This is a fairly common route for me. The entrance to the park is about 50 miles from my house. With it being hot in the valley (headed toward 105), I pointed the Deluxe in that direction on Sunday morning. Got out early while it was cool,. Virtually no traffic on the road. One truck towing a camper trailer ahead of me at the gate. Hadn't decided on which road to take, 180 into Kings Canyon, or 198 into Sequoia until I got to the junction, and decided to go Sequoia. My "Senior Lifetime Pass gets me free entry into the National parks.
As it turned out, road construction 30 miles ahead meant there was only so far I could go. About 5 miles or so in, I saw a back road to Hume Lake. Have never been on that road, i said to myself, "Self, why not?'
It was just a lovely little road and came into the back side of Hume Lake. Again, no one there.
Between Hume Lake and Grant's grove, the burned out area from the big fires of a couple years ago are still evident. However, baby pines are springing up all over. In a few years, it'll be lush and beautiful once again.
Leaving the park at about noonish, I wanted to get back before it got too hot. I was surprised to see hardle anyone at the entrance to come in. I had talked to my sister-in-law Saturday evening, and they were hiking up in Yosemite earlier that day. When they left at about noon, the line to get in was miles long. Not an exaggeration, they said traffic was backed up and at a snails pace all the way to Oakhurst.

On my return, I decide to take Elwood Road though Wonder Valley. Just a couple miles in, an unrestrained pit bull comes charging out of a yard into the road right toward me. I swerved a bit, hit the throttle and put him in my rear-view. I don't know what it is about people on that road, but it seems pretty common for 'em to just their dogs run free like that. But the road is twisty, turny, floorboard scrapin' good fun!
Turned out to be a nice 140 mile ride. A good day!


Baby pines starting to sprout amid the burned out area around Hume Lake


On 198 into Sequoia


Looking out at Kings Canyon from Hume Lake


Obligatory bike shot near Hume Lake

 

Looks like a nice ride!

 

What a great excuse to escape the heat. Glad that you had a good time.

 

Very nice!

R,
Sanjuro

 

Nice ride and nice to be so close to it.

 

Absolutely beautiful! Sequoia NP was one of my favorite places to go when I was stationed in Lemoore.

 

I live right off of Elwood Rd, Mike. The pit bulls like my bike & never bother me ;-)

 

Great pictures and a nice ride! I used to live in CA and have ridden in Kings Canyon/Sequoia, as well as Yosemite many times. Great riding area!! Thanks for posting

 

Maybe this one liked my bike too. Enough to come get him a taste!

We should hook up sometime Tommy

 

And that people is why some of us put up cali's nonsense, hard to beat riding country like this.