Given there has been enough interest expressed on the forum and elsewhere for a Fresno Area Road Meet I'm going to go ahead and make it official. The Fresno Area Road Meet will take place on May 6-7, 2023. Please reply to this thread if you are interested in this meet or are planning to attend.
Finalized itinerary:
Introduction
Welcome to the 2023 Fresno Area Road Meet. At a population of 542,107 residents the city of Fresno is the largest city in San Joaquin Valley and fifth largest in California. Fresno is historically tied to the corridor of US Route 99 which is preserved today in California State Route 99 consisting of the longest non-Interstate freeway corridor in the country. Day 1 of this tour will be centered on the Fresno area. An emphasis has been placed on exploring the older corridors of US Route 99, many which will be razed soon to make way for the High Speed Rail. Day 2 of the tour will consist of an at-your own pace tour of the Generals Highway which links Kings Canyon National Park to Sequoia National Park via a ridge of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Day 1 Tour
The Day 1 Tour meetup location is the In-n-Out Burger off of Jensen Avenue at 2657 S 2nd Street, Fresno, CA. The tour meetup will begin at 10 AM (the unposted opening time for In-n-Out Burger) and will depart at 11 AM.
Segment 1 Description: The original alignment of US Route 99 followed Railroad Avenue northbound into Fresno where it would have crossed the Southern Pacific Railroad and Santa Fe Railroad via an at-grade crossing to the Cherry Avenue. During the early 1930s US Route 99 was partially shifted off of Railroad Avenue onto a wider approach to the Cherry Avenue rail crossing via Church Avenue and D Street. Items of interest on Segment 1 include:
- The current Van Ness Arch can be seen at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Van Ness Avenue. The Van Ness Arch traditionally has served as the entrance to downtown Fresno. The current Van Ness Arch was erected during 1929 and has an unclear future due to High Speed Rail construction.
- At the north end of Railroad Avenue the Cherry Avenue rail crossing can be seen. Cherry Avenue no longer is continuous and access is barricaded.
Segment 1 Map Link:
2657 S 2nd St, Fresno, CA 93706 to 2100 S Railroad Ave, Fresno, CA 93721 - Google Maps
https://maps.app.goo.gl/iKuCJEAHZzH6dHYX6?g_st=ic
Segment 2 Description: The next leg of the tour backtracks through the Van Ness Arch and follows the alignment of US Route 99 via Cherry Avenue and Broadway to the southern flank of Chukchansi Park. Chukchansi Park severed the original alignment of US Route 99 on Broadway in downtown Fresno. Items of interest on Segment 2 include:
- At the corner of Cherry Avenue and Broadway there is an interesting site which contains the wreckage of two Fresno Traction Company streetcars. In 1901 the three streetcar companies in Fresno consolidated and began operating electric lines beginning in 1903 as the Fresno Traction Company. The Fresno Traction Company operated electric street car service until 1939 when the lines were converted to bus service.
- A short detour north of Broadway on Cherry Avenue to Los Angeles Street will take you to a Rio Grande Station constructed during 1938.
- Broadway continues under the California State Route 41 freeway where the 1950 Monterey Street Overhead realignment of US Route 99 would have met it. The Monterey Street Overhead has since been razed and has been replaced by the CA 41 freeway.
- In the 1930s at the intersection of Broadway and Ventura Avenue, US Route 99 would have picked up CA 180 which multiplexed it to Fresno Street. Broadway Street continued through downtown Fresno and would have picked up CA 41 from Fresno Street to Stanislaus Street. Broadway can no longer can used as a through route between Inyo Street and Stanislaus Street as it has been sectioned up for downtown plazas and partially razed to make way for Chukchansi Park. Chukchansi Park was completed in 2002 and was intended to be part of a revitalization project of downtown Fresno.
