On this Gold Rush day ride we wont be chugging  along. If you are local you may  have heard the phrase “Little Dragon” used by riders to refer to a section of road near Yosemite  that defies logic. For many people this road resembles several MotoGP tracks combined. Many people dream of riding a road section this twisty and travel from miles away to experience such a road. However most don’t know that  beyond the Little Dragon lies a vast road structure of endless twisties ready to be ridden. And history comes alive in this area.

 

 

This day ride will take us from the heart of the Central Valley out to the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the heart of Gold Rush area of California. We will whip through Mariposa and slay the Little Dragon (aka Hwy 49) from its origin to its tail. We will stop and tour the site where the original train and water tower from the show Petticoat Junction is still at today.  We will take in the sights of days gone by, as we ride through historical mining towns and immerse ourselves in the beauty of the surrounding scenery.

 

You don’t want to miss this ride. As we take you along a journey through time every turn will bring a new adventure. Your adventure begins here! On the Petticoat Junction & Beyond Day Ride. Sport Touring at its finest

Morning

In the morning, we will meet in Manteca in the Central Valley. We will begin our safety meeting at 730 am and plan on leaving  Manteca at 800 AM. We want to get an early start to cover as much riding time as possible. Be sure to have filled your fuel tank prior to arrival.

We will leave Manteca and head towards Mariposa taking the back roads. Mariposa like many other towns in this area started as a mining town called “Logtown” And the county of Mariposa is located on the Southern end of the “Motherlode” After arriving at Mariposa, south of Yosemite National Park, we will fuel up.

 

After refueling we will head North on Hwy 49 and begin slaying the “Little Dragon” Your first batch of twisties await. If your not grinning ear to ear in the next 10 minutes after we begin, your helmet is may be too small.

We will be riding over 45 miles of of the most twisty road surface in California. As we reach the mid point we will pull off and enjoy the view of the road below at the Fremont Fort roadside marker.
The we are back at it again winding through the curves again. Along the way we will visit  a little spot on the map called Coulterville. There we will swing through town briefly and check out the Chinese store and the old hotel before pointing northward yet once again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After leaving Coulterville and heading North we will find our way to the small Chinese mining town appropriately named “Chinese Camp” There we will check out some of the building ruins before yet again heading North.

 

We are headed towards the Junction now; “Petticoat Junction” where the water tower from the TV show and the “Cannonball” train still exist. Arriving at the park we will take a brief tour of the Roundhouse. Here will see the “Cannonball” train up close for a photo opportunity. Then we will make out way out down the tracks to the water tower. Sorry folks, no young ladies will be in it skinny dipping. But it still stands there today, in regular use as it was during the filming of the TV show Petticoat Junction. After photo opportunities at the water tower, we will head out of the park, and make our way to lunch nearby.

 

Afternoon

After lunch we are full of steam again, and we will head out of Jamestown on a back road and reconnect with the 49 again. As we contiue on you will be taken back in time as we pass through small mining towns, one after the other. Our destination is Mokelumne Hill, a small mining town, that was destroyed by fire in the 1800′s.

 

Several buildings from its past remain along with a little red wagon. A what? Ok so its not little. Stopping here for photo opportunities we will take a small break. And then its on to Jackson for fuel.

 

After fueling up we will leave Jackson and begin making our way back towards Manteca on back country roads. We will take you on a small goat road out of Jackson to the little Chinese settlement of Campo Seco. Like most small settlements of its time this small town was detroyed by fire. However the fires were started on purpose by the local villagers in order to collect on insurance money. Remnants of old brick buildings still exist there, colorfully contrasted against the pastoral hillside around.

And at last its time to leave and return back. We will take you through the back county roads and back to Manteca. It has been a long day of riding and viewing this section of California’s preserved history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Petticoast Junction TV Show Intro

 

Promo Video

 

 

This is our ride. This is our journey. This is what makes riding in California a dream to others. We are privledged to live here and ride here. And we would be honered to take yu to these amazing places.

 

Petticoat Junction Day Ride Pics – October 2011

Pics – Slaying the Little Dragon on the way to Petticoat Junction

 

 

Ride with us on our NorCal Motorcycle Tour. A sport touring riders paradise. Your adventure begins here!!

Tour Dates/Time

 

To Be Announced

 

Meeting Time 730 AM

KSU 800 AM

 

Meeting Place

 

Cycle Specialties BMW of Modesto

Parking Lot

1201 N. Carpentar Rd

Modesto, CA 95351

209-524-2955

 

 

Road Surface To Expect

 

90/10   Paved / Goat Road

 

This entire tour takes place on paved road surfaces. There are some small sections where we will be on “goat roads”. However they are short lived. And we bet you will want more !!

 

Tour Prices

Fees Have Been Waived For All Riders

 

Other Fees

 

Park fees if any are not included in the Tour Price.

 

Prices of the tour cover your guided tour only. You will be responsible for your own food, lodging, fuel, and other expenses.

 

Motorcycle Rental

 

Adventure West Motorcycle Tours does not provide motorcycles. We highly recommend that you contact the following companies here in the Bay area if you are flying in or need a motorcycle for your ride.

 

www.eaglerider.com

http://www.dubbelju.com

 

 

Lodging

 

There are no overnight stops on this ride. However there are many motels in the area should you decide to come out the night before and stay. Visit Superhotfares.com and search “Manteca, CA” under Hotels.

 

Weather

 

The weather in the areas we will ride is unpredictable. We will be monitoring weather but short of a monsoon rain or a driving blizzard we will be riding. Cold weather gear is also recommended for those who may become chilly easy. Weather temps vary depending on the location we are in during the day. Drizzle, and light rain are all part of the fun and games. To get an updated weather report click on the link below. Enter “Manteca”, “Sonora”, and “Jackson” in the cities. ( All cities are in California)

 

Weather.com

 

Cancellations

 

Any cancellations that we make to the ride will be posted on our site, Facebook, Twitter, and emailed to you as well. Please make sure to check the site and your email the day of the ride to make sure, in case of extremely bad weather. WE encourage you to join our email newsletter as we will also post any changes prior to the day of the event through our newsletter as well. Click here to join our newsletter.

 

What To Bring

Camera – There will many opportunities to take pictures along the way to remember your trip. Bring your camera, batteries, and film if you are not using a digital camera.

Rain gear – Weather is unpredictable in Northern California. Bring rain gear that will keep you dry all day. If you are from the local area and are riding with us we recommend that you visit one of our sponsors listed below and purchase from them, as they will be able to answer your specific questions.
Cash – Spending cash is a wise idea as some of our restarant stops may take cash only.

 

Requirements

 

Tour participants are required to wear protective gear and helmets during the ride for safety reasons. We recommend full gear. You must have a valid motorcycle license. If you are riding your own bike you must have insurance. And your bike must have a current registration and be street legal.

Contact Information

 

For More Information Contact us through our web site, or call Toll Free at 1-877-264-8286, Extension 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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