National Monuments are amazing places and a unique resource that allows everyone to experience the world as it was before modernization. Modernization such as internet access. The kind of access you want to have when you've put off getting a paper map and rely on your phone for directions. Without this access you resort to finding the nearest big road and hoping you choose the right direction.
And you end up in unexpected places. Like Susanville California. There is nothing wrong with Susanville but the road to get there goes through farm and hilly territory with no services along the way. And you don't find this out until you pass the closed gas station in Adin (population ~300) and see the sign that says 'next services 67 miles'.
Yeah.
So I look at my gas gauge and decide I can go just about 67 miles before I'm out of gas. Shortly after this decision I discovered the "hilly" part of the journey. Yeah, 67 miles on flatish land - I'm less confident about the mileage when going over mountains.
Happily I made it and discovered that I have about two gallons left when the tank reads "empty". Still, not a risk I care to take often.
From Susanville I went towards Yuba and eventually ended up in Sonora. This is where it gets really stupid. From Sonora I drove towards Oakhurst along Highway 41 intending to go to Yosemite.
Highway 49 is an insane road full of serious ups and downs as it travels through the foothills of the Sierra Mountains. Pretty as all get out but at 20 mph much of the way that was one of the longest driving days I have had. There aren't really any places to stop since the towns along the way are tiny and wouldn't welcome an overnight camper even if I could find a parking lot big enough and level enough to stay in. Beautiful drive but I think this was the beginning of the end for my transmission.
I got to Oakhurst, add fluid to the tranny and started up the hill into Yosemite. After about a half hour of creeping upwards I decided that I wasn't having fun and regardless of how beautiful the park might be, I would be tense and unhappy the entire time I was going up and over mountains to get to the lovely places - if I even made it all the way to the gate. I turned around and headed towards Fresno. There were still a lot of hills in the way but they got smaller the farther I went towards the ocean.
OK. Time for a new plan.
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