MEM
Well-known member
Sam, your RR rocks, baby !
Death Valley and Beyond.
- Thread starter puppychow
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Okay.Thank you gals and guys!
I had a lot of fun shooting and exploring - only glad to share the images with my friends.
Yer stallin', Sam.
Next chapter, please.
(Really groovy Rhyolite pics, amigo. And very interesting notes on the art.)
Do you shoot for a travel magazine? Wonderful ride report! I'll be sure to check out your RR's from now on. Many thanks.
happypuppy,
thanks for the great trip report and photos. I've been through Death Valley a couple times many years ago and have forgotton how beautiful it is. Your pictures are a wonderful reminder. Great, great job with those. I hope I get another chance to ride across this great land of ours and visit this area again. Next time on two wheels!
Happy Spring!
thanks for the great trip report and photos. I've been through Death Valley a couple times many years ago and have forgotton how beautiful it is. Your pictures are a wonderful reminder. Great, great job with those. I hope I get another chance to ride across this great land of ours and visit this area again. Next time on two wheels!
Happy Spring!
Chapter 2: Exploring Death Valley - Act 2.
A mixed (some good some not so good moments) day of photography...
When I returned from my DV outing Thursday night, I noticed two FJR's parked outside Longstreet Casino. It was dark so I couldn't identify if these were familiar bikes, there wasn't anyone at the bar either that I could recognize.
The next morning at O'dark Thirty I was hauling my gear to the parking lot when I noticed two FJR riders on their motorcycles ready to scoot. It was still too dark and partially befuddled by their headlights I still couldn't tell that it was Old Michael and Mark. They were heading to Dante's View for the sunrise.
I had different plans, I was heading to Badwater for some geeky photography experiments. Although, in retrospect Old Mikey had the better vantage point to observe Telescope Peak bathed in early morning light. In my case, the early morning haze/mist? from the Valley made my attempts to shoot Telescope peak in early light turn out very noisy images. Chalked it up to a learning experience..
I walked out far far into the salt beds till I could no longer see any footprints. When I had first arrived before sunrise I was the only person at Badwater, while I was there a few more people arrived. When the sun hit the mountain things got better for me ...it was great to be here with very few others and no random tourists to interfere with framing shots.
Sunlight was beginning to fill up the valley. I was at Badwater 285 feet below other parts of the valley, which had already started to get direct sunshine, it was still indirect light over here.
I walked out all the way out here to take pictures of the salt basin in indirect morning light..
Macro shot. You can see the delicate strands of salt in the salt basin - you don't see them very well when the direct sun rays create a brutal glare on the white salt..
...and then the sun hits directly and the contrasts change, the sun is still low enough to create clear shadows...
Walked back soon after sunlight had hit the basin of salt. Back near the parking lot at Badwater, this was pretty much all the water which remained of Lake Manly this time of year.
Gratuitous shot of the bike parked under sea level .That white sign you see on the mountain side is where sea level is. The Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America.
From here I took another dirt road to the Devil's Golf Course. Why the Devil's Golf Course you say? Because only the Devil would be crazy enough to play Golf here!
More experiments with shadows and light..
On my way out of Devil's Golf Course - I see Old Mikey and Mark again, racing towards Badwater. This time I recognize them of course - I fall in behind them for a short while before turning off on the dirt road which leads to the Natural Bridge. This dirt road was much rougher than the one which leads to Salt Creek or Devil's Golf Course.
After an easy hike - I am at Natural Bridge.
An oft photographed angle.
This one not so much, or so I think anyway
The Bridge isn't the only thing to see here. If you hike just a few more steps further, you reach a dried up waterfall. I can only imagine what Death Valley would have looked like eons ago when water was plentiful here.
Notice how the water has carved a vertical half-pipe into the rock.
From here I headed towards Stovepipe Wells and Mosaic Canyon, but stopped at the sand dunes for a bit more experimenting with shadows and light, I didn't walk out very far this time, I was planning to come back at twilight for the sunset, but in case you are expecting some cool shots of sunset on the dunes - long story short I screwed the pooch on that one, chalk another one up to a learning experience. I was having a not so good day..
I thought you would get a kick out of this one. Macro shot of some kind of desert bug carrying another smaller bug on it's back... or something like that...
I liked how it was creating tiny footprints in the sand..
Then it was another dirt road to Mosaic Canyon - this one well maintained..