Segment 2 Map Link:
2100 S Railroad Ave, Fresno, CA 93721 to 798 Broadway St, Fresno, CA 93721 - Google Maps
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Riz3KmFRuPBrbzrt9?g_st=ic
Segment 3 Description: Segment 3 will detour around the gap on Broadway along Fulton Street and back to the former alignment of US Route 99 towards the Belmont Traffic Circle via Broadway, Divisadero Street, H Street and Belmont Avenue. Items of interest along Segment 3 include:
- Fulton Street is historically considered to be Fresno's main street. Fulton Street was converted into a pedestrian mall during 1964 and reopened to vehicular traffic during 2017.
- The Belmont Subway is where US Route 99 crossed under the Southern Pacific Railroad. If you look closely a stencil directing traffic onto northbound US Route 99 can still be observed. The Belmont Subway is an endangered structure slated to be razed during construction of the High Speed Rail.
- The Belmont Traffic Circle was the first such structure in California having been constructed during 1932. The fate of the Belmont Traffic Circle is unclear given it may be razed during construction of the High Speed Rail.
Segment 3 Map Link:
798 Broadway Street, Fresno, CA to 498 N Wesley Ave, Fresno, CA 93728 - Google Maps
https://maps.app.goo.gl/o7UMqaVyUJuqGhRy5?g_st=ic
Segment 4 Description: Segment 4 will follow the former alignment of US Route 99 on North Golden State Boulevard, the northbound lanes of CA 99 and back to a discontinuous segment North Golden State Boulevard towards Herndon Avenue. The tour will detour to the original alignment of US Route 99 at Herndon siding via Herndon Avenue and Weber Avenue. Items of interest along Segment 4 include:
- The segment of North Golden State Boulevard immediately north of Belmont Traffic Circle is aligned past the eastern extent of Roeding Park. Roeding Park is one of the largest urban parks in the Fresno area and is home to Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
- The alignment of CA 99 between the discontinuous segments of North Golden State Boulevard was recently moved by Caltrans to make way for the High Speed Rail grade. The grade of the High Speed Rail can be observed to the right of the northbound lanes of CA 99.
- North Golden State Boulevard between Ashlan Avenue and Herndon Avenue is fated to be razed by construction of the High Speed Rail. A new right-of-way for North Golden State Boulevard can be observed to the west of the current road alignment. When this segment of North Golden State Boulevard is razed, much of the original alignment of US Route 99 in Fresno will be lost.
- Originally US Route 99 crossed the San Joaquin River at Herndon siding. This crossing required US Route 99 pass over the Southern Pacific Railroad at-grade twice. The at-grade crossing can still be partially found if you look where North Golden State Boulevard aims towards Weber Avenue behind the Target store.
- Weber Avenue north of Herndon Avenue carries the original alignment of US Route 99 towards the San Joaquin River. The asphalt surface quickly gives way to vintage Portland Cement along Weber Avenue. Weber Avenue ends at the foot of the San Joaquin River where the 1903 Herndon Bridge was located. US Route 99 was realigned during 1929 onto the bridge which now carries northbound CA 99 over the San Joaquin River.
Segment 4 Map Link:
498 N Wesley Ave, Fresno, CA 93728 to 7648 N Weber Ave, Fresno, CA 93722 - Google Maps
https://maps.app.goo.gl/36FFkF8SxcQPPSLw5?g_st=ic
Segment 5 Description: Segment 5 begins with a return to North Golden State Boulevard and to CA 99 northbound alongside the San Joaquin River Viaduct of the High Speed Rail. The tour will follow northbound CA 99 over the San Joaquin River via the 1929 era bridge (once part of US Route 99) towards the Midway Palm & Pine between Avenue 9 and Avenue 12. From CA 99 Exit 151 the tour will follow Avenue 12 east, CA 41 north and Road 145 east to Friant Dam. Items of interest along Segment 5 include:
- The San Joaquin River Viaduct is a component of the first segment of the High Speed Rail being constructed in San Joaquin Valley. The San Joaquin River Viaduct is easily observed from North Golden State Boulevard and the 1929 bridge carrying CA 99 over the San Joaquin River.
