Pedal people, My club and I are cycling to Yosemite Valley in a few weeks, and I'm still working on a way home for myself and my steed. In years past we always have a SAG wagon or two that helps w/ this leg of the trip, but this year we're a little short of truck support on the day I want to return and I don't want to cycle home with the tough guys and gals. I live in Oakland and I know I can catch an AMTRAK train from Merced to Jack London Square, but I'm not sure what the route is like betwn. Yosemite Valley and Merced. AMTRAK runs its own connection betwn. those stations (Yosemite/Merced), but they use a bus and I won't put my bike in their bus' luggage compartment. Anyone ever ride that stretch? Thx in advance. Dennis Cathey

Peter, Thanks very much for this information. This is precisely the kind of data I needed, and I sincerely appreciate your help. Dennis "peter" <prathman@comcast.net> wrote in message news:1179376153.365932.317550@q23g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... > dcathey wrote: >> I live in Oakland and I know I >> can catch an AMTRAK train from Merced to Jack London Square, but I'm not >> sure what the route is like betwn. Yosemite Valley and Merced. > > A couple of us did a roundtrip ride from San Ramon to Yosemite a few > weeks ago. Our return trip went along the Merced River and up the > hill to Midpine before dropping into Mariposa. From that point on we > stayed north of where you'd go to get to Merced (we went via Snelling, > Ripon, Tracy, and Livermore). The ride to Mariposa was very nice with > a beautiful downhill ride along the river for the first stretch. > There was one section where a landslide had closed the road but there > were temporary bridges across the river to an alternate road there so > it didn't affect our trip. Good road surface and no issues with > traffic. Before Midpine the road leaves the river and climbs to about > 2600' but none of it is particularly steep, and then you get a nice > downhill again into Mariposa. > Can't comment on the section between Mariposa and Merced. > Have a good ride. >

Steve, Thanks very much for this info on that stretch of road. I sincerely appreciate your help. Dennis "Smitty88" <snijuniper@comcast.net> wrote in message news:famdnQa6wLD2CM7bnZ2dnUVZ_rylnZ2d@comcast.com... > I've driven it many times but never biked it. Should be a pleasant and > fast fun, much slight downhill. Roads generally with decent shoulders and > pavement good, but I would prefer making the run in the morning rather > than the afternoon because of less traffic. Watch out for RVs drivers who > don't know how wide their vehicles are! > > Steve J > > dcathey wrote: >> Pedal people, >> My club and I are cycling to Yosemite Valley in a few weeks, and I'm >> still working on a way home for myself and my steed. In years past we >> always have a SAG wagon or two that helps w/ this leg of the trip, but >> this year we're a little short of truck support on the day I want to >> return and I don't want to cycle home with the tough guys and gals. I >> live in Oakland and I know I can catch an AMTRAK train from Merced to >> Jack London Square, but I'm not sure what the route is like betwn. >> Yosemite Valley and Merced. AMTRAK runs its own connection betwn. those >> stations (Yosemite/Merced), but they use a bus and I won't put my bike in >> their bus' luggage compartment. >> Anyone ever ride that stretch? >> Thx in advance. >> Dennis Cathey