2010 - CA - KERN RIVER - BLACK GULCH - Weekend 2

I guess at some point, we all have to face up to the fact that we have to work. And because of this fact, we need to make the best of the free time we have. (This means everyone except for Keith, of course, who seems perpetually free.)

So, to that effect, I am a weekend warrior.

It only took one trip to remind me that I do not get outside enough anymore and last weekend was such a blast that some close comrades and I headed back up to do it all again.

So, for two weekends in a row now, our destination has been the Kern River playground.

The party players...


ZAMBI (Photo by Brianna)


CHARLEY "Chuckle-burgers"


SEAN (SOB)


KEITH (TURFNUTTER)


NATALIE & BRIANNA (Wudjers)
Brianna showed up around noon on Saturday.


YOURS TRULY (Dirtbag)

This time around, we left at a reasonable hour and took 5 motorcycles instead of just 2.


What follows closely approximates what happened during KERN RIVER weekend #2 -



178 North to Lake Isabella.

A simple sign reminds us that this canyon road is no joke. 246 dead since 1968.


Last time, we drove this canyon stretch at night. That was harrowing, but during the day, it's worse, because you can see what horrendous fate awaits your coffee-induced twitches. Don't change the station on this road.

With all it's wild corners and precipitous edges, this road is simply stunning.

We were passed by a crazy old man who honked and flipped us the bird, probably because Keith put 35psi of diesel exhaust in his stupid little car. Actually, it was because we didn't pull over and were moving up-hill just shy of 20mph. What's the hurry buddy?

Keith rolled the APOSTLE onto the Black Gulch fire road. We were searching for a campsite we spotted last weekend, away from the crowded campgrounds. This area promised to be sweet if we could find it. It was hidden and on the river, down in the canyon.

Coming to a fork with a steep downhill right, Keith and I set out on foot to investigate.


We found a winner.

So Charlie drove the Dodge down the hill.

At the bottom, we found Heaven.... and it was all ours.



Soon, we scattered our toys and set up camp. If I had to stay anywhere forever, this would be near the top of the list.


The dogs let loose and found some cows across the river.


This activity kept them entertained for hours.

Sean showed up about two hours later and we settled in.


The beers went into the river for cooling and Nat set about building a tee-pee inside a log cabin.



We ate well the first night. Big Sur fries and brown-sugar coated almonds baked in Aunt Jemima's butter-lite syrup.

Since we had the canyon to ourselves, we felt it would be appropriate to fire up the hundy and spin around in the dirt.


Sean, making some donuts.

The next morning started with coffee, of course.


Stretching followed....

and finally...

...Calisthenics.


Due to the above average rainfall this spring, the California hillsides are covered in a blanket of wildflowers. Yellow, pink, purple, white, red, and glorious green.













After taking in all the beauty, it was time for some Motosthenics.



Brianna got a quick "do-or-die" lesson on the hundy and was soon rippin' around.

She even dumped the bike and bent the shifter which put her in a time-out.


Nat knows my feelings about ATGATT.

She follows the MOTGMOTT philosophy - Helmet, boots and a knit sweater.

Keith and I took the street legal 4hundy and 6hundy on an exploratory moto-mission, hoping to find a path to the other side if the river. Keith brought his newly fixed YZ450 that he was dying to ride, but without a plate and because of the isolated placement of our site, he was limited to riding around the campground...that is, unless we could get his 450 across the river. That never happened.

We took the 178 south about 2 miles to a forest service ohv access just of the highway. That's where the fun began.





We made it back to camp and the relaxing began.



This is California at it's best!

Saturday night, Sean slow cooked some special chicken in the fire.

Here's a peek at some of the nonsense in motion.





Sunday came too quick and we were off.


Another great weekend on the Kern.