- An abandoned segment of former US Route 99 can be easily observed pulling over at the off-ramp for Avenue 7 at Exit 144.
- The Midway Palm & Pine can be observed in the median of CA 99 between Avenue 9 and Avenue 12. It is unknown who planted the Palm & Pine but they are thought to symbolically represent the transition from Southern California to Northern California. If you look closely the pine is actually a cedar tree.
- Friant Dam was completed during 1942 and impounds the San Joaquin River to form Millerton Lake. Millerton was the original Fresno County seat which was plotted near Fort Miller along the San Joaquin River. Millerton was a major way-point along the 1850s era highway known as the Stockton-Los Angeles Road. As development of San Joaquin Valley began following the construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad the population of Millerton began to decline. During the 1870s Millerton lost the Fresno County seat to Fresno. The Millerton Courthouse was preserved and can be visited above Friant Dam.
- Downstream from Friant Dam the ruins of the 1906 North Fork Bridge can be observed in the San Joaquin River. Following the destruction of the 1889 Lanes Bridge, the 1906 North Fork Bridge was pressed into duty and temporary CA 41 (until 1941). The North Fork Bridge was destroyed by flooding during 1951 despite Friant Dam being present.
Segment 5 Map Link:
7648 N Weber Ave, Fresno, CA 93722 to Friant Dam, Friant, CA - Google Maps
https://maps.app.goo.gl/13erJ3D435iASL176?g_st=ic
Segment 6 Description: The Day 1 tour will end with a return to South Golden State Boulevard via Friant Road, the CA 41 freeway and Jensen Avenue. The tour will continue south into the city of Fowler via South Golden State Boulevard to the vintage neon Fowler Sign which once graced US Route 99. South Golden State Boulevard continues as an expressway through the cities of Selma and Kingsburg to the Kings River. South Golden State Boulevard is an excellent corridor to explore you desire to see an additional portion of US Route 99. Items of interest along Segment 6 include:
- Friant Road is a Fresno County maintained expressway which follows the canyon cut by the San Joaquin River. If desired the site of the 1889 Lanes Bridge and original alignment of CA 41 can be found by following Lanes Road via detour from Friant Road to the San Joaquin River.
- The CA 41 freeway is the busiest limited access highway in Fresno with a peak AADT approaching 150,000 vehicles. The skyline of downtown Fresno can be observed along CA 41 approaching the CA 99 interchange.
- South Golden State Boulevard is one of the longest intact surface segments of former US Route 99. Despite no longer being state maintained South Golden State Boulevard offers an expressway grade detour which can be fun to explore and offers a functional escape to traffic backups on CA 99.
- At Cedar Avenue another viaduct belonging to the High Speed Rail can be seen in the process of construction. South of Fresno much of the alignment of the High Speed Rail follows that of the Santa Fe Railroad towards Bakersfield.
- A detour onto north Clovis Avenue will take you to the relocated 1882 Fowler Railroad Depot building. The 1882 Fowler Depot was moved from South Golden Boulevard and Merced Street in downtown Fowler to where it is presently located during the 1970s.
- The Fowler Sign as noted above is a vintage neon sign which dates back to the heyday of US Route 99.
Segment 6 Map Link:
Friant Dam, Friant Dam, Friant, CA to 6754 Golden State Blvd, Fowler, CA 93625 - Google Maps
https://maps.app.goo.gl/H2VwH58Zy3XQSs1V6?g_st=ic
Day 2 Tour (Cancelled due to weather, see reply #36)
The Day 2 Tour meetup location is the Yosemite Falls Café at 4020 N. Cedar Avenue, Fresno, CA at 8 AM. Following breakfast the tour will begin with an eastward drive on CA 180 (the Kings Canyon Highway) to Grant Grove of Kings Canyon National Park. The Day 2 will meet at Grant Grove to take photos at the General Sherman Tree (the second largest tree in the world) before breaking away to begin an at-your-own pace tour of the Generals Highway.