Love the smooth ripples/grooves on the canyon walls.
As you hike further up Mosaic Canyon, it is no longer quite as narrow. Someone had been having fun stacking a totem pole of rocks of different sizes..
I could have hiked further to another dry waterfall - however I was getting pretty pooped at this time and decided to head back towards Artist's Drive..
Stopped along several spots to take pictures of the oxidized metals on the mountain faces. Red, Pink and Yellow is supposed to be from Iron salts. Green from decomposing Mica and Purple from Manganese. Although, I am not sure I can spot all the colors..
Artist's Palette, or should I say Hans' Palette...
This was also when I first started taking some shots of the Wildflowers on Badwater Road - this was a Wildflower's ride after all, wasn't it?
After my sunset on the dunes fiasco, I headed back to Longstreet's where the FJR party had already started. It was good seeing old and new faces, spending time chatting with old friends and making new ones. Regrettably I didn't get to meet everyone, I was tired this night and retired to bed earlier than most.
More to come later...sorry this Ride Report is dragging on so long...
A mixed (some good some not so good moments) day of photography...
When I returned from my DV outing Thursday night, I noticed two FJR's parked outside Longstreet Casino. It was dark so I couldn't identify if these were familiar bikes, there wasn't anyone at the bar either that I could recognize.
The next morning at O'dark Thirty I was hauling my gear to the parking lot when I noticed two FJR riders on their motorcycles ready to scoot. It was still too dark and partially befuddled by their headlights I still couldn't tell that it was Old Michael and Mark. They were heading to Dante's View for the sunrise.
I had different plans, I was heading to Badwater for some geeky photography experiments. Although, in retrospect Old Mikey had the better vantage point to observe Telescope Peak bathed in early morning light. In my case, the early morning haze/mist? from the Valley made my attempts to shoot Telescope peak in early light turn out very noisy images. Chalked it up to a learning experience..
I walked out far far into the salt beds till I could no longer see any footprints. When I had first arrived before sunrise I was the only person at Badwater, while I was there a few more people arrived. When the sun hit the mountain things got better for me ...it was great to be here with very few others and no random tourists to interfere with framing shots.
Sunlight was beginning to fill up the valley. I was at Badwater 285 feet below other parts of the valley, which had already started to get direct sunshine, it was still indirect light over here.
I walked out all the way out here to take pictures of the salt basin in indirect morning light..
Macro shot. You can see the delicate strands of salt in the salt basin - you don't see them very well when the direct sun rays create a brutal glare on the white salt..
...and then the sun hits directly and the contrasts change, the sun is still low enough to create clear shadows...
Walked back soon after sunlight had hit the basin of salt. Back near the parking lot at Badwater, this was pretty much all the water which remained of Lake Manly this time of year.
Gratuitous shot of the bike parked under sea level .That white sign you see on the mountain side is where sea level is. The Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America.
From here I took another dirt road to the Devil's Golf Course. Why the Devil's Golf Course you say? Because only the Devil would be crazy enough to play Golf here!
More experiments with shadows and light..
On my way out of Devil's Golf Course - I see Old Mikey and Mark again, racing towards Badwater. This time I recognize them of course - I fall in behind them for a short while before turning off on the dirt road which leads to the Natural Bridge. This dirt road was much rougher than the one which leads to Salt Creek or Devil's Golf Course.
After an easy hike - I am at Natural Bridge.
An oft photographed angle.
This one not so much, or so I think anyway
The Bridge isn't the only thing to see here. If you hike just a few more steps further, you reach a dried up waterfall. I can only imagine what Death Valley would have looked like eons ago when water was plentiful here.
Notice how the water has carved a vertical half-pipe into the rock.
From here I headed towards Stovepipe Wells and Mosaic Canyon, but stopped at the sand dunes for a bit more experimenting with shadows and light, I didn't walk out very far this time, I was planning to come back at twilight for the sunset, but in case you are expecting some cool shots of sunset on the dunes - long story short I screwed the pooch on that one, chalk another one up to a learning experience. I was having a not so good day..
I thought you would get a kick out of this one. Macro shot of some kind of desert bug carrying another smaller bug on it's back... or something like that...
I liked how it was creating tiny footprints in the sand..
Then it was another dirt road to Mosaic Canyon - this one well maintained..
Love the smooth ripples/grooves on the canyon walls.
