(If you hate reading, skip to Day 4 first, it's the second post -- Hopefully at least one person will read through my adventure - the report mentions many awesome riding roads)
Was riding out to Las Vegas for the Bark at the Moon ride on Aug 21st, so I decided to go a couple days early, take a couple of days to get back and enjoy some scenery and roads. The entire trip was amazing, but the biggest adventure was on Day 4. But we'll start with the days that were only great.
Day 1 Got a real late start, 4PM, and decided I could get halfway to Vegas, to about Bishop or Big Pine, by nightfall.
Kind of an auspicious start when 20 miles up Hwy 108 heading for the Sonora Pass over the Sierra Nevada's I ran into a 15 mile traffic creep on a two lane road with no real side road options. So I (and other motorcyclists) spent the next hour splitting in the few places it was possible, passing 30 "parked" cars at a time when we reached a dotted line section to squeeze in at the other end of the passing section. The cagers were pretty mundane about it all, no yelling, cussing or birds and often made room for motorcycles. Thanks to them. Took me 45 minutes to go the 15 miles - can't imagine how long it took vehicles on all fours.
This lead straight to the days' sweetest treat - Sonora Pass. As fun, twisty, beautiful and empty as ever. Pure riding pleasure.
(I've tried to keep the videos short so they aren't to boring)
Map Link: Sonora Pass - Sonora CA to Hwy 395
http://youtu.be/cIJsYTTK-P0
On completion of Sonora Pass, on past the US Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, I headed south on scenic 395. Because of the earlier delays it was already getting dark when passing Bridgeport CA, full night by Lee Vining (so I couldn't even see Mono Lake and its spires). Mammoth Lakes was nothing but a sign. As I rolled into Bishop CA, checked hotels/motels and mostly either full or REALLY summer expensive. Hungry, but continued on to Big Pines.
Big Pines Motel in Big Pine CA had one room left and she let me have it at a discount as she wanted to go home and once I was in, she was done in the office for the night. Win. Every restaurant in Big Pine (2 of them) was closed by then. Lose. Walked down to 1 of the 2 open gas/markets. Got a 1.99 gas station hoagie, small bag of "Full Dressed" Ruffles (if you haven't tried them, do), an orange crush - and for dessert, bought a 6.5oz plastic bottle of Jack.
Sat in the nicely tended courtyard of the Big Pines Motel on a swinging bench in the moonlight and soft park lights in the quiet eating a simple meal reflecting on what was and what was to come.
Day 2 started early with a protein bar. Headed east on a new road for me, CA Hwy 168, that on the map promised some sweeps and twists before reaching flat straight desert in Nevada.
Map Link: Hwy 168 - Big Pine CA to Oasis CA
Yaahooo. LOTS of twists and sweeps running through whoopdee dos!! Like riding a rollercoaster. Other than the one RV that believed he should be able to drive in any lane that was convenient, Hwy 168 was flat out amazing and recommended.
http://youtu.be/KLtkFIl1SfM
Hwy 168 lead me to NV Hwy 266 and eventually Hwy 95 in Nevada where I headed south. Stopped in Beatty NV for some fuel and photos. But it was hot so I headed on the Vegas before it got REALLY hot. (Hwy 95 is kind of a bore by the way).
When I hit Las Vegas from the north, it was the first time in 8 or more years from this direction. Holy Cowabunga Batman - such growth - and all of it standard boring western US style metropolis filled with chains. Freewayed it through to my destination Best Western actually in Henderson. This would be my napping HQ prior to Bark at the Moon.
Got there at 1PM - asked the nice young clerk if she could store some of my luggage until it was check in time. Instead she gave me the room early. I moved in. Searched out some passable food. Then relaxed / napped until it was time for the Barking to start.
Bark at the Moon - A midnight ride at through Lake Mead Rec Area and Valley of Fire State Park. Fun and adventure.
Read a couple of reports and see a few pics and videos here
After OMC and I wrapped it up the Bark at the Moon, I went back to the BW for a couple of hours of shuteye.
Day 3 (kinda) started with a pleasant ride up to Mt. Charleston. Who knew there was skiing 30 minutes out of Vegas. Tons of people and traffic that late Sunday morning heading up for some hiking and outdoorsing. After peaking (on a road anyway) I headed back out and then south to the road to Pahrump.
Road to Mount Charleston
Stopped for pizza in Pahrump. Nice older lady took my order. Looked at me funny when I ordered and walked off slowly looking confused. I can then hear her in the back saying "half and half, can we do that/ DO we charge for 4 toppings or 2? Have you ever heard of that?" the pizza cooks says, "what half and half, what, that's what he ordered? well it's still only two toppings per half, so..." They talked for 5 minutes about it. The whole time me thinking, what kind of pizza place has never heard of a half and half pizza. What kind a pizza am I gonna get? Turns out an awesome and tasty pizza for one. Nice job Nicco's Pizza in Pahrump.
Spent the night at a Best Western in Pahrump. Got to bed early to catch up from the Bark at the Moon. (so no losing, gambling, for me)
Was riding out to Las Vegas for the Bark at the Moon ride on Aug 21st, so I decided to go a couple days early, take a couple of days to get back and enjoy some scenery and roads. The entire trip was amazing, but the biggest adventure was on Day 4. But we'll start with the days that were only great.
Day 1 Got a real late start, 4PM, and decided I could get halfway to Vegas, to about Bishop or Big Pine, by nightfall.
Kind of an auspicious start when 20 miles up Hwy 108 heading for the Sonora Pass over the Sierra Nevada's I ran into a 15 mile traffic creep on a two lane road with no real side road options. So I (and other motorcyclists) spent the next hour splitting in the few places it was possible, passing 30 "parked" cars at a time when we reached a dotted line section to squeeze in at the other end of the passing section. The cagers were pretty mundane about it all, no yelling, cussing or birds and often made room for motorcycles. Thanks to them. Took me 45 minutes to go the 15 miles - can't imagine how long it took vehicles on all fours.
This lead straight to the days' sweetest treat - Sonora Pass. As fun, twisty, beautiful and empty as ever. Pure riding pleasure.
(I've tried to keep the videos short so they aren't to boring)
Map Link: Sonora Pass - Sonora CA to Hwy 395
http://youtu.be/cIJsYTTK-P0
On completion of Sonora Pass, on past the US Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, I headed south on scenic 395. Because of the earlier delays it was already getting dark when passing Bridgeport CA, full night by Lee Vining (so I couldn't even see Mono Lake and its spires). Mammoth Lakes was nothing but