driving for us express

YES!! That is the Sonora Pass on SR 108 in the Sierra's. Your the first one, OD, to comment on the picture and correctly identify the location! (look for valuable prizes and coupons in your mail!! ) As far as I know, that 26% grade is the steepest HIGHWAY grade in the lower 48. The pass is only open for a few months during the summer and is closed due to snow and weather for most of the year. There may be some rural roads around the country that slightly exceed that 26%, but not on a highway. I can't imagine anyone trying to get a semi over that pass, but I did manage to drive a 33 ft motorhome over it in 1984!

I grew up in the SF Bay Area and our family had a summer home in Twain Harte, about 30 or 40 mi's west of the pass. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses through there and growing up I spent many summers backpacking in that magnificent part of our beautiful land. In later years my Father and I would ride motorcycles from Twain Harte up to the pass, find a fire break or forest service road and ride until that ended, park the bikes and then explore on foot until almost dark. Once we weren't able to find the bikes again until midnight or so. Another time while riding with my brothers, Dad took a fall on his bike and somehow ended up with a long tire tread imprint accross the back of his jacket. When we got back home Mother thought her sons were trying to assassinate their Father. Years later when Mom passed away, Dad took her on one last ride and hike as far up into the pass as he could and scattered her ashes. Seven years later my two brothers and I did the same for him. There are places up there where the snow never melts, and any trees that survive are so gnarled and twisted they look like something from a Lewis Carroll fantasy. But the serenity and solitude found there, is like nowhere else.

Neither of the two road bikes are mine, I just "pilfered" that picture from the internet. However, I am an avid bike rider and did attempt the east side of the pass many years ago. I,m pretty sure I left a lung back there somewhere on the road.....gotta get back there someday and see if I can recover it!! Nice to hear of someone else taking up the habit. Quite a few drivers hang a bike on the back of their condo, seems like they're usually the beach cruiser type though.

Richfield seems like a nice little town. On I-70 east of town there is a truck stop (Flying J, Phillips 66 ??) with a neat looking steak house accross the street from it. The restaurant looks like a log cabin, two-story I think, and has a lifesize horse on the roof. Do you know if the steaks are as good as the outside of the place looks? Good luck in your new career and have fun with the riding!!

 

wow can you write. What a beautiful story. Many years ago I did an awesome hike up above Bishop in the mid 80's that almost killed me from altitude sickness since I was living on the beach at the time. Great area.

 

lmao.... Man POO I grew up in the bay area in San Leandro, I know that sign because I pulled my 33' 5th wheel toyhouse over that grade with my 4 door f250 my Buddy that was with me at the time said to me as we past the sign "Hey did you see that sign? How longs your trailer?" I just laughed and continued on my way....needless to say I made it had to granny low it around a couple of corners and such but we made it.

Before moving to Utah in '05 we lived at lake Don Pedro just 9 miles south of Coulterville right off Hwy 132. I miss that area But I like Utah.

I loved riding in the sierras you are so right about the peace and serenity of them its almost indescribable to someone whose never been there its like going to Yosemite with out Mr Ranger watching every move you make or 100,000 daytime tourist trying to be there at the same time, Your Parents are at peace my friend, they are at peace!

That Resturant is called "The Frontier" the food is good but since Brent's dad passed away and he took over, the prices have shot up, but the food is still good. My friend John Just painted it a few months ago also, its actually 3 stories it has a basement, Its a quaint small town, we have been coming over here since 1999 to ride our ATVs
We have over 2000 miles of interconnecting trails to ride on, its called the Paiute ATV trail system.

I have 2 diamondback bikes one is an Edgewood LX its my pavement bike my wife has the same, then I also have a Diamondback Overdrive 29er its my MTN bike I got it just before winter hit on a clearance sale it was 50% off a 2010 I didn't need it but couldn't pass up the price I only got a chance to ride it once before the snow fell as did the temp lol.

I want to hang a bike off my truck also if you ever get a chance shoot a picture of it being done so I can see how its done please send me one or two

Small world brother where did you grow up at in the BA?

 

I love us express even though i got laid off cause of the economy.

 

Your not still laid off,,are you?

 

ooh, oooh..(arm raised)...I have a question? Does USX have a BMI test like Prime? Prime is the only company I have heard of that does this.

Thanks

 

No, they check blood pressure and heart rate

 

Hey Poobah, I don't know if you got my message but Carl lost his phone. He wants you to call him.

 

Thanks again NoCoCraig,,
I want you to know, I am following you and your wife's adventure with team and USX. I am only looking at USX for one main reason, they are close to where I live,,no 3.5 hr drives to pickup truck or drop off truck...LOL All else seems fine..

Stay safe out there...

 

What do you mean the trainer can not drive after 75 hours. Does that mean you drive team?