As you hike further up Mosaic Canyon, it is no longer quite as narrow. Someone had been having fun stacking a totem pole of rocks of different sizes..
I could have hiked further to another dry waterfall - however I was getting pretty pooped at this time and decided to head back towards Artist's Drive..
Stopped along several spots to take pictures of the oxidized metals on the mountain faces. Red, Pink and Yellow is supposed to be from Iron salts. Green from decomposing Mica and Purple from Manganese. Although, I am not sure I can spot all the colors..
Artist's Palette, or should I say Hans' Palette...
This was also when I first started taking some shots of the Wildflowers on Badwater Road - this was a Wildflower's ride after all, wasn't it?
After my sunset on the dunes fiasco, I headed back to Longstreet's where the FJR party had already started. It was good seeing old and new faces, spending time chatting with old friends and making new ones. Regrettably I didn't get to meet everyone, I was tired this night and retired to bed earlier than most.
More to come later...sorry this Ride Report is dragging on so long...
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FJR-RemingtonRider
Their Sunset / My Sunrise
Highly entertaining and as others have said; Stunning photography.
Thanks for bringing it to us. Looking forward to the next chapter.
Thanks for bringing it to us. Looking forward to the next chapter.
Chapter 3: Death Valley with Friends.
The next morning we all gathered for Breakfast. The Harley pokes seemed to have dissipated from the previous night and we could all (most of us) sit down and enjoy a meal together in the morning.
Seems like some of us were still "sketchy" from last night's festivities
Soon it was time to prep for our group run into Death Valley. The parking lot was hectic with activity as people started gearing up and checking their bikes...
An "old" picture of Old Michael. The man is a magician with a camera....
... and Photoshop!
The rest of the crew - gearing up. I am not very good at photographing people. I shoot in manual mode and I am too slow...and we all know forum folks aren't posers...
Richard leading the charge.
We kicked around at Dante's View for a while...
Before supposedly heading out towards Badwater. I separated from the group at Zabriskie Point to take a few pictures, intending to re-connect with them back at Badwater.
The folds of the badlands at Zabriskie Point are impressive indeed...
Then I headed towards Badwater, but alas the group wasn't there, so I backtracked thinking they must have headed towards Artist's Drive and I will wait for them and catch them as they exit from Artist's Drive.
Meanwhile I looked around for and found some wildflowers to photograph...
Adding late, a couple of wildflower pictures, that I had missed last night...
Still no sight of the group so I headed north towards Furnace Creek and found Old Michael talking to a strange looking rock...
He had lost track of the group as well. I told him I was heading to Furnace Creek Ranch and will look for them there, and might stop there for lunch to see if they show.
Unfortunately, I didn't find the group at Furnace Creek either, unbeknown to me they had encountered issues and had diverted from the ride plan I was privy to.
After lunch it was time for me to head towards So Cal, so I took Badwater Road south and that is when I passed several FJR's going the other way as I was on my way to leaving the Park. I waved past all of them - will see them again sooner or later, some sooner than others..
Heading towards the South Entrance of Death Valley - there were a lot of wildflowers in bloom.
I stopped a couple of times to take pictures before finally saying goodbye to Death Valley at least for this time around. It had been a very enjoyable excursion, but it was now time to move beyond...
The Beyond part of Death Valley and Beyond is next...
Thank you for persevering through this long ride report...just one more chapter remains...
The next morning we all gathered for Breakfast. The Harley pokes seemed to have dissipated from the previous night and we could all (most of us) sit down and enjoy a meal together in the morning.
Seems like some of us were still "sketchy" from last night's festivities
Soon it was time to prep for our group run into Death Valley. The parking lot was hectic with activity as people started gearing up and checking their bikes...
An "old" picture of Old Michael. The man is a magician with a camera....
... and Photoshop!
The rest of the crew - gearing up. I am not very good at photographing people. I shoot in manual mode and I am too slow...and we all know forum folks aren't posers...
Richard leading the charge.
We kicked around at Dante's View for a while...
Before supposedly heading out towards Badwater. I separated from the group at Zabriskie Point to take a few pictures, intending to re-connect with them back at Badwater.
The folds of the badlands at Zabriskie Point are impressive indeed...
Then I headed towards Badwater, but alas the group wasn't there, so I backtracked thinking they must have headed towards Artist's Drive and I will wait for them and catch them as they exit from Artist's Drive.
