NorCal Grand Tour—Downieville Daze & HoHo Rally, 2024

[SFMCjohn]

apparently I wore out yet another “A-bike” pre-gen KLR last year.

at least we struggled mightily to wrestle its oil-burning to the ground—but the poor thing quit on me on the way to both the n00bs Rally and our Taft Rally, the second time with catastrophic damage to the oil pump.

depression and panic were setting in because it was looking like I’d be forced to use my “Plan B” street bike, once again, if I wanted to ride some dirt watchtower roads and make an appearance in 2024 at my annual July/August motorcycle rallies.

while whining about this state of affairs, my fellow pre-gen KLR compañero, Mr Kalle, rolled his eyes at me and said “just go buy a low-mile pre-gen KLR.” we looked on line for five minutes, and found an ‘07 with <10k on the ODO in Watsonville for a good price—and hey-presto, I was back in business:



the ‘07, ready to roll. it came with a nice set of Tusk saddle bags.

here’s this year’s NorCal Grand Tour route … seven days sleeping in a tent and three motel days in Weaverville:



google maps link

 

[budman]

I am in and saw the new steed looking well SFMC'd!

 

[SFMCjohn]

plan for Wednesday night, 07/24/24, was to camp up on Mills Peak and watch the sunset and then watch the sunrise:

 

[SFMCjohn]

the next three days were camping with Mr @bananachunks and Mr @CrazyCooter at the venerable Mr @Catfish organized Downieville Daze event. Covid caught up to Mr Catfish this year, so we missed him at the event:



the gang at Packsaddle #16 on Saturday night.

Mr @bananachunks and I caught the sunrise on Mills Peak, did some fishing, and rode Mt Hough/Crystal Lake:



Mills Peak …



Mr George fishing on Gold Lake …



Mr George pic of our bikes at the Mt Hough watchtower …



and Crystal Lake …

 

[SFMCjohn]

Sunday I said goodbye to Mr George, and was off to see if the gate to the Fredonyer Peak watchtower was unlocked:



the mighty 701, about to roar home from Packsaddle to SF in under four hours.



the gate to Fredonyer Peak was locked, so I had to get my steps in and hoof it about a mile to see the epic view. that tiny orange spot is the sunset through the Park wildfire smoke.



smokey sunrise the next morning …



and my campsite at the locked gate on Fredonyer Peak road. which is rocky up from the Susanville side, and sandy down the back side to Grasshopper Valley. I managed to persevere. oof.

 

[SFMCjohn]

rode through heavy smoke on Monday, and finally rode out of it at Mt Shasta as foretold by fire-smoke websites … found a view on the way up to the Mt Shasta ski bowl:



spent a few hours contemplating the volcano in the evening and the next morning. pics can’t do it justice.

 

[SFMCjohn]

from Mt Shasta I headed over to Callahan to decide what I wanted to do, which included trying to find the Bolivar Peak watchtower.

in the end I decided to check out Kangaroo Lake campground off the Gazelle-Callahan Road, where I could set up camp and the try to tackle Bolivar Peak with the 50/50 tires it came with, in an unloaded state.



fishing in Kangaroo Lake, Wednesday morning. they stock it, and I saw trout, but the trout laughed at me.



sunset over the Trinity Alps.



and sunrise over Kangaroo Lake.



and, Bolivar Peak watchtower. steep climb up. I was scared.

 

[budman]

Fantastic photos and adventure!

Trout laughing.

 

[SFMCjohn]

after a couple nights at Kangaroo Lake it was on to Weaverville on Thursday, 08/01/24, for a few Weaver Bally sunrises and sunsets:



sunset …



and another …

 

[SFMCjohn]

couple people pics from the BARF HoHo Rally this year:



the two “Death Ride” finishers, Ms @two wheel tramp and Mr @CrazyCooter.



fellow MC club guy, Vampire MC member Mr @wackyiraqi …



Mr @planegray …



the gang at dinner on Saturday night.



followed by our traditional ice cream party in honor of Mr HoHo …



Shadow and the nice watchtower lady, both of whom I rode up and saw four times over Thursday— Saturday.

 

[SFMCjohn]

got up at 4:45 am on Saturday to try to catch the 6am sunrise, but it was raining …

took a chance because you never know what you’re gonna get, and it turned out to be rainbows instead of a sunrise:



looking forward to Downieville Daze and the BARF HoHo Rally, next year. we’ll see …

 

[stratslingr77]

AWESOME pics and write-up! Are you going to Cedarville this weekend?

 

[two wheel tramp]

AWESOME pics and write-up! Are you going to Cedarville this weekend?

GET OFF MY LAWN.

(That's another rally I started. I may or may not show)

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Wow, that rainbow shot is amazing!

 

[SFMCjohn]

AWESOME pics and write-up! Are you going to Cedarville this weekend?

GET OFF MY LAWN.

(That's another rally I started. I may or may not show)

I was all planning to call in sick and try to make an appearance at the venerable End of Pavement Rally (I’ve only missed one), but I’ve got some bs at work right now I have to be at on Friday …

I always knew I’d be in trouble when we scheduled Daze, HoHo and Cedarville on three consecutive weekends. anyway, we’ll see. the auguries are not looking good right now.

Wow, that rainbow shot is amazing!

Yes, I spent a couple hours watching partial rainbows appear and disappear—was pretty awesome.

 

[wheel_muse]

Great write-up and pics, J! And congrats on finding a new old bike!🏍

 

[SFMCjohn]

^^

someday I’ll grow up and get a “real” ADV motorcycle.

one last pic:





Weaver Bally watchtower, my Trinity County happy place.

 

[Cabrito]

Good stuff John!

Nothing like a new Pre-Gen KLR to relieve the doldrums. God Bless Mr Kawasaki

 

[stratslingr77]

^^

someday I’ll grow up and get a “real” ADV motorcycle.

one last pic:



View attachment 564597

Weaver Bally watchtower, my Trinity County happy place.

"Real ADV bike" Kawasaki should use your pictures to market the KLR

 

[budman]

Heck ya they should. Let the Good Times Roll!