|   Searching for Treasure.....found some and some trouble... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 1:27 PM | | Last Saturday was my last ride at Boggs before my trip to the Sierra foothills. I decided to look for two of the undocumented trails.
I was enjoying the cruise as there was time and I hadn't been in this area of Boggs in a couple of years.... I found traces of one of the trails then they just played out. During one of my descents down an old wash I exited the bike... I was smiling as I ran trying to stop but knowing I had cleared the bike.... Okay so not too bad and the bike had hung in there longer then I expected due to recent changes ( fork and front tire).
I got back on and continued towards Grizzily trail.... about 1/2 a mile later I felt like I got stabbed in the back....
Naturaly I was as far as I could get from the car... I walked 2 miles to the ridge and coasted back to the car... I was in pain but not so much that I couldn't finish packing for my trip.....
That was last saturday..... Yesterday it recurred only much worse.... I went to the doctor and I evidently tore some muscles in my back.... I am off work and am not sure how long I can stay in this chair to finish my Post about the trip to Little Grass valley lake....
Here goes....
With my back hurting.... Mary and I got up early Sun to leave while closing the house Mary gets stung by a bee that was on one of the bushes in the yard..... She gets the stinger out.... By the time we get to Marysville her hand and arm are swelling pretty good ....
We got some Benidryl and dose her get soem breakfast and continue on.
We arrive at Little Grass Valley lake and find it crowded but thinning out... by the end of the day there are only about 10% of the sites filled.....
Mary is resting with lots of meds.... so I go for a ride to see how my back feels and to check for trails....
The trail part is good there is a single track trail around the entire lake.... so I turn around after about five miles and find my back is okay if I stand up to pedal...... |
| Sun rise on Little Grass valley lake.... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 1:41 PM | | was really awesome.... there was a cloud of vapor hanging over one shore of the lake.... I could hear the Canadian geese to the north east on the lake. The Osprey and Bald Eagles were out fishing. |
| I rode the perimeter of the lake.... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 1:46 PM | | as our friends were not able to join us and Mary just wanted to relax and let the swelling go down on her hand.
The Perimeter road is just above single track trail around the lake. I rode the pavement for aout 6-7 miles and checked out some fireroads.... when it got hot I dropped down to the lake and took a swim..... |
| Some of the washes have been bridged.... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 1:52 PM | | but there are enough that haven't to make it interesting....
The trail also has enough up and down so it is worth riding with a less experience friend or S.O.
There are about 2 miles of trail that is really flat along the beach and campgrounds for a ride with young (or injured)riders. |
| We went hunting for ghost towns on Weds....... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 1:57 PM | | We found this Cemetary at Howland flat.....
Mary was facinated by the graves. We talked about what it would be like in the town during winter..... |
| We found the old swimmin' hole..... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 2:01 PM | | Where my friends and I had quit our jobs and gone gold panning 22 years ago..... Mary wanted a picture taken in the same spot as my Messiah picture.... |
| Not much has changed here.... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 2:04 PM | | Mary was really excited to trace the trails that I had adventured on so long ago..... |
| not quite | nfm-
Jul 14, 2002 6:12 PM | | need to be one rock over to the right |
| Yes.... 22 years and one foot.....NM | Battman42
Jul 14, 2002 6:15 PM | | |
| I could have Photoshopped it ...... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 2:16 PM | | but that would be cheating......
So here I am 22 years older and one foot away from that adventure of a lifetime.....
As we drove back to camp Mary told me that she would always remember this trip.... This is the kind of day I live for...... |
| Weds. found us 4wheelin the back way to Downieville...... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 2:20 PM | | I asked Mary if she wanted to drive..... She Declined....
comfort is an inline Six and a 45 gallon fuel tank. |
| This area of the Sierra is loaded with areas to adventure in.... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 2:24 PM | | We saw three MTBrs out climbing the fire roads as we cruised thru the area.
This is Mount Etna |
| Mary found this nice waterfall.... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 2:36 PM | | She got the chance to do some intense creek running....I think she is hooked.... |
| Lastly.... the view above the Downieville shuttle dropoff.... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 2:45 PM | | This is the view from Snag lake.... the Downieville shuttle drops off down below here for the 17 mile run back to town.
We toured Sierra city and Downieville....
I checked out the outfitters, got maps, and found one shop rat who used to live in Cobb..... He seemed to be very interested in Mary....
Being that he is about 14 I guess I'll let it slide....
We finished Downieville with rootbeer floats.
The ride back to camp was punctuated by dips in the Feather river....very handy.
All in all it was a great trip....I may be on meds and unable to work but I still loved it....
Now to heel up so I can go back to work.....Not
I'm dreaming of Hood River.... more meds pls.
Tim |
| nice trip report. thx | DurtGurl
Jul 13, 2002 5:16 PM | | Very nice to see you sharing the great outdoors with your someone special. And how cool to go back to the exact same spot 22 years later! Happy trails to you both.