Meanwhile I looked around for and found some wildflowers to photograph...
Adding late, a couple of wildflower pictures, that I had missed last night...
Still no sight of the group so I headed north towards Furnace Creek and found Old Michael talking to a strange looking rock...
He had lost track of the group as well. I told him I was heading to Furnace Creek Ranch and will look for them there, and might stop there for lunch to see if they show.
Unfortunately, I didn't find the group at Furnace Creek either, unbeknown to me they had encountered issues and had diverted from the ride plan I was privy to.
After lunch it was time for me to head towards So Cal, so I took Badwater Road south and that is when I passed several FJR's going the other way as I was on my way to leaving the Park. I waved past all of them - will see them again sooner or later, some sooner than others..
Heading towards the South Entrance of Death Valley - there were a lot of wildflowers in bloom.
I stopped a couple of times to take pictures before finally saying goodbye to Death Valley at least for this time around. It had been a very enjoyable excursion, but it was now time to move beyond...
The Beyond part of Death Valley and Beyond is next...
Thank you for persevering through this long ride report...just one more chapter remains...
Last edited by a moderator:
dcarver
Well-known member
..bring on that last chapter, we're waiting!
:yahoo:
:yahoo:
This was the one I was waiting to see, Sam.
Awfully nice, amigo.
Awfully nice, amigo.
Now git to gittin' on the last chapter. Ain't gettin' any younger here.
Bugnatr
Well-known member
Hey Sam, take it from a bugman. The Beetle carrying another Beetle are Fucking bugs.
Good pics man!
Good pics man!
TomInPA
Well-known member
:clapping: Still more to come. Oh the insanity!
Good job Sam. BTW, I borrowed an OM pic as an avatar. :yahoo:
Good job Sam. BTW, I borrowed an OM pic as an avatar. :yahoo:
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marcusorelius
Well-known member
Very nice! We got some talented photograhers here!
Which one? I borrowed one as a desktop wallpaper...
EDIT - OK I see it now. Took a while for the browser cache to refresh itself..
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Sam - EXCELLENT RR!!! :yahoo: Awesome shots! You have quite the eye for pix. That area is beautiful, you captured it well. Look forward to part 4.
BrettB
Well-known member
Wow, this is a great report with AWESOME pics! My favs (so far) are the ones of convict lake and the flowers...
My favs (so far) are the ones of convict lake and the flowers...Chapter 4: Beyond Death Valley
It was a fun ride out of Death Valley via Hwy 178 and Hwy 127. Some good scenery but didn't take many pictures, riding through here...
Slabbing it in So Cal, I spotted this FJR and riders in the far lane of the freeway. Seems like they spotted me too and came up beside me and then fell in behind me for a little bit. I had to take their picture. I hope you two had a fun ride!
Caught Hwy 33 from here, have I mentioned before that I love t.... never mind....
Love Hwy 33! I have been through here a few times now, but never seem to get enough of the road twisting, turning and snaking its way around the mountains.
Then Hwy 166 towards Maricopa, it is a straight road for a while and then turns into nice sweepers as it descends into the valley - this sweeper was a hoot!
From near Taft I catch the impeccable Hwy 58! This road was so much fun! I only stopped once to take a picture and a couple of fly-by's, didn't want to lose my groove! I can hardly wait to come back here again!
Then Hwy 229 through dcarver's backyard, short on length but very high on twisty fun!
...and catching Hwy 41 through Atascadero to Morro Bay for the night.
Morro Bay power station.
I was going to meet Mrs. & Mr. Tree Doc for dinner later that night, so after checking in at the hotel, I walked to an overlook a block away to take a few sunset shots, as the fog had started to move in...
HDR was the only way to go..
Mrs & Mr Tree Doc. Good people and great company! Thank you for riding out to see me Tim! I had a great time seeing you both again!
Picked Hofbrau as our dinner destination..
Mmmm Roast Beef!
The next morning was persistent fog, so we delayed the start of our ride to give the sun some time to burn off the haze..
I did another walk around Morro Bay while waiting for Tree Doc, but didn't wander far..
The haze had started to lift, this was a very good sign! Tried to frame the same shots as last night, but lighting makes all the difference...
Memorial to Fisherman lost at sea!
Tim rides up...
...and off we go!
Rocky California coastline..
More wildflowers..
Posing...
The super fun part of Hwy 1!
