I Think I Understand

[Tyler]

OM, "Hey dude, I know it's Sunday afternoon but I'm headed for Death Valley in a couple of hours, wanna come along?"

Hey, at least you got an invite... hmph. :glare:

 

[fjrob1300]

Holy crap OM I am so gonna kick you in the knee when I see you again! :assassin: I rode today for about an hour at 50F. The lakes here are still frozen over. :angry:

That ol' Ingersal Rand is about as old as my Schramm air compressor.

 

[Old Michael]

Thursday morning was moving day. Jumped up, packed it all back onto the bike, and rolled out shortly after sunrise. I headed north, planning to check out Rhyolite, Beatty, and then perhaps burn toward Las Vegas, and spend the night there before going home. Plans changed as the morning progressed.

Up the road, I turned onto 374/Daylight Pass Rd., heading northeast.

I considered doing the Scotty's Castle thing, but for some reason, it just didn't sound appealing. Maybe next time.

Beautiful wildflowers on the road's edge, and bright, clear morning on a deserted road. Hadda stop for pics. A bunch of them. (You can just scroll quickly if doesn't do anything for ya.)

Nevada is a special place. And of course the "welcome to" sign had about 50 bullet holes in it.

And I've seen a million pics of this place, so I had to stop...........and take some more.

I really liked this piece.

I proceeded up the road and into Beatty. Gotta say, I didn't much like Beatty. Maybe it was just my mood, but

it made me just want to turn around and head back the other way. Which is what I did - after an excellent breakfast though.

At the Stagecoach. A couple of tour buses had just come in, and they were busy as hell. I sat at the counter, and really loved watching the waitresses work. Great bunch of gals, hustling their asses off, cheerful, having fun, and doing a hell of a job. The kind of place that makes you want to come back. Funny how that works, huh?

Has this report become tedious?

 

[fjrboomer]

Mike that was one fantastic report and you photo work is great. The only part of your trip that did not appeal to me was the camping out. I lived in a tent for 9 months in the Dominican Republic back in 1965-66. After one monsoon season it leaked like a waterfall. Since then my idea of roughing it is Motel 6. JMO

I do envy you and others who have riding areas like you have. Here on the edge of the great plains in OK there are no mountains or good twisties of any significance. Thanks for taking us along on your adventure.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Just gorgeous! Man you pack the miles on. And I appreciate your sharing the experiences. Keep on going and keep showing us where to go.

 

[Tyler]

OM, I have been to Rhyolite several times and have seen many rounds of pics... your's top the list for originality and visuality!! :clapping:

 

[Old Michael]

Okay, full of breakfast, and I decide to turn for home. Back through the park -

- and back toward Lake Isabella.

Can't say why, but I felt compelled to ride really fast. So I did.

Still stopped for a few pics, but mostly just ran the hell out of my bike.

When I reached the lake again, I saw a sign for Hwy. 155.

I checked my map, and saw that it would take me to 99, so I thought, why not?

A great decision. A really great road.

You'd have thought that my friend Wendell (Hit the Road Jack) might have mentioned it to me.

Nope.

Well, it was a blast! It takes you north for a bit, and then west,

up and over the mountains, and finally down through the beautiful

rolling green foothills, dotted with oaks, and blooming with wildflowers.

Almost surreal in its beauty.

Unbelievable. If you ever get the chance....

At altitude, in the first few miles, there was a good bit of sand on the road,

so caution was required in the corners.

Dr. Rich, I'm bringing you a souvenir from my trip.

Okay. Back on 99 and heading north, as darkness falls again. A quick 248 miles,

some favorite music in my ears, and I'm home.

Just over 1400 miles total. It went by too quickly.

I'm adding this run to my list of "gotta-do-it-again-soon" rides.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look.

Take care and have a good week.

 

[Old Michael]

... have seen many rounds of pics... your's top the list ....

You are a kind and thoughtful gal, Tyler.

Are you sure you won't marry me?

Gawd, I thought I'd NEVER get this stinkin' report done.

I'm now WAY behind on my beer drinkin'.

 

[Kasey]

Absolutely stunning photos and a great report. I feel like I've had a holiday myself.

Thanks

Kasey

 

[Tyler]

Are you sure you won't marry me?