Map Link for Yosemite Falls to Grant Grove:
Yosemite Falls Café to Grant Grove, CA - Google Maps
The Generals Highway is an approximately 46 Mile National Park Highway. The Generals Highway connects the Grant Grove annex of Kings Canyon National Park south to the Foothills Entrance of Sequoia National Park at the eastern terminus of California State Route 198 in Three Rivers. The Generals Highway lies entirely within Tulare County and crosses through portions of the Giant Sequoia National Monument within Sequoia National Forest.
A link describing the southbound journey on Generals Highway to CA 198 can be found on Gribblenation:
The Generals Highway; connecting Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park (gribblenation.org)
My personal recommendations for places to visit along the Generals Highway include:
- Taking a detour to Hume Lake to overlook CA 180 in Kings Canyon and Hume Lake Dam. Hume Lake Dam likely is the first arch concrete dam constructed and was where the Sanger Log Flume once began.
- The Redwood Mountain Vista.
- The Kings Canyon Overlook if not the short Buena Vista Peak Trail
- The Clover Creek Bridge (the Gribblenation blog cover photo).
- The General Sherman Tree of the Giant Forest.
- If open, a detour on Crescent Meadows Road to Moro Rock and the Tunnel Log.
- The Tunnel Rock which happens to be a former alignment of the Generals Highway.
- The Pumpkin Hollow Bridge as CA 198 begins near the Kaweah River.
Tentatively interested. Depends on how crazy work is and the guest list. Luckily for me, I'm close enough to decide that week if it comes to that.
I missed your initial thread but decided to "surf" thru the forums today. I be interested as well, would likely plan to attend one or two months out
I won't be able to attend, but I'm delighted to see that some areas in the western United States are starting to be represented at road meets!
If I only did not have other 2023 plans already....
Interested in attending. Thank you for setting this up.
I am definitely interested. It would be a major trip, but I've wanted to get back to Sequoia and Kings Canyon for a long time. I hope I can be more definitive a month out from the event, the way things seem to crop up.
Definitely interested. I've never been to this area of Cali and it would be nice to put some faces to the names I regularly see here. I'm forgetful so I've placed a reminder four weeks out in my Google Calendar.
Worth noting, I do plan putting together either a Word document or PowerPoint for this meet sometime around New Year. I don't think the Fresno area is too difficult to navigate but Sequoia-Kings Canyon probably could benefit from some easy to read suggestions.
I'm a maybe at this point. I might combine this meet with the Omaha meet the preceding Saturday. That would probably rule me out for any optional events on May 5, but not May 8.
Put me as a maybe! This is close enough for me to get to if things line up. It would be really be nice to put some faces to names I've seen on the board for years.
As a minor update to this thread, I did begin working on the Meet itinerary today on a Word Document. I'm six pages in so far (largely because I'm inserting maps and some images) and I'll be finished sometime during the January. When the itinerary document is done, I will find some options to make it available.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on December 30, 2022, 02:32:56 PM
As a minor update to this thread, I did begin working on the Meet itinerary today on a Word Document. I'm six pages in so far (largely because I'm inserting maps and some images) and I'll be finished sometime during the January. When the itinerary document is done, I will find some options to make it available.
Don't feel alarmed for being 6 pages (and expecting more)
My itineraries have been like little books, at around 10 pages due to the additions of maps and photos.
Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on December 31, 2022, 01:18:59 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on December 30, 2022, 02:32:56 PM
As a minor update to this thread, I did begin working on the Meet itinerary today on a Word Document. I'm six pages in so far (largely because I'm inserting maps and some images) and I'll be finished sometime during the January. When the itinerary document is done, I will find some options to make it available.
Don't feel alarmed for being 6 pages (and expecting more)
My itineraries have been like little books, at around 10 pages due to the additions of maps and photos.
I'm more or less working off a copy of the Philadelphia meet last year which I want to say ended up being something like 25 pages plus.
I try to keep mine to 4 pages. Everyone's different.