Lean right...
Lean left..
Lean right again..
Turned inland on Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, it was a steep climb off of Hwy 1, with great views..
We just rode up that narrow road..
I told you! Great scenery!
Tim on Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.
Riding through Fort Hunter Leggett...the twisties are very tempting but can't rail through here...(military land)
Impressive machinery - both!
Got buzzed several times on our ride through the base by these!
Lunch in King City and then Bitterwater road to Hwy 25. Here we are approaching the junction of Bitterwater road and Hwy 25.
We split off from here, Tim headed south back home and I headed north. Good riding with you again Tim - see you again soon!
It had been great weather so far, but I was going to be riding into a storm!
Got buzzed again - this time by this guy!
Rode through cold, soaking, pouring rain, but reached safely back home, but first a detour to Old Sacramento to grab a photo tag picture, for this IBA photo tag game I am playing on Facebook.
This is the Pony Express monument in Old Sacramento.
Thank you for reading! Finally over and out....till the next one!
It was a fun ride out of Death Valley via Hwy 178 and Hwy 127. Some good scenery but didn't take many pictures, riding through here...
Slabbing it in So Cal, I spotted this FJR and riders in the far lane of the freeway. Seems like they spotted me too and came up beside me and then fell in behind me for a little bit. I had to take their picture. I hope you two had a fun ride!
Caught Hwy 33 from here, have I mentioned before that I love t.... never mind....
Love Hwy 33! I have been through here a few times now, but never seem to get enough of the road twisting, turning and snaking its way around the mountains.
Then Hwy 166 towards Maricopa, it is a straight road for a while and then turns into nice sweepers as it descends into the valley - this sweeper was a hoot!
From near Taft I catch the impeccable Hwy 58! This road was so much fun! I only stopped once to take a picture and a couple of fly-by's, didn't want to lose my groove! I can hardly wait to come back here again!
Then Hwy 229 through dcarver's backyard, short on length but very high on twisty fun!
...and catching Hwy 41 through Atascadero to Morro Bay for the night.
Morro Bay power station.
I was going to meet Mrs. & Mr. Tree Doc for dinner later that night, so after checking in at the hotel, I walked to an overlook a block away to take a few sunset shots, as the fog had started to move in...
HDR was the only way to go..
Mrs & Mr Tree Doc. Good people and great company! Thank you for riding out to see me Tim! I had a great time seeing you both again!
Picked Hofbrau as our dinner destination..
Mmmm Roast Beef!
The next morning was persistent fog, so we delayed the start of our ride to give the sun some time to burn off the haze..
I did another walk around Morro Bay while waiting for Tree Doc, but didn't wander far..
The haze had started to lift, this was a very good sign! Tried to frame the same shots as last night, but lighting makes all the difference...
Memorial to Fisherman lost at sea!
Tim rides up...
...and off we go!
Rocky California coastline..
More wildflowers..
Posing...
The super fun part of Hwy 1!
Lean right...
Lean left..
Lean right again..
Turned inland on Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, it was a steep climb off of Hwy 1, with great views..
We just rode up that narrow road..
I told you! Great scenery!
Tim on Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.
Riding through Fort Hunter Leggett...the twisties are very tempting but can't rail through here...(military land)
Impressive machinery - both!
Got buzzed several times on our ride through the base by these!
Lunch in King City and then Bitterwater road to Hwy 25. Here we are approaching the junction of Bitterwater road and Hwy 25.
We split off from here, Tim headed south back home and I headed north. Good riding with you again Tim - see you again soon!
It had been great weather so far, but I was going to be riding into a storm!
Got buzzed again - this time by this guy!
Rode through cold, soaking, pouring rain, but reached safely back home, but first a detour to Old Sacramento to grab a photo tag picture, for this IBA photo tag game I am playing on Facebook.
This is the Pony Express monument in Old Sacramento.
Thank you for reading! Finally over and out....till the next one!
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wheatonFJR
...
WOW.
This is one of my favorite RRs ever...definitely in the top five.
THANKS for sharing. :clapping:
It was fun to see some of the same areas I plan on riding in a couple of months. :yahoo:
This is one of my favorite RRs ever...definitely in the top five.
THANKS for sharing. :clapping:
It was fun to see some of the same areas I plan on riding in a couple of months. :yahoo:
Fairlaner
The Bartender Whisperer
Nice Job Sam....
R
R