I dunno... rumor has it you have thing for this chick... :lol:

 

[spyderbret]

Nice report OM. Next time your up this way shoot me a PM. I would have played hookey for a day to ride DV again. Love the pictures too. Great job!!!

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Outstanding Old Man. :thumbsupsmiley:

You set the bar high for others.... but you have me dreaming about future rides. Couldn't ask for more. And to answer a question you wrote: No you weren't boring us.

 

[Ric in Sac]

Great report OM. :clapping: Its was so good I feel as if I have been there.

 

[Art FJR]

... have seen many rounds of pics... your's top the list ....

You are a kind and thoughtful gal, Tyler.

Are you sure you won't marry me?

Gawd, I thought I'd NEVER get this stinkin' report done.

I'm now WAY behind on my beer drinkin'.

Let me just state for the record that I can connect to the internet via dial up (24 kbps when the wind is blowing right) and I got this "air card" thing from work and I am begining to understand why people like You Tube. With dial up, I would click on a link someone sent me for a You Tube video that was "really funny", and all I would get was something drawing a circle on the screen and on one occasion I got a few seconds of a herky jerky video after a 20 minute wait.

The "air card" thing connects thru the air and gets you on the internet. It's the damnest thing. If I get a link from You Tube and I click on it and go get a beer, I done missed 1/2 of it by the time I get back. So, I don't use the "air card" so much. I like the dial up.

When I saw you had more pictures, I clicked on it and went and got a beer. And when I got back, I still had to wait for a picture to show up. But I had a beer with me so I was good to go. I guess you got that new fangled high speed internet crap and it goes so fast that you don't get a chance to take a drink of beer. It just isn't right.

Gore invented the internet, God invented dial up, and the Devil invented high speed internet so we could all watch porn.

You should have posted the Ride Report using dial up and you'da been as fucked up as you wanted to be. Or at least a lot less thirsty.

+1 to all that said that they experienced a motorcycle ride via your Ride Report.

After many point and shoot cameras, I got a used Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D (DSLR) with a 28-300mm zoom lense thing. I really like it. The batteries last forever. I think I paid $300. The only point I am trying to make is to think USED. They are cheap.

I can't wait until March Maddness ends so I can get on with life.

Art

 

[user 6393]

Again...

many thanks! great eye...

 

[FJRPierre]

when you pick up your badges in aug, have a look around here; i think i dropped mine...

(love yur pics of Rhyolite, actually made me go back and look at all your pics to appreciate the composition)

nice ride

 

[painman]

Ok mang, what can I say other's haven't already? But I agree your camera work has stepped up, but don't let it go to your head.... Very nice report really, especially for an old man and thank you for blessing us once again! PM. <><

 

[MojaveFJR]

Pretty cool place DV is. Next time you decide to make that trip, take the 58 a little further to Tehachapi. Take the Bodfish/Caliente RD. You come to a fork, left takes you UP and OVER some spectacular twisties and to Walker Basin, RT, takes you through Twin Oaks to some epic views of cow/horse country but to get there you have to negotiate some awesome twisties.

Nice to know you had a good trip. Many more to you.

 

[Hit the Road Jack]

When I reached the lake again, I saw a sign for Hwy. 155. I checked my map, and saw that it would take me to 99, so I thought, why not?

A great decision. A really great road.

You'd have thought that my friend Wendell (Hit the Road Jack) might have mentioned it to me.

Nope.

Well, it was a blast! It takes you north for a bit, and then west,

up and over the mountains, and finally down through the beautiful

rolling green foothills, dotted with oaks, and blooming with wildflowers.

Almost surreal in its beauty.

Unbelievable. If you ever get the chance....

If you'll recall, about a year ago, I led a bunch of NorCal riders thru the area, after they'd finished the StreetMasters course at Willow Springs! That ride included the 155, plus the bonus Old Stage Road from Glennville to Porterville!

But you and your sidekick Tonto were in too much of a hurry that day and super-slabbed your way home. The other Sacromento Mikes seemed to enjoy my guided tour. Glad you found the 155!

Anyway, the DV ride report is awesome! Your pics really capture the essence of the place. I like this shot the best.

 

[Auburn]

Great pics!