Chapter 1: Winter Wonderland.
I had been looking forward to the little get-away to Death Valley in March. Enjoy the early/intermittent Spring we had been enjoying till now, and what better way to live it to the max than getting on your trusted steed and heading out for the open road!
I caught a little break in the weather across the Sierra's and embarked on the journey Wednesday, a day earlier than my other FJR brethren who were riding on Thursday, but were planning on overnighting in Lone Pine. I was going to ride all the way to Death Valley and then a little beyond this day.
No early morning starts this time, didn't leave till about 9:30AM to give the sun a chance to start shining on the mountain passes. The roads were in surprisingly good shape, considering that a storm had just rolled through on Monday night, say what you may about them but CalTrans did a very good job.
I wasn't however taking any chances, kept the pace slow and steady even though there were only a handful of shoddy spots past Twin Bridges: sand on the road, melt from the stacks of snow piled high along the roadsides - the usual winter road hazards facing two wheelers across the mountain highways.
No pictures till I got to the Hwy 89 and Hwy 88 junction, then pulled over for a few shots. Hard to find good angles to shoot with the glare from the snow trying to white out any detail, I much prefer the color of Spring, to the paleness of Winter.
Found this peaceful creek flowing by the roadside with a thin sheet of ice and a sprinkling of fresh snow on top.
Back on the road again after a quick stretch and then ride across into Nevada, the point and shoot I keep on the tank bag comes out of hiding and it takes a look back, as the Pines of the Sierra Nevada ranges give way to the Nevada desert sage brushes.
There are some nice ranches on these eastern footings of the Sierra's.
Close to, yet far enough away from the hub-bub of the little city called Reno and maybe more so from the resident forum law breaker and bench warrant evader called RenoJohn, but that story has been told elsewhere.
Filtered through Gardnerville to find Hwy 395 South and rode back into California skirting Topaz Lake.
and dived right back into Winter Wonderland along the eastern sides of the Sierra Nevada range on Hwy 395.
The snow covered Sierra's look so majestic from this side, rising quickly and high off the plains.
As I approached Mono Lake, the road winds left revealing panoramic views of the lake and the mountains around it.
A couple of closer looks..
I intended to find lunch in Lee Vining, although the town is still sleepy in the off season and none of the eateries were open, so I headed towards the Mobil Station near Lee Vining, but alas they were closed as well. Lunch will have to wait till Bishop.
Since, I was already on Hwy 120 (which is closed for Winter) - I rode a little further to find this sign. Next time baby!
Back on the road again, racing towards Bishop and a bite to eat, the sunshine abundant. However, there was some sporadic snow melt on the road..
Although for the most part it was pretty dry.
Riding past the Mammoth Lakes area, you are greeted by more scenic mountain peaks and big fast sweeping turns.
Then I remember a place I had visited very early last Summer, and wanting to see it in Winter time, made a little detour from my route.
Who needs the Alps when such stunning scenery can be found right here in the Sierra's..
Convict Lake.
A couple other shots..
Then I spotted something else - a forgotten or abandoned canoe in this little channel beside the lake, it seemed quite out of place - bright red in a cocoon of glaring white.
Of course I took a closer look...
I spent a little time at Convict Lake just soaking in the scenery, but the hunger pangs reminded me that it was time to go find lunch, so I continued towards Bishop, snapping more pictures of mountain peaks along the way.
Both while stopped..
and moving shots..
Lunch was Subway in Bishop, so it didn't warrant any pictures of food porn. Refreshed from some sustenance - I went looking for more snow covered mountains. This next shot taken a little outside of Big Pine, notice the disparity in size between the industrial fluid tanks (which were much closer to me) and the steep precipices of the mountain domineering over the scene..
Light was fading fast in the shadow of the Sierra's - sunset comes early to Lone Pine and Mt. Whitney - the highest peak in the contiguous U.S. casts a very long shadow, I stuck around in Lone Pine for a bit trying to find an access road which would lead me closer to the mountain for some sunset shots - unfortunately as the sun dropped quickly the only place I could find in a hurry was this location..not ideal, but it would have to do..
Riding away east from Lone Pine towards Death Valley, I tried to outrun the shadows cast by the mountains..and as my camera looked back, it witnessed more of the sun playing hide and seek between the mountains and the clouds..
The shadows I was casting myself were getting pretty long as I raced towards Death Valley, light fading fast.
Found myself at Father Crowley's Vista, but the Valley was already cloaking itself in darkness...
... as I raced through it towards lodging at the Longstreet Casino in Amaragosa Valley on the other side of Death Valley.
My hopes of making it to the Casino before darkness falls were in vain....can you see anything? The camera seems to have exaggerated, I could - although not very far.
