On the way to Beckwourth Pass (Day 1)
The ride up to Auburn by way of Stockton was, as usual, fun! Better yet, it wasn’t unusually windy in the Altamount Pass area north of Livermore.
Although the wind turbines were sure spinning! At one point it looked like they were sweeping down to scoop cars off the road (just a trick of perspective). Would’ve made a cool picture, but there wasn’t a safe place to pull over.
Heading northeast out of Stockton I got to ride through Ione, a small town whose name I’ve encountered many times over the years when passing thru the area. Could be a cool place to visit for a long weekend.
After passing through Placerville I unexpectedly encountered a park dedicated to a key event in California history: Sutter’s Mill, where Sutter discovered gold in 1848, and changed the trajectory of California forever. Not having gone to grade school in California I had no idea I’d be passing through the site.
Sadly, the coffee shop closed shortly before I pulled up. But I got some nice pictures anyway.
![](https://pursuit.olbert.com/wp-content/uploads/moto/beckwourth/6Q2A0034-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://pursuit.olbert.com/wp-content/uploads/moto/beckwourth/6Q2A0040-1024x682.jpg)
![](https://pursuit.olbert.com/wp-content/uploads/moto/beckwourth/6Q2A0036-1024x682.jpg)
And let’s not forget our faithful steed..
![](https://pursuit.olbert.com/wp-content/uploads/moto/beckwourth/6Q2A0042-682x1024.jpg)
Coming up CA 49 into Auburn from the south you drop down into a deep valley that holds the American River.
I was stunned to see, off in the near distance on my right as I turned left to go uphill into Auburn, a magnificent bridge. In the middle of nowhere!
The picture below doesn’t do it justice — in person it’s just overwhelming!
![](https://pursuit.olbert.com/wp-content/uploads/moto/beckwourth/Foresthill_Bridge-1024x768.jpg)
Turns out it’s the Foresthill Bridge, connecting Auburn to the nearby community of Foresthill. It replaced a river-level crossing.
Why the replacement? Because there were plans to dam the American River. The plans fell through…but only after the bridge was built to replace the crossing the dam would’ve drowned.
It’s amazing the stuff you run into when you get off the freeways…
Tomorrow: Beckwourth Pass!