Leg One of the Grand Tour

Over The Sierras And Through The Snow Sheds

(Click the title to read Wyman's account of this leg of his journey)

San Francisco, CA to Reno, NV  Wyman made his ceremonial start at 2:30 p.m. on May 16, 1903 from Lotta’s Fountain in “Newspaper Square” at the intersections of Market and Kearney streets.  When he reached Reno on the evening Wednesday, May 20, he had successfully crossed over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, by motorized vehicle, for the second time in history.  The previous summer Wyman had been the first ever to cross the Sierra Nevada’s by motorcycle to participate in a bicycling event in Reno.  It was this trip that inspired him to attempt the first transcontinental motorcycle ride.

Wyman’s final waypoint, RIP George A. Wyman, is inserted between the SFO Vallejo Ferry and the Vallejo Ferry Terminal.  After crossing San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, ride to the Mountain View Cemetery and take this opportunity to pay your respects to America’s first long distance motorcycle rider.

While on your way to the Summit Hotel RON point why not stop by the Donner Summit Historical Society and check out all the vintage photographs, circa 1900.  Back then it was something of an adventure to brave the trek over the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  The Central Pacific Railroad, now Union Pacific RR, was operating rail service along the “Transcontinental Railroad” over the famed Donner Pass.  Owing to the heavy snow fall in the pass the CPRR built “Snow Sheds” to protect the railroad bed from avalanches and the buildup of show along the route.  They are still in use today, although the original wooden sheds have been replaced with ones made of concrete.  Wyman would slog through the snow sheds much of the way over the pass.

Each RON (remain overnight) point below represents a day’s ride for Wyman during his journey.  Today, riding your motorcycle to the Wyman waypoints will take much less time.  The distances and times listed in the table below are on modern paved roads and highways that closely follow Wyman’s likely original route.  The dwell times are ten minute (0:10) stops at each of the Wyman waypoints so you can take pictures, document your visit and savor the moment.  Take as much or as little time as you like.

LEG 1 -- Over The Sierras And Through The Snow Sheds
RON POINT	WAYPOINTS	MILES	MOVING TIME	DWELL TIME	TOTAL TIME
516.3 Vallejo Ferry Terminal	4	40.1	1:02	0:40	1:42
517.3 Sacramento RON	3	61.2	1:05	0:30	1:35
518.4 Colfax RON	4	55.3	1:04	0:40	1:44
519.2 Summit Hotel RON	3	43.4	0:44	0:30	1:14
520.5 Reno RON	5	44.1	0:56	0:50	1:46
LEG 1 TOTALS	19	244.1	4:51	3:10	8:01