My bike just fits in the motel room.
Departing the Bluelake Inn
The sun has yet to rise over the food courts in Heavenly Village.
Heading south on Pioneer Trail
First rays of sun along Pioneer Trail halfway to Meyers
Bypassing the California agricultural inspection station on US-50 in Meyers
Echo Ridge lies ahead
Approaching Upper Truckee Road
Heading north takes me back toward Tahoe Mountain where I rode the day before, turning right is an alternate route to CA89 on its lower climb to Luther Pass.
Back onto old asphalt on the upper reach of Upper Truckee Road
Aspens
More aspens at the upper end of Upper Truckee Road
Starting the climb to Luther Pass
No worries about snow yet
Luther campground is closed, but I was able to ride around the gate.
Luther Campground road (1)
Luther Campground road (2)
On CA89 heading toward Luther Pass
On CA89 near Grass Lake
At Luther Pass
Descending into Hope Valley
Descending toward Pickett Peak and Pickett Junction
Starting up CA88 toward Carson Pass
View south in Hope Valley
CA88 climbs past colorful aspens.
Colorful aspens along CA88
Aspens at their peak color on CA88
Red Lake Peak lies ahead.
The climb gets two lanes.
View south over Red Lake
The smoke is being blown south, fortunately.
Crossing 8000 feet
Approaching Carson Pass from the east
At Carson Pass
Smaller aspens on the west side of Carson Pass
Descending to Caples Lake
Crossing the earthen dam at Caples Lake
Hazy view east over Caples Lake toward the Sierra Crest
Passing Caples Lake Resort
Passing the concrete dam at Caples Lake
Kirkwood Inn (closed for the season) and the Two Sentinels above
Kirkwood Meadows
One can just make out the ski runs on the flanks of Thimble Mountain at the far end of the valley.
Passing Kirkwood Meadows Drive
Climbing to Carson Spur
Carson Spur
View north from Devil's Garden Vista Point
Too smoky to the south to enjoy the view
And then the smoke begins to clear!
Descending through 6000 feet.
Hams Station
Cook's Station was busy.
No shoulder on this section of ridgetop rollers
Rolling through upper Sutter Creek valley
Entering Pioneer and looking forward to getting off the increasingly busy CA88
Crossing from Amador into Calaveras County on CA26
Peak Regeneration figure
Peak Regeneration on the ride occurred at this low point on the course, at the crossing of the North Fork Mokelumne River on CA26
Entering West Point on the smooth asphalt of CA26
Appropriate name for a logging company
Crossing Middle Fork Mokelumne River, then turning left onto Railroad Flat Road
Entering Wilseyville
Continuing down Railroad Flat Road to Spruce Gulch and the crossing of the Licking Fork of Mokelumne River
A lone Biden/Harris sign in the middle of Trump Country
Crossing Spruce Gulch
In Railroad Flat
The road with the same name was anything but flat.
I stopped near Benchmark 2649 to enjoy a break in the Calaveras River valley and to eat a sandwich.
Esperanza Valley
View back toward the burn area near Jesus Maria Creek on Railroad Flat Road
which is still anything but flat.
Turning left onto Sheep Ranch Road
More new asphalt on Sheep Ranch Road
Entering Sheep Ranch
Central Calaveras Fire Rescue Station, Sheep Ranch
One can see that the good asphalt ends at this intersection.
Another junction in Sheep Ranch
My route goes straight here.
Descending steeply on a rough road to San Antonio Creek
Climbing steeply south of San Antonio Creek
Junction with Avery-Sheep Ranch Road
Descending to San Domingo Creek
Fresh patches on Sheep Ranch Road
Passing Mercer Caverns
In Murphys
Descending new asphalt into Angels Camp
Crossing under CA4 in Angels Camp
Arrival at Angels Inn, Angels Camp