I probably can get it down to something more palatable if I just type turn-by-turn directions like an old set Google/Map Quest directions. Then again that's why I posted what I did, I'm looking for feedback on how to format the itinerary document.
Quote from: Alps on December 31, 2022, 07:34:04 PM
I try to keep mine to 4 pages. Everyone's different.
Yeah, I'm on the "keep it under 10-15" train. More than that seems excessive.
So, currently looking like I may well show up to this with my dad in tow, though for Saturday only as we'll need to be back in Los Angeles Sunday.
(primary purpose of trip is clinching MLB stadiums, this is a detour)
I finished up the Fresno Road Meet itinerary today. I got everything down to 6 pages on a Word document and inserted links for Segment Maps. I updated the original post in this thread and a copy of the Word document can be found below:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ej6pdolmjjjy5ezj5jwgf/FRESNO-AREA-ROAD-MEET.docx?dl=0&rlkey=18fvuhjb8u55eh6ls6uqlgy1o
Note: I'm not super familiar with dropbox. I can easily email a copy of the Word document if you PM me.
I did a mock run of the Day 1 segments through downtown Fresno to get idea on how fast it was to traverse coupled with seeing what HSR projects were ongoing. I had a thought upon passing the Van Ness Arch and noticing the huge amounts of shoulder parking, would it be good to try for a group photo there? It would probably be pretty convenient to do a meet photo early and the Van Ness Arch is literally right at the beginning of the Day 1 route:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52654879283_9feef8e34d_4k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2odW29g)IMG_8568 (https://flic.kr/p/2odW29g) by Max Rockatansky (https://www.flickr.com/photos/151828809@N08/), on Flickr
Worth noting, even on weekdays Van Ness in the Warehouse District is very lightly traveled. I wouldn't anticipate having much issue setting up for a photo and being disturbed by traffic.
As of right now, I should be able to make this one actually. I'm looking forward to it. It's been some time since I was last at an official meet!
Road meets are not priority outside 2, (maybe 3) within the Midwest due to a long trip that will suck money and PTO. I'm out
I believe that I've already spoken to those who are firmly committed to going Fresno Meet. For those on the fence be advised the Generals Highway is not likely to fully open until June due to near record snow packs. More so, the entrances to Kings Canyon National Park and Sequoia National Park are projected to reopen during early April due to repairs:
https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
At present moment I am monitoring the situation to see if the Day 2 plans need to be only slightly modified or fully changed. My thought is to wait until two weeks out to see if there is a projection for when CA 180 opens through Kings Canyon to Cedar Grove. The highway tends to open usually sometime in April but that doesn't seem to be a guarantee this year. There is a couple other options I'm considering:
- Looping Yosemite via CA 41, Wawona Road, El Portal Road and CA 140.
- Heading to Grant Grove via CA 180 and down from Kings Canyon National Park.
- Heading to the Giant Forest via CA 198 and the southern portions of Generals Highway.
I will provide updates for the Day 2 schedule as I hear more from Caltrans and the Park Service.
I should have a few Nevada maps with me to pass out to any interested attendees. NV hasn't produced a new map since 2019 or so, so if you got one in the past few years, you probably have the latest. I also may have a couple of California tourism maps.
The snow...yeah. We government employees in the Sierra are so very tired of dealing with snow. Roof collapses, drainage failures, slides up the wazoo, you name it. We'll be lucky to have everything open by Independence Day at this rate.
An attraction not mentioned previously: Tulare Lake is starting to reform south of Fresno and will certainly have water in it come meet day. I am definitely making a detour to see it. CA 43 is currently under the reforming lake, so no clinches of CA 43 for anyone, but it hasn't formed since the record 1983 winter (which 2023 has surpassed).
The In-n-Out Burger parking lot in Kettleman City on CA 41 has the best view I've found of the lake bed.