The next chapter awaits..
I had been looking forward to the little get-away to Death Valley in March. Enjoy the early/intermittent Spring we had been enjoying till now, and what better way to live it to the max than getting on your trusted steed and heading out for the open road!
I caught a little break in the weather across the Sierra's and embarked on the journey Wednesday, a day earlier than my other FJR brethren who were riding on Thursday, but were planning on overnighting in Lone Pine. I was going to ride all the way to Death Valley and then a little beyond this day.
No early morning starts this time, didn't leave till about 9:30AM to give the sun a chance to start shining on the mountain passes. The roads were in surprisingly good shape, considering that a storm had just rolled through on Monday night, say what you may about them but CalTrans did a very good job.
I wasn't however taking any chances, kept the pace slow and steady even though there were only a handful of shoddy spots past Twin Bridges: sand on the road, melt from the stacks of snow piled high along the roadsides - the usual winter road hazards facing two wheelers across the mountain highways.
No pictures till I got to the Hwy 89 and Hwy 88 junction, then pulled over for a few shots. Hard to find good angles to shoot with the glare from the snow trying to white out any detail, I much prefer the color of Spring, to the paleness of Winter.
Found this peaceful creek flowing by the roadside with a thin sheet of ice and a sprinkling of fresh snow on top.
Back on the road again after a quick stretch and then ride across into Nevada, the point and shoot I keep on the tank bag comes out of hiding and it takes a look back, as the Pines of the Sierra Nevada ranges give way to the Nevada desert sage brushes.
There are some nice ranches on these eastern footings of the Sierra's.
Close to, yet far enough away from the hub-bub of the little city called Reno and maybe more so from the resident forum law breaker and bench warrant evader called RenoJohn, but that story has been told elsewhere.
Filtered through Gardnerville to find Hwy 395 South and rode back into California skirting Topaz Lake.
and dived right back into Winter Wonderland along the eastern sides of the Sierra Nevada range on Hwy 395.
The snow covered Sierra's look so majestic from this side, rising quickly and high off the plains.
As I approached Mono Lake, the road winds left revealing panoramic views of the lake and the mountains around it.
A couple of closer looks..
I intended to find lunch in Lee Vining, although the town is still sleepy in the off season and none of the eateries were open, so I headed towards the Mobil Station near Lee Vining, but alas they were closed as well. Lunch will have to wait till Bishop.
Since, I was already on Hwy 120 (which is closed for Winter) - I rode a little further to find this sign. Next time baby!
Back on the road again, racing towards Bishop and a bite to eat, the sunshine abundant. However, there was some sporadic snow melt on the road..
Although for the most part it was pretty dry.
Riding past the Mammoth Lakes area, you are greeted by more scenic mountain peaks and big fast sweeping turns.
Then I remember a place I had visited very early last Summer, and wanting to see it in Winter time, made a little detour from my route.
Who needs the Alps when such stunning scenery can be found right here in the Sierra's..
Convict Lake.
A couple other shots..
Then I spotted something else - a forgotten or abandoned canoe in this little channel beside the lake, it seemed quite out of place - bright red in a cocoon of glaring white.
Of course I took a closer look...
I spent a little time at Convict Lake just soaking in the scenery, but the hunger pangs reminded me that it was time to go find lunch, so I continued towards Bishop, snapping more pictures of mountain peaks along the way.
Both while stopped..
and moving shots..
Lunch was Subway in Bishop, so it didn't warrant any pictures of food porn. Refreshed from some sustenance - I went looking for more snow covered mountains. This next shot taken a little outside of Big Pine, notice the disparity in size between the industrial fluid tanks (which were much closer to me) and the steep precipices of the mountain domineering over the scene..
Light was fading fast in the shadow of the Sierra's - sunset comes early to Lone Pine and Mt. Whitney - the highest peak in the contiguous U.S. casts a very long shadow, I stuck around in Lone Pine for a bit trying to find an access road which would lead me closer to the mountain for some sunset shots - unfortunately as the sun dropped quickly the only place I could find in a hurry was this location..not ideal, but it would have to do..
Riding away east from Lone Pine towards Death Valley, I tried to outrun the shadows cast by the mountains..and as my camera looked back, it witnessed more of the sun playing hide and seek between the mountains and the clouds..
The shadows I was casting myself were getting pretty long as I raced towards Death Valley, light fading fast.
Found myself at Father Crowley's Vista, but the Valley was already cloaking itself in darkness...
... as I raced through it towards lodging at the Longstreet Casino in Amaragosa Valley on the other side of Death Valley.
My hopes of making it to the Casino before darkness falls were in vain....can you see anything? The camera seems to have exaggerated, I could - although not very far.
The next chapter awaits..
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