I always enjoy being/working in the California high desert, especially with its closeness to the Eastern Sierra’s. I got a couple of good rides in this past week. When in the area my favourite is always the Sierra’s Whitney Portal Rd. It reminds me of the beauty of the French Alps. Few cars this time of year makes it even better. I rode along the base of the mountains and then Whitney Portal Rd into the foothills of Mount Whitney. Just 41 miles and 4700+ ft of gain but with many moments of taking in the medative calmness of the views and then just being in my body on the climbs. A needed balance to my usual urban riding…..
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4707/...30c5cce9_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4710/...b596f46c_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4604/...d1cc0648_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4754/...e6ec2704_b.jpg
And on the ride back down, views of the very different landscape of the high desert.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4663/...9988d71e_b.jpg
When in the area I always stop at the Japanese WW2 internment camp at Manzanar. Lessons learned from the irrational fear/hate and ignorance of that time should be on more people’s minds in the U.S., now especially…….
The Manzanar cemetery obelisk which honors those who died while being held in the camp. The Kanji characters read ‘soul consoling tower’
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4673/...0e729c0f_b.jpg