The road projected road openings were announced by the Park Service yesterday. At this point the full Generals Highway is definitely out of the picture given it won't fully reopen until June:
https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/when-sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-parks-would-start-reopening/
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 29, 2023, 04:40:52 PM
The road projected road openings were announced by the Park Service yesterday. At this point the full Generals Highway is definitely out of the picture given it won't fully reopen until June:
https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/when-sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-parks-would-start-reopening/
Not surprising given this winter's weather. I haven't seen any of it as this entire trip is new ground for me.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 28, 2023, 12:14:23 AM
The In-n-Out Burger parking lot in Kettleman City on CA 41 has the best view I've found of the lake bed.
CA 41 borders the NW side of the lake bed. Is it high enough to remain open or would traveling to Fresno via CA 41 involve detours?
Quote from: skluth on March 29, 2023, 05:26:43 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 29, 2023, 04:40:52 PM
The road projected road openings were announced by the Park Service yesterday. At this point the full Generals Highway is definitely out of the picture given it won't fully reopen until June:
https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/when-sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-parks-would-start-reopening/
Not surprising given this winter's weather. I haven't seen any of it as this entire trip is new ground for me.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on March 28, 2023, 12:14:23 AM
The In-n-Out Burger parking lot in Kettleman City on CA 41 has the best view I've found of the lake bed.
CA 41 borders the NW side of the lake bed. Is it high enough to remain open or would traveling to Fresno via CA 41 involve detours?
CA 41 sits atop a levee from Kettleman north to Stratford. The road is high enough that it would take nearly the entire historic extent of Tulare Lake filling up to close it.
CA 180 to Grant Grove reopened a week early after slide repairs:
https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/update-sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-park-reopening/
Trouble is CA 245 south from CA 180 to Pinehurst won't reopen until 5/15 according to the QuickMap. This leaves the only viable option of getting out Grant Grove as CA 180 westbound to the vicinity of Dunlap. CA 63 south towards Visalia fortunately is a decent way to get going southbound for anyone heading that way.
I'll be monitoring the status of Kings Canyon National Park this next week, I might even go up myself on Friday. Right now the NPS wants drivers carrying chains, but that will likely be dropped once CA 180 to Cedar Grove opens. There is still a decent chance CA 180 to Cedar Grove might be significantly open by the time May 7th rolls around (the QuickMap says projected reopening on 4/17). More to come as I find things out.
So is this meetup happening? I would love to get into Kings Canyon or Sequoia at some point.
It is, 5/6 and 5/7. I went into much of the details early on in this thread.
Speaking of Kings Camp National Park, the closure on CA 180 east of Hume Lake Road is no longer on the QuickMap. I'm uncertain as to how far the road is open given the NPS is showing Cedar Grove is still closed. In theory CA 180 is presently accessible down to the Kings River and Cedar Grove NPS boundary.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 17, 2023, 11:03:07 PM
Speaking of Kings Camp National Park, the closure on CA 180 east of Hume Lake Road is no longer on the QuickMap. I'm uncertain as to how far the road is open given the NPS is showing Cedar Grove is still closed. In theory CA 180 is presently accessible down to the Kings River and Cedar Grove NPS boundary.
In theory. Caltrans hasn't announced a reopening, so it may just be that they forgot to extend the closure on the map. Most of District 9's closures expired a couple weeks ago only to be put back up a couple of days later.
Today's NPS update still shows Cedar Grove closed with an undetermined opening date, NPS citing damage along SR 180 as a reason. Sequoia National Forest will supposedly open next weekend.
If Cedar Grove reopens in the next 2 weeks, I'd count that as a major win given what the Sierra has been through this winter. Lots of large slides, record snowfall, flooding, you name it. Most of the seasonal roads are nowhere near ready to open, even those that usually open in March or April.
Even going down to Horseshoe Bend, Boyden Cave and the terminus of CA 180 would be worth it. Sequoia National Forest still has lots to see before the NPS boundary at Cedar Grove.
NPS just gave an update and it isn't pretty: SR 180 had several large slides east of Hume Lake. Large enough that NPS is saying Cedar Grove won't open this summer. 180 closure point is at Hume Lake Road per NPS.
