Return to Death Valley Feb. 13, 14, & 15, '09

I’m going on a Cen Cal “President’s Weekend Ride to Death Valley, CA. in 2009”

I just made a reservation* for 2 riders (one room for 2 nights) on February 13, and 14, 2009, at the Motel 6, Beatty, Nevada here:

https://www.stagecoachhotelcasino.com/

...and here is the preliminary Ride post from this FJR 1300 Forum last year in '08;

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=29933

...also, this is the following Ride Report from Cen Cal's 2008 ride;

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=100355

Anyone on this Forum is Welcome to join “me” on this ride on any brand of bike (but please bring an “adequate number of cc’s”) . The itinerary will be similar to last year, however “you” will arrive in Beatty on your own, and ride your own ride even “if” you choose to ride with any group who is "present" on this weekend. I "choose" this weekend to DV, because it is a 3 day holiday weekend from work for me. <_<

*There are other places in Beatty, NV to lodge like the Phoenix Motel, Motel 6, etc.

Chime in your interest or send me a PM. More info later!

So Far these have reserved:

Airhead124 ('07 fjr 1300) Pismo Beach, CA.

Khunajawdge (05' fjr 1300) Los Osos, CA.

Donn Hugh ('07 C14 Concours') Atascadero, CA.

Rudy Lopez ('03 fjr 1300) Paso Robles, CA.

Steve Kerns ('05 fjr 1300) El Cajon, CA.

Mike McNutt ('02 1100 Shadow?) Santa Maria, CA.

Don Smith ('02 ZG 1000 Concours ) Atascadero, CA.

Wes Armstrong & buddy (will meet us in Beatty on a pair of KLR650's) Atascadero, CA.

Lex and Carole Stockton (Harley Electraglide) Not sure from where?

Robert Rainey ('06 ZG 1000 Concours) Lopez Island, WA.

dcarver ('06 fjr 1300) Creston, CA.

Steve Kauffman ('05 fjr 1300) Chino Hills, CA.

Maybe (?);

Old Michael ('06 fjr 1300) Sacramento, CA.

This trip sounds good to me brother. Planning 2009 and February options are Owosso or Death Valley. Hmmm.

Gotta do more research. Great seeing you last weekend amigo.

I'm highly intrigued. Is 1300 cc's enough. Will confirm after the new year, but this sounds like too much fun to pass up.

I think we'll be doing our annual group ride down there again next year... perhaps a beverage at Panamint Springs will be in order, George?

Hey KJ, is the Mike 'Nutt dood up for the ride? That guy was a true hoot!

I may be there. Work details to be worked out..

Tyler said:

I think we'll be doing our annual group ride down there again next year... perhaps a beverage at Panamint Springs will be in order, George?

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Hey Tyler -

Sure, I'll look forward to a beverage with you somewhere in DV, but that group you brought along last year would put some serious taxation on the staff of any small establishment just in sheer numbers. Panamint Springs is one very obvious spot for beverages or maybe Shoshone(?) which was one watering hole we stopped at last year (or was it 2 years ago?).

Bokerfork said:

I'm highly intrigued. Is 1300 cc's enough. Will confirm after the new year, but this sounds like too much fun to pass up.

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OK kewel, glad you are considering, I'll put you down as a "maybe" until I hear you have confirmed lodging.

dcarver said:

Hey KJ, is the Mike 'Nutt dood up for the ride? That guy was a true hoot! I may be there. Work details to be worked out..

Click to expand...

I have a call into Mike McNutt but I think he is out driving truck. He "might" go, but remember, we'll have to make sure he doesn't run low on gas on the Shadow? You and I both have Monday the 16th off, but I'm leaving on Friday the 13th (May be a bad choice of dates but...)

I put you down as a "maybe" Don!

dcarver said:

Hey KJ, is the Mike 'Nutt dood up for the ride? That guy was a true hoot! I may be there. Work details to be worked out..

Click to expand...

Don -

Yep! Mike McNutt will be traveling with us to DV. We'll pick him up in McKittrick!

See updated list at the first post.

I'm in!

Reservations made at motel 6.

Due to loss of 1/2 my annual income, it appears I *may* be able to make this ride..

KJ, keep me posted as a 'definite maybe'....

dcarver said:

Due to loss of 1/2 my annual income, it appears I *may* be able to make this ride..KJ, keep me posted as a 'definite maybe'....

Click to expand...

OK, I have updated the first post!

I'm in, reservations made. Spare bed if someone wants to split cost..

List has been updated!

Here's a preliminary weather report; Beatty, NV

I am really looking forward to this ride -

and I encourage all to "ride your own ride"; make sure you have your own maps, know where you are and where you need to be... in other words, be in charge of your naviagation.. because.. sometimes....

this group gets the 'itch' or 'need for speed'.....

[SIZE=8pt]and iffn' you don't want to run the 'pace' you will need to know where[/SIZE] the destination is....

[SIZE=10pt]Don't read this wrong.. some fellas like to scratch the speed itch, some don't.. so if you keep track of where the desintation is, it really doesn't matter what the 'group' does... [/SIZE]

jeesh, I feel like MadMike right about now.. come to think about it, that's a good thing!

