Archive for the ‘Sierraville’ Tag
By Tim Hauserman
Springtime. Time to get back in the bike saddle and go for a ride. The perfect ride around these parts for that first long ride of the year is the Sierra Valley. The start is just 25 miles north of Truckee, and the riding is spectacular with lush pasture lands, wildflowers and a ton of wildlife.
Start from Sierraville, and if you are up for it, loop your way around the entire valley. It’s 50 miles with just a few hundred feet of climbing. A short cut via Herriot Road can shave some miles, but then you would miss the cute little town of Loyalton. The key is to time it right. Not too early in the morning or you will freeze, not too late, or you will face riding into the wind.
From Sierraville, head east on Highway 49 for 13 miles to Loyalton. Look for red winged blackbirds while passing wet pasture lands. About half way there you run into the only real hill of the trip, and it ain’t much. Loyalton, once home to a now defunct lumber mill, is a charming but struggling little town. Help it out by stopping in to the market or restaurant for some grub. From Loyalton head on A-24 out of town. Pass the City Park at the edge of town, the one and only restroom and water spot on the route.
Now, enjoy a flat, across valley jaunt to Beckwourth. But not all flats are the same, wind can quickly change the dynamics. My last ride I caught a lot of sidewind heading north and struggled along in lower gears, then the road changed direction and with the wind at my back I was roaring along with little effort. In between battling the wind, I saw antelope, bald eagles, snow geese high in the air flashing back and forth in the sunlight like a school of fish, and hawks up close and personal.
A-24 ends at Highway 70. Hang a left, go about a mile, and then turn left again onto A23 for the long trip back across the valley to Sattley. Just a mile in, look for Sierra Valley Farms on your left which holds Farmer’s Markets every Friday in the summer.
From Sattley, it’s four miles on the more busy Highway 89/49 back to Sierraville, where several fun, local restaurant options await. My last trip, it was a meatball sandwich and big chocolate shake at Smithneck Farms. Delicious – and I deserved it.
THINK OF ME, LYNN RICHARDSON, FOR ALL OF YOUR LAKE TAHOE AND TRUCKEE REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
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Just twenty five miles north of Truckee lies the sleepy little village of Sierraville, just on the edge of the Tahoe sized valley known as the Sierra Valley. The Sierra Valley is a great place for cows, wildflowers and a variety of birds, and it’s also an awesome place to go bike riding. You can ride a big level circle around the valley and marvel at the birds arising from the wet spots, or do a bit of climbing by heading just north of the valley to Frenchman’s Lake or Davis Lake. You can take the short jaunt to ride the Sierra Valley anytime, but one great option is to arrive on a summer Friday, when the Sierra Farmers Market is in session just a bit south of Beckwourth. The best way to ride the valley, however, is to be a part of the Tour De Manure. This year set for June 21st.
The Tour De Manure is a metric century ride, which at 62 miles is much more civilized then the grueling 100 milers. It circles the Sierra Valley, giving you plenty of opportunity to decipher how it gets its name. It starts and ends at the Sierraville Volunteer Fire House, which is appropriate because it is a major fundraiser for the Sierraville Fire Department. When you finish, inside that firehouse you will find lots of excellent food and drink, and outside you will find a party going on, with a band, and lots of Tahoe and Truckee locals enjoying a hopefully beautiful sunny day.
For information or to register go to . In addition to registration, this year the inaugural Tour http://www.sierravillefireandrescue.com/biketour.html. De Manure bike jersey is available for purchase. Don’t you want a raging bull on your back while you are riding through the farm land?
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No matter how long I live in the area, I’m always amazed at the new things I stumble upon that I never knew existed. Recently I had the pleasure of discovering a wonderful place to have lunch among well kept gardens and tranquil streams and ponds.
I hidden gem on HWY 49 between Sierraville and Sierra City is Big Springs Gardens. The Sacramento Bee calls it ‘A little Monet in the Mountains”. We had a marvelous buffet lunch and then worked off some of the decadent desserts we couldn’t pass up wandering the trails and admiring their well kept grounds. Definitely a labor of love, the owners have taken great care to create a tranquil environment to go with their well thought out brunch offerings.
Reservations are necessary, as they have only one seating and are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Cash or check only, as they do not accept debit or credit cards. Well worth the restrictions, you can either just tour the gardens for $15 per person, or $35 for the weekday buffet brunch or $39 for the weekend BBQ – and get the gardens thrown in for good measure.
We had a marvelous meal and a most pleasant afternoon. To be sure, this is definitely on my list to return to again in the future.
Call 530-862-1333 for reservations – or visit their website at www.bigspringsgardens.com
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