Quote from: oscar on November 26, 2022, 03:06:37 PM
I'm a maybe at this point. I might combine this meet with the Omaha meet the preceding Saturday.
I'm now out. Lingering health issues (hopefully short-term), which also led me to back out of the Omaha meet.
Quote from: cl94 on April 27, 2023, 08:17:03 PM
NPS just gave an update and it isn't pretty: SR 180 had several large slides east of Hume Lake. Large enough that NPS is saying Cedar Grove won't open this summer. 180 closure point is at Hume Lake Road per NPS.
Considering this and feedback from the two people who were confirmed for Sunday I'm just going to call it on Day 2. Shame it played out that way, but there isn't much do with Day 2 considering the closures from all the snow this past winter.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2023, 09:46:57 AM
Considering this and feedback from the two people who were confirmed for Sunday I'm just going to call it on Day 2. Shame it played out that way, but there isn't much do with Day 2 considering the closures from all the snow this past winter.
Thanks for the update and transparency! I'm still committed to make it for Day 1
I'll need to withdraw (family member is ill). I hope you all have a good time!
Quote from: Techknow on April 30, 2023, 12:29:53 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2023, 09:46:57 AM
Considering this and feedback from the two people who were confirmed for Sunday I'm just going to call it on Day 2. Shame it played out that way, but there isn't much do with Day 2 considering the closures from all the snow this past winter.
Thanks for the update and transparency! I'm still committed to make it for Day 1
No worries, suffice to say the monster winter season was not something anyone saw coming.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 30, 2023, 03:17:33 PM
Quote from: Techknow on April 30, 2023, 12:29:53 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2023, 09:46:57 AM
Considering this and feedback from the two people who were confirmed for Sunday I'm just going to call it on Day 2. Shame it played out that way, but there isn't much do with Day 2 considering the closures from all the snow this past winter.
Thanks for the update and transparency! I'm still committed to make it for Day 1
No worries, suffice to say the monster winter season was not something anyone saw coming.
And to make things more fun, we could be getting one last blast of snow this week in the Sierra. Because we really need more snow. :spin:
Quote from: cl94 on April 30, 2023, 05:38:15 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 30, 2023, 03:17:33 PM
Quote from: Techknow on April 30, 2023, 12:29:53 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on April 28, 2023, 09:46:57 AM
Considering this and feedback from the two people who were confirmed for Sunday I'm just going to call it on Day 2. Shame it played out that way, but there isn't much do with Day 2 considering the closures from all the snow this past winter.
Thanks for the update and transparency! I'm still committed to make it for Day 1
No worries, suffice to say the monster winter season was not something anyone saw coming.
And to make things more fun, we could be getting one last blast of snow this week in the Sierra. Because we really need more snow. :spin:
Good thing I didn't put the chains away just yet.
I'll still be there. I had planned to visit Yosemite afterwards, but it looks like that's not happening now. Still, this weekend should be a fun start to my first post-Covid vacation.
My map links in the original post got fouled up. I corrected them and added new hyperlinks. If anyone misses this post I'll point it out tomorrow at the meet up before we get rolling.
Here is the abridged tour route for tomorrow with just the map hyperlinks:
Segment 1
https://maps.app.goo.gl/iKuCJEAHZzH6dHYX6?g_st=ic
Segment 2
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Riz3KmFRuPBrbzrt9?g_st=ic
Segment 3
https://maps.app.goo.gl/o7UMqaVyUJuqGhRy5?g_st=ic
Segment 4
https://maps.app.goo.gl/36FFkF8SxcQPPSLw5?g_st=ic
Segment 5
https://maps.app.goo.gl/13erJ3D435iASL176?g_st=ic
Segment 6
https://maps.app.goo.gl/H2VwH58Zy3XQSs1V6?g_st=ic
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on May 05, 2023, 10:23:52 PM
My map links in the original post got fouled up. I corrected them and added new hyperlinks. If anyone misses this post I'll point it out tomorrow at the meet up before we get rolling.