[SIZE=10pt]For the record, I will be riding my own ride, and may be, uhh, 'experiencing' dirt roads most FeejerPilots fear to tread. [/SIZE]

Then again, I may just pussyfoot out.... LOL.

[SIZE=10pt]Any which way, I will party ya'll down and enjoy the ride...[/SIZE]

dcarver said:

[SIZE=10pt]Any which way, I will party ya'll down and enjoy the ride...[/SIZE]

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I'll pick up any stragglers that get separated from the group. :lol:

Tyler said:

dcarver said:

[SIZE=10pt]Any which way, I will party ya'll down and enjoy the ride...[/SIZE]

Click to expand...

I'll pick up any stragglers that get separated from the group. :lol:

Click to expand...

Funny you mentioned that.. My first ride with the 'group', no one told me that after lunch at Shoshone the 'race' was on... I casually suited up, watched as FJR pilot after pilot left, then tried to 'catch up'... LOL, what an illusion that was! Evidently, the pack wanted to run at speeds higher than my norm.. which is cool - every rider at their own pace, eh? (practicing up for my Canuck ride) so all is good.

My problem was, I was lost... no freaking clue where I was, so the 'pack' was very important.. and they were running at speeds above my limited comfort zones. So I backed off...

I hope this doesn't sound harsh - or dissuade riders on this specific event - because the message is Universal - ride your own ride - know where you are, know where you need to be.. pretty simple, really.

I may be at the front, I may be in the middle, I may be the last rider in because I rode the longest road, waited until sunset, saw the moon rise....

dcarver said:

Tyler said:

dcarver said:

[SIZE=10pt]Any which way, I will party ya'll down and enjoy the ride...[/SIZE]

Click to expand...

I'll pick up any stragglers that get separated from the group. :lol:

Click to expand...

Funny you mentioned that.. My first ride with the 'group', no one told me that after lunch at Shoshone the 'race' was on... I casually suited up, watched as FJR pilot after pilot left, then tried to 'catch up'... LOL, what an illusion that was....

Click to expand...

Don -

Good points above, however you did find us again at Dante's view in 2007! As far as I am concerned, you can be MadMike on this ride if you want to? Hi MadMike!

You have a good idea about everybody needing to know where they are going and how to get there JIC. Definitely, everybody should be prepared to ride their own ride! Last year's 2008 DV run was much more tame than the year before, I expect this year to be also. There are some smaller displacement bikes going, so mileage (range), and time will be factors in how long it takes to get to Beatty. The Cen Cal group will leave at 8:00 AM from Hoover's in Atascadero (kickstands up), Friday, February 13. We will be heading right past your place in Creston at around 8:20AM or so (give or take 5 minutes). The Departing group will probably break up into the fast guys (smokers who ride ahead) over 58 and rendevous with everybody in McKittrick, before the grind across the Valley. I don't smoke.

Next stop will be for gas outside of Bakersfield on the intersection of 178 and 184 at the Standard, then on to the Denny's in Ridgecrest on China Basin Blvd. for the lunch stop at around 1:00PM. Through the Searles Valley, Trona, and Panamint Valley with a short stop at Panamint Springs, then on again across Death Valley on 190 to the 374 into Beatty for night # one. Others will arrive in Beatty, NV via other routes.

When we meet for dinner or breakfast at the Stagecoach Casino's Diner (Breakfast should be at around 8:00AM). At 9:00AM (or so?) some ride leaders(?) will set out their preferences of sights to see, routes to ride etc. There will most likely be choices of rides in various directions in DV departing on Saturday morning. I personally, want to ride the same ride we did in 2007 except in the reverse direction this year. Last year, Rudy and I spent ALL day Saturday riding up to NV 95 to NV 266 where we crossed west over to Big Pine to CA 395. We returned south on the 395 (slabbing it) to Lone Pine, then into Panamint again east on CA 136 to 190, before the ride back across DV past Stovepipe Wells to Beatty. It was a completely different kind of DV experience than riding the Valley, but this year that route will be determined on whether Stonewall, Lida, Gilbert, and Westgard passes will be "open?", depending on snow.

Remember, it "might" rain, sleet, hail, lightning, or snow and there is an AirHead (Beemer) campout/rally going on that weekend at Furnace Creek. In DV there "might be" flash floods, pestulence, wind, tornados, no gas, no food, a need for a tire fix, an ignition failure(?), headlight/taillight burn outs, tipovers, gravel, battery dies a final death, radar, the San Andreas earthquake may open up, and the all land to the east will slide into the Atlantic making Bakersfield California a beach front capitol of the new island continent. So this, is why a ride to DV is called "an adventure".

I will try to make it a point to look after those who follow me, and I will go back if necessary to find them. Lastly, there will be no "rabbit and the hare" from this hombre, even though mi moto es mui rapido!

Great points KJ! and I DO remember you were the only feller who back tracked to find us broken down and wounded warriors! :clapping:

Here's a

of 2007 DV ride..

Great points KJ! and I DO remember you were the only feller who back tracked to find us broken down and wounded warriors! :clapping:
Here's a

.