coaching duties that afternoon. We had beautiful weather riding up to our two campsites, where Les K. from down south, also riding BMW, joined us.

Friday’s ride was down through Sequoia NP for lunch at Casa Mendoza in Three Rivers, to then venture up Dry Creek road to a freshly paved hwy. 245, and up to 180 for a return to the park. While Carl, Ran, Chris and Les stayed behind at camp to hike and exercise jaw bones, later taking a small ride to check out the lunch fare at the Hume Christian Camp.

By a stroke of luck, both rider groups converged at the Hume/180 junction to ride back to camp. Stopping at the park gate to show our entry cards to the ranger, Fred also displayed his threadbare rear tire to the rider behind him. Back at camp plans were developed to re-shoe his trusty steed in Fresno. In borrowing Chris W’s generously offered motorcycle, the trip was made by Fred the next morning with the wheel strapped to the back.

While some sat around on Saturday drinking and discussing wheel mounting strategies for Fred’s return, the adventurous lads with big bumps on their tires, made off to see how much dust they could find. Two actually got to tumble around in the stuff, on and off their bikes.

At night, Ranger led Campfire programs were enjoyed, along with the major SMBC audience participation and song.

Evenings were ended with nightcaps around our own campfire.

While two made it to the regularly scheduled SMBC breakfast on Sunday, we camp riders headed home, albeit different intervals, different paths.

Marc adds:

Ran and Chris were late to breakfast at Flapjacks. According to Ran Chris had a bottle of the “good stuff” attached to his bike by a bungie net. Said net failed to keep the bottle on the bike. Ran tells the story of crystal shards of glass littering the highway along with the amber liquid. Later, around a campfire, the group embelished the story with plenty of “and what if…” scenarios.

As we arrived at the campsite I realized I goofed. I reserved site 55 and Harry site 54 across the road. However, the site I was thinking of is site 53 and the one across the road is 52. 52/53 are slightly larger/nicer than 54/55. It worked out OK, though. There was room for everyone.

Lester Katz joined the group Thursday and rode with Chris and Ran on Friday. He broke camp on Saturday and headed back home.

As seen in the photos below Fred is still having issues with his camp coffee maker. No coffee explosions, but plenty of mess. I don’t think he will take it on any more camping trips.

Harry mentioned Friday’s ride. We decided to do Generals Highway on Friday because Saturday was “free park entrance” day. The southern end of the highway would likely be crowded. Our choice was good: we had next to no traffic from the bottom of Kings Canyon to leaving Sequoia near Three Rivers. Not much traffic the rest of the ride, either.

On Saturday Jag, Tom, and I rode out of the canyon to find some dirt roads. Jag wanted to take the road to Chicago Stump and I knew of some others. Near the entrance of the first bit of dirt Jag found himself in the wrong gear and had to step off his bike. Tom went back to help him get it upright. Later we took the dirt road to Chicago Stump. Never did find the stump but Tom found out why one road was marked “not recommended”. Tom says he hit the face of a partially buried boulder and got airborn. Alas, he did not stick the landing, instead finding himself on his back in powdered dirt. That dirt was deep enough that had Tom missed the rock he still would have likely crashed in the deep powder. Jag and I helped get the bike back upright.

We got back on 180 and took the road that eventually turns to dirt and goes by Buck Rock. We stopped to take some pictures and wonder just exactly how many steps it was from the base to the fire lookout. We never learned.

Lunch was at Hume Lake Snack bar before heading back to camp.

Sunday was break camp and go home day. Randy and Chris were goiung to go about that lazily. Harry headded out before the rest of us. We stapped at Grant’s Grove and decided the food offering was not for us. We left the park and during the Squaw Valley fuel stop Jag searched and found a breakfast spot in Clovis, near Fresno. Popular spot. We had a wait to be seated.

After breakfast we rode back to 180 and continued on toward home. After a fuel stop in Los Banos Tom and Fred headed north on 33. Carl, Jag, and I kept on 152 until 101 in Gilroy. I was home about 4:30 PM.

Next year we’re going to see if we can go back to Buckeye Flat in Sequoia Park as it has been a while since we’ve been there.