Here is the abridged tour route for tomorrow with just the map hyperlinks:
Segment 1
https://maps.app.goo.gl/iKuCJEAHZzH6dHYX6?g_st=ic
Segment 2
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Riz3KmFRuPBrbzrt9?g_st=ic
Segment 3
https://maps.app.goo.gl/o7UMqaVyUJuqGhRy5?g_st=ic
Segment 4
https://maps.app.goo.gl/36FFkF8SxcQPPSLw5?g_st=ic
Segment 5
https://maps.app.goo.gl/13erJ3D435iASL176?g_st=ic
Segment 6
https://maps.app.goo.gl/H2VwH58Zy3XQSs1V6?g_st=ic
WARNING: This road meet and any accompanying events contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Things didn't line up for me to attend today :(
I hope you all have a good meet!
If anyone is arriving we are all sitting outside.
Finished with my base album from the meet today. If anyone took anything during the meet, they want to add let me know:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjACFvz
I definitely want to thank everyone who came out today. We had eight people in attendance during the Fresno Meet which think is a more than respectable showing given we really haven't had many west coast events. I think we were able to give the segments of US 99 in Fresno about to be razed by the HSR a nice send off. I certainly appreciate others pointing out all the wig-wag rail signals in downtown Fresno, I don't know how I missed them. I'm hoping to do a similar event next year for Bakersfield.
Had to leave a little early but I made it back safely for hot pot dinner with my family. I managed to drive through all the sightings that Max planned. Thanks for organizing this, there were some interesting sightings and roads today!
Meet photo:
(https://i.imgur.com/ZDV70r8.jpg)
Left to Right: Steve (skluth), Anthony Costanzo (Duke87), Tom Fearer (Max Rockatansky), Josh Schmid (cl94), Connor Lauzon (deathtopumpkins), (Techknow), Ian Ligget (Ian)
This photo is so great that I fear it will make Laura feel jealous. However, we did have Dan's drone so there is that. ;-)
Connor just doing his best Rob Sargent impression I see.
Thanks to Max Rockatansky for hosting a great meet. I've been to several over the years and this tour was easily among my favorites. Lots of history, reasonable tour length, and even some new stuff. Bonus points for including two wig-wags, a 65 MPH county road, and one of the very few span wire signals in California on the tour. It's a shame that some of what we saw will be removed in the coming years due to high-speed rail construction.
The turnout we were able to get makes me hopeful that west coast road meets can become a regular thing. 1-2 of them a year would be awesome given the low-hanging fruit in the Pacific Time Zone.
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on May 07, 2023, 09:34:40 PM
Connor just doing his best Rob Sargent impression I see.
Absolutely not.
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on May 11, 2023, 01:29:22 PM
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on May 07, 2023, 09:34:40 PM
Connor just doing his best Rob Sargent impression I see.
Absolutely not.
I don't think you follow. (https://alpsroads.net/roads/vt/bennington/m.jpg)
The story behind this, for the uninitiated, is that the late Rob Sargent played hooky from work to attend the Bennington meet. He was unwilling to show his face for the meet photo, for fear of being disciplined, so he covered his face with the Send Help sign.
Quote from: Alps on May 12, 2023, 03:42:06 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on May 11, 2023, 01:29:22 PM
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on May 07, 2023, 09:34:40 PM
Connor just doing his best Rob Sargent impression I see.
Absolutely not.
I don't think you follow.
Oh no I got the reference, I just want no part of such a comparison.
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on June 13, 2023, 01:42:29 PM
Quote from: Alps on May 12, 2023, 03:42:06 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on May 11, 2023, 01:29:22 PM
Quote from: Roadgeek Adam on May 07, 2023, 09:34:40 PM
Connor just doing his best Rob Sargent impression I see.
Absolutely not.
I don't think you follow.
Oh no I got the reference, I just want no part of such a comparison.
i consider(ed) you both close friends for who you are