The FDR Redux
Our inaugural Foss-Diskon Ride (The FDR) last June was, by consensus, a wonderful success, soaking in gorgeous backroads scenery carved through the granite lined Feather River Canyon to Susanville, then two days later sweating off the pounds of food and libations we consumed there while traversing serpentine asphalt below the tree-lined canopy of Ca.. 49’s Gold Country Route during an unusual blast-furnace heat wave coming home. Of significance and glory, Tina Diskon had never experienced the wonderment of either route, yet she found many parts thereof brought familiar flashbacks to the remote backcountry roads of her east coast youth. And, Todd Ferris’ cherubic fiancée, Kristen, on her maiden pillion-passenger voyage of noteworthy mileage was perpetual smiles and giggles for over 675 miles of great Americana roadway.
Those are but two of the (printable) reasons I find our longer mileage non-repetitive jaunts rewarding and memorable.
By popular demand, The FDR Redux will convene Tuesday, June 19, 2018, with a meet and greet at McDonalds, 6800 Santa Rita Rd., Pleasanton 94588, directly off that namesake I-580 freeway exit. With our next gas stop 74 miles distant, top off if you want @ Shell across the street. At 0800 we’re in the wind for The Vagabond Inn, 1030 N. Main St., Bishop 93514. 760 873 6351. I have reserved 7 Double Queen rooms @ $104.95 + tax and 3 King rooms @ $99.95 for June 19 & 20 with check-out on the 21st. Of note, there is a Jr. Rodeo in town that week and it is projected all 10 or so “quality” hotels will be 100% booked.. Therefore, to get this substantial group-rate discount and semblance of a room configuration guarantee, I had to sign a 10 room contract with a 30 April cutoff. When calling in, you must mention the “FDR 2018 group” and reservation block #74877. Also, please send me an email if you’re attending and your room type requested as I have to provide the Vagabond with a confirming rooming list on or before the cutoff date! I know, quite convoluted but their game and similar to other hotels I priced! It will be a sold out week so don’t procrastinate!
Cliff Heanes will again be ably assisting me and his wife Ms. Mickie slaloming at least one of the chase vehicles stocked with iced water and Gatorade. Last year, LaRene Hodson performed “Yeowomens” duty keeping us hydrated with cases of those liquid refreshments. As is our custom, I will be collecting a TBD toke for the chase vehicle(s) to partially defray their gas guzzler status.
Following is the routing and in bold print, approximate mileages and waypoint stops of significance. My sanity and logic are likewise approximate, too: I-580E 18 mi., I-205E 15 mi., I-5N 1 mi., Ca-120E 7mi., US-99N 23 mi., Ca-12E 10 mi. to gas at Chevron, 14000 E. Hwy 88, Lockeford 95237. Next gas: 170 mi. Ca-12E 5 mi., Ca-88E 44 mi. to brunch at Cooks Station, 31950 State Hwy 88, Pioneer 95666 (209 295 2244). Ca-88E 50 mi., Ca-89S 30 mi. through Markleeville and over Monitor Pass for photo ops. US-395S 41 mi. to gas at Shell, 76773 Main St., Bridgeport 93517. Next gas: 90 mi. US-395S 90 mi. to our hotel in Bishop. Trip sub-total: 334 miles.
Like we did on the inaugural FDR, our second day in town will be spent leisurely exploring local historic and scenic sites on the periphery of town to appease my bi-curious appetite. Kicking it off @ 0915 Wednesday, June 20, a very relaxing discovery route to the Laws Railroad Museum of yesteryear @ 299 Silver Canyon Rd., Bishop (entrance is free, donations appreciated) will be followed by a westbound trek to Lake Sabrina high up in the Inyo National Forest and accessed via westbound W. Line St/Ca-168. Continuing on, we’ll ride US-395S to Big Pine and then again head west into the Inyo Forest via W. Crocker Ave/Glacier Lodge Rd. to see the sights and that namesake lodge. Our treat for the day will be an award-winning BBQ lunch @ Copper Top BBQ, 310 N. Main St., Big Pine 93513 (760 970 5577). This adventure should be a 90-95 mile round trip of epic proportion and find us back at poolside before 1300 hours.
Thursday morning we’re homeward bound @ 0800 via US-395N 66 mi. to Shell gas, 51357 US 395, Lee Vining 93541. Next gas: 160 mi. Ca-120W (through Yosemite, remember your National Parks Pass!) 91 mi. to brunch @ Buck Meadows Restaurant, 7647 State Highway 120, Groveland 95321 (209 962 5181), Ca-120W 69 mi. to Chevron, 1234 E. Yosemite Ave., Manteca 95336. After gas It’s US-99S 1 mi., Ca-120W 7 mi., I-5S 2 mi., I-205W 15 mi., I-580W 18 mi. past Santa Rita Rd. in Pleasanton which completes this day’s 269 mile total and our round-robin adventure from whence we began. Total trip mileage will be approximately 700 miles.
Dennis M. Brown
REMEMBER, If you forward this email, PLEASE REMOVE all existing email addresses before doing so and use the BCC area.