the Standard Pour
One of our favorite watering holes on this trip, the Standard Pour building used to be the Pickering Lumber Company built in 1924 in the town of Standard, outside of Sonora.
Eastern Sierra
Virginia Creek Ride 2026
This is our annual ride to Virginia Creek Settlement near Bridgeport, California. It’s a beautiful ride through the Sierra Nevada before descending into the high-elevation sagebrush country along the northern stretch of Highway 395.
The Ride
Some Trips Never Get Old
Virginia Creek has become one of those places we always look forward to. The cabins are charming, the setting is peaceful, and dinner is always memorable because we inevitably order far more pizza than we can possibly eat. Even after all these years, we’re still finding new roads, viewpoints, and roadside gems that keep the ride feeling fresh
The Route
Sonora Pass to Bridgeport
Follow one of California’s most spectacular mountain highways over Sonora Pass before cruising into the broad valleys and high desert landscapes along Highway 395.
Photo Story
Hanging with the Resort Cat
They always want to cuddle with the guy who does't like animals.
The High Sierras
There are few places as beautiful as the Sierra Mountains.
Smokin' and drinkin' and tellin' stories.
We don't stay up as late as we used to, but it's still a great time.
The Story
Leaving Fresno, the route winds through the foothills before climbing Highway 108 toward Sonora Pass. As the elevation rises, oak-covered hills give way to granite peaks, alpine lakes, and dense forests. Sonora Pass remains one of California’s finest motorcycle roads, with tight switchbacks, sweeping views, and enough elevation change to make every crossing memorable.
On the eastern side of the Sierra, the scenery transforms almost instantly. The forests fade into open meadows and high-elevation sagebrush country as Highway 395 leads to Virginia Creek Settlement, just south of Bridgeport.
The return trip offered a couple of new favorites. We stopped for lunch at Mia’s Pizza near Strawberry, where we took our pick of over 100 craft beers while listening to Todd give the play-by-play of the final game of the FIFA World Cup, then wrapped up the weekend with a visit to Stogie’s Cigar Lounge in Jamestown before the final stretch home. Even after riding this route year after year, it’s proof there’s always something new waiting just around the next bend.