Kathleen |
| Great adventure... | skogan
Jul 13, 2002 5:23 PM | | looks like you guys were playing in some wonderful country, thanks for the story...
Take care of that back! |
| After meds and Ice pack...... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 7:09 PM | | I'm feeling a little better...
I reread my post and found a few errors... like the pic size of the water fall.... I was fading fast.
This area has been a favorite for quite a while....
We also stopped in at the sanitary transfer station. There sitting in the shade were the parents of a friend I went to highschool with.
It had been sixteen years since we last met... Tim's Dad just celebrated his 80th B'day. Tim's Mom had baked a cake in their woodstove when Tim and I snowshoed in for our birthdays both in Feb back in '83.
It's has provided me with lots of memories and Mary wants to make it a family tradition of getting our pictures taken at the Swimin' hole.... This fall I am looking into a trip to Downieville.... Can't make the classic but I'll be checkin this area out....
Tim |
| Your back, too? | pedalAZ
Jul 13, 2002 8:48 PM | | Hey, Tim, we both need the cure. I did a back endo this morning, and landed on a nice big rock right at my beltline in the middle of my back, below the cushioning potential of my Camelback (I need a longer one now, don't I?). It has swelled up into a 1/2 peach sized knot in the 15 hours since.
I was still hoping to hook up with you at Annadel on the 23rd, 24th or 25th if we're not both in rehab. What are your chances? |
| Oooch...... | Battman42
Jul 13, 2002 9:53 PM | | I thought I saw that in your post....
Sounds much worse than mine....
I hope to be back at work by Fri. as I have days next weekend.... and I don't want to be spotted riding after not going in for my nite shifts this weekend....
The 23rd is the best bet for me and Annadel as I have nites that week and so the 24th and 25th I could only do Boggs due to time.
Hope your in shape for a ride when you get here.
Tim(leaning on an ice bag) |
| Geez, what a bunch of old cripples we are | AK Ken
Jul 13, 2002 10:39 PM | | I'm restricted to lifting less than 50 pounds, which means no work for me, either.
Great trip, great pics, thanks for sharing.
Ken |
| Glad you could see thru the haze..... | Battman42
Jul 14, 2002 6:35 AM | | in my text.... I didn't really have two weds. last week...even tho it seemed like it.. |
| nice story | moschika
Jul 14, 2002 7:19 AM | | nice pics of the sierras. it's been a long time since i've ridden up there. not so much grass valley but the high country none-the-less. |
| Thanks..... | Battman42
Jul 14, 2002 7:29 AM | | Little Grass Valley lake is at 5000' and so it's much cooler than Grass Valley proper.
I'm getting hyped for a trip to Downieville.... It looks like MTB heaven.
Tim |
| Great post! | mugg
Jul 14, 2002 10:39 AM | | Really beautiful out there and looks like fantastic riding. Thanks for the passion post. |
| Thanks the (PP) Post Police are at the Tahoe gathering..... | Battman42
Jul 14, 2002 10:46 AM | | or I would have been Cited for Posting "under the influence"
I'm off for a flat walk.... My bike is growling at me...
When I get back I'm going to plaster it with the stickers fp sent me.
Tim |
| Thanks for a great post. aquestion. | zilla
Jul 14, 2002 11:57 AM | | I love the photo's and narative, especially the before and after pic's.. Funny where life's travels take us.. Exactly where is this place? I have heard of Downieville, but haven't heard of Little Grass Valley.. I would like to add it to my list of future places to go see and check out.. Thanx again for the report.
zilla |
| Little Grass Valley Lake is located.... | Battman42
Jul 14, 2002 6:14 PM | | 3 miles north-east of La Porte, Ca.
Headed out of Marysville towards Nevada city, hang a left at Marysville road and go about 45 miles... It is past Bullards Bar Res.
and roughly north of Downieville..... The swimin' hole is on Slate creek off Port Wine road. This is all in Plumas Nat. Forest.
The area is huge... the roads we were on can be driven by pretty much any 4wheel drive vehicle... ground clearance is a plus... and a large fuel tank as it is easy to get lost.... suppose I could get one of those GPS things...
Here is a Mapquest map of the area.... the blue blob above La Porte is Little Grass Valley Lake.
Everything between La Porte and Hwy 49 is 4wheel country... Have fun.
Tim |
| re: Searching for Treasure.....found some and some trouble... | Debbie Mack
Jul 16, 2002 3:54 AM | | Tim,
I am so envious of your opportunity to have such a great trip. Takes me back many a year (or two) to when we were younger and would take off such excursions.
If you are interested in taking a ride thru the Bahrain desert, let me know and I'll arrange it for you.
Debbie |
| It's a bit of a stretch.... when is the Monsoon season....? | Battman42
Jul 16, 2002 5:41 AM | | I thought you might like the pics from up there....
John did tell me that Glidewell in now Re Married and living in Booneville but has not much good to say...
When the G'vment releases you come on out for some adventuring.
Tim |
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