Onion Valley Road

Monday, September 17th

"In just 13 miles, we'll climb 5,200 feet to Onion Valley Road (el 9.200)."  Oh alrighty, if you insist....  The start of this climb began in Independence, CA. 

Altering the lyrics to Cracker's Teen Angst:

I don’t know what the world may need,
And I never grasped your complexities.
I’d be happy just to get up this frigging road...

 

Again, as my back twitched with pain, I relied on Cracker's Teen Angst to keep me going:

And, I don’t know what the world may want,
But your long, sweet body lying next to mine
could certainly raise my spirits.

Okay people, my kind of ride.  Rugged.  Manly.  English accent.  Oops, I'm describing The BF....

It took 3 hrs. 29 min. to do 26 miles.  4 avg mph to get to 9,200 feet.  Wonderful descent.  Loved it.

Lovely Lake Sabrina & Sensual South Lake

 Sunday, September 16th

 The Boyfriend and I thought we'd do Lake Sabrina and South Lake (a ride we missed having arrived when we did) while the gang did a hike or took the day off to rest.  It was 51 miles with 6,900 feet of climbing.

Lake Sabrina sits at 9,138 and the elevation for South Lake is 9,835.  This was a major climb, and scenic.

 Okay people, we did 5 miles and that was that.  Please, hold your applause. Shortest ride ever for both of us.  Lesson learned -- when you're in the Eastern Sierras, you will learn quickly to just hang out.  

On top of us both bombing, I was stung by a bee.  My hand ballooned, resembling the Pillsbury Doughboy.  The BF got the stinger out -- my hero. It was fun playing doctor....  later, I spent the afternoon shopping at The Mall, this being the middle of nowhere, meant, K-Mart.... still I found a great push up bra for future rides.  Yay, time for happy hour ....

Why do Waucoba Canyon?

Saturday, September  15th

Today's Eastern Sierras ride with the gang was a true desert route to the top of Waucoba Canyon (elevation 7,670) starting from Lone Pine (4,000 feet elevation).

 Honestly, except for this canyon, it was a boring ride in which we endured the heat.  Probably would have been a good first outing to acclimate.

Let's talk about the town of Bishop where we stayed.  Interesting place, full of SUVs and great restaurants (2 Japanese joints, a Chinese restaurant, one nice bistro, super pizza place, Erick Schat's Bakkery - a must for sandwiches and a lovely independent cafe for coffee lovers).   Not my kind of ride -- dry and dull for the most part.  But, I suppose, a good recovery ride after Bristlecone Pine Forest.  I did 33.50 miles in 3 hrs. 51 min at 9.5 avg mph.  Yay, it's time for happy hour at the lovely little creek next to our hotel....