Originally Posted by Jim B.

Since you guys have asked, and want to try something new, here is what I think:


Perhaps a journey on Highway 49, the "Golden Chain" would appeal.


This is picturesque, scenic country in the Sierra Nevada foothills, with engaging mildly curving roads and some straightaways and a few whoop-de-do's that are fun to drive.


I did some of it last Saturday with 3 guys in the euroSunday crowd,
however we did it pretty quickly, as the Porsche 911 and BMW M3 crowd are really hard charging drivers and they don't mess around.


The tour they set up could be replicated easily and it takes about 2.5 hours if done quickly, perhaps 3 if leisurely.


We could begin in Granite Bay, and assemble there at a place I know, off Highway 50, and from there, go to Folsom, down highway 50 to El Dorado Hills, and over to highway 49, and cruise through some really wonderful to look at historical towns on 49, such as Plymouth, Sutter Creek, Jackson, Mokelumne Hill, San Andreas, Murphys, Angels Camp, Jamestown, CHinese Camp, then past the dam and Moccasin and up hill on Higwway 120 to the little mining town of Groveland (on the way to Yosemite) and finish up with lunch there.

There is a nice historical restaurant in the middle of town that could feed and water us, and across the street is a gravel lot to park that could accomodate most of the cars, probably.


This would I think take about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to get to, and is about 110 miles long.

This route is pretty popular with Harley Davidson riders, so there may be some of them along the way. But they love to ride the beautiful scenic roads in Nor Cal.


On the way back, we could go west on Highway 120 and 108 and go through the valley and farm country past Oakdale and Escalon, in a continuing caravan, and end up at Tracy.


There, we could split up, and the bay area attendees could head west towards Livermore, the Sacramento people could caravan North on 99 and the Los Angeles people could caravan south on 99.


That's my proposal. I did this run a week ago and liked the idea of it a lot. It is an easy gentle drive except the part up highway 120 to Groveland, which has lots of sharp switchbacks, and is pretty slow, and your temp gauges will likely rise but the scenery around, is great!!!



If it is nice fall weather, it would make a wonderful drive!!!

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

Awful hot that time of year, been there many times. Spring or Fall would be better for Hwy 49 and the Gold Country.