Road Trip - Day 1 - San Jose to Bass Lake
San Jose to Oakhurst, CA
We left at 8.30 am and the temperature was 65 degrees. Our route - 101, 152, 99, 145, 41
We encountered more traffic than we are used to but we left two and half hours later than normal so that is understandable.
As soon as we hit the start of the two lane section on 152 the traffic slowed right down and we could see a stopped traffic ahead. We thought our worst fears had been realised and that it would be stop/go all the way to the 152/156 interchange. Two police cars, sirens blaring, sped past. Fortunately the hold up was only 100 yards ahead so we were able to pick up speed and traveled at 55 all the way to Casa de Fruita - apart, or course, for the 40 limit through the road works.
Last week, when we traveled this part of the route to Fresno, there were no fruit stands open but today The Fruit Market just before Case de Fuita was open for business.
Just past Casa de Fruita the helicopters were gone and the mustering center was no more. The fire up at Henry Coe State Park was 100% contained last Tuesday though the fire continues to burn. There were over 868 personnel involved in putting out the fire and over 47,00 acres were burned.
I swear the level of the San Luis Reservoir is lower than last week or, should I say, the islands look bigger. We we drove downhill into the Central Valley the view was clearer than last week, obviously due to the fire.
We stopped in for a coffee at Starbucks in Los Banos. It was crowded and it took ages for get served. There were a lot of young cheer leaders in line. Tom just has black coffee but I had a cafe latte. After waiting for some time for my drink, I noticed that one cup had been waiting to be collected for some time. I checked the name written on the side and it said ‘Markum’. I asked everybody waiting for their drinks if their name was Markham and all said no, so I assumed they had misheard my name. We sat outside in the sun reading the New York Times for an hour. Well, we sat in the sun for 20 minutes and then moved into the shade because it was getting too hot. A quick visit to the restroom and at 11 we were back on our way again.
As we approached 99, the Sierras could be seen indistinctly in the distance. We passed a road named 15 3/4. Would you fancy that as your address?
At Madera we turned left on Cleveland. It was signposted Yosemite. As we drove through a residential area there were a lot of yard sales going on. Them hills are gettn’ closer.
Leaving Madera behind us, we entered farming country. We passed huge ranches on our right owned by Agri World with orchards on each side of the entry gates. We notice fig trees to our left. The Sierra foothills are looking up with the main peaks of the Sierras rising behind them. All the grass is short and brown, sorry ‘gold’ but there were few animals.
We turned left onto Highway 41 and the grass is beginning to disappear and the gound is becoming more rugged. Now we are into the foothills and there are lots of rocks and trees. Elevation 1,000′.
We stopped in Coarsegold to stretch our legs. Coarsegold is an old mining town and they have a historic village with a wigwam outside. We bought ice cream at Rose’s Frosty and sat outside to eat them. While we sat there several old Fords passed.
Entered Oakhurst at 1.15. We overtook all the old Fords struggling up the hill. Although the check in time was 3, we were able to get into our room at the Best Western Yosemite Gateway Inn. Right outside our room is a nicely restored Model A. We drooled over it for a few moments.
The reason we have come to Oakhurst on this particular day is to attend one of Tom’s class reunions. It is up at Bass Lake this afternoon. After a quick freshen up we set off on the seven mile trip to the lake. Tom used to ‘hang out’ here in his youth. The reunion was held at the Pines Resort which is right on the lake. As we were early we went for a drink at Ducey’s Lodge and sat out on the patio to enjoy not only the drink but the view. It was pretty spectacular. Lots of power boats out on the lake and the weather was perfect. We drunk in the view for an hour until we make out way to where the party was being held.
At first there were not many people there but soon the place began to fill up. Tom recognized some people but lots of them he didn’t know at all. This was my first all American class reunion and it was fun. Most people were very friendly and, as to be expected, there were a few characters. There was food, which we enjoyed, and a no host bar. Later on there was birthday cake and dancing. We didn’t stay til the end as we have an early start tomorrow, so at 7.30 we made our way back to the hotel for an early night.
September 16 2007 07:28 pm | Further Afield
Rob Cann on 27 Sep 2007 at 1:59 pm #
Hi Mum! Hi Tom!
Great to be able to follow your travels like this! It looks as if you are both having a really great time. Some truely inspiring pictures too! Still waiting on that Grand Canyon postcard!!
Lots of Love
Rob xxx