DESCENDING TO THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER

Change of scenery as we descend to the San Joaquin River.

DATE: Wed, Oct. 19, 2011
HOME: Auberry, Ca.  Joe’s Java Time/Baba-Lu’s Java time
DISTANCE: 42 miles
ALTITUDE: 2900 ft
WEATHER:  Perfect
NARRATIVE:
Because we didn’t have a long way to go today, we had a leisurely breakfast and didn’t start till 9:15.  We immediately dropped 2,000ft. to the turn-off to Bass Lake.  Good road, fun descent, and we could feel the temperatures warm up; by the time we got to Bass Lake an hour later it was warm and summy.

We took the Adventure Cycling route around the lake to North Fork rather than the Wawona Chef’s route – and we’re glad we did.  No traffic, and the road was right next to the lake.  All services were closed, but the campgrounds looked nice and would be great to stay in.

Once past North Fork we plunged down a 9% grade another 2,000 ft.  to the San Joaquin River, where we had lunch.  The temperature was in the high 70’s, and we’re truly in desert country now.  Classic foothill country.  Now our climb begins – 8 miles and 1500 ft. up to Auberry, our home for the evening.

Auberry:  a fascinating little place. We were pleasantly surprised. Above the Java Place was a very well maintained small motel.  Joe’s (the owner) son-in-law runs the Java Place.  It turns out that Joe not only has the motel but several houses in Aubrey that he rents out.  The room that we were to have in the motel had only one queen bed.  While that is sufficient for most couples, Bob is 6’3” and the two of us don’t fit well on a queen.  Joe had the solution – a 3 bedroom house was empty.  We have LOTS of room tonight.

The town has been hit hard by the recession.  Joe had a thriving business, employed 30 people, decided it was too much, and bought the Java place.  It has done well, and his son is running the coffee shop.  But, the elementary school (which looked really nice and updated) was closed last year.  This reduced traffic in the town, and his son is shutting down the café and has found another job.  Joe is back in business and wants to keep it open.  Joe’s story, and the story of the town with many shuttered stores and houses for sale is the sad story of the recession in many places.

We had dinner at the only restaurant in town, a Mexican restaurant.  It was fun and funky where the whole community comes in to chat and have dinner.  While Auberry is having a tough time it’s close to Fresno, and the surrounding area does not look really poor, like the area around Mt. Lassen.

Good weather, warm temperatures, fabulous scenery, good roads, no wind - is there a downside?  Yes - GNATS.  We thought all the bugs froze during the last big storm, but they have now gotten a new lease on life - and attack us at our most vulnerable time - when we're climbing up hill.  In North Fork we bought some bug spray, which helped a little, but they do seem determined.  In North Fork people were telling us the gnats have been bad all year.  We did have a slight breeze on today's ride, so we had a reprieve from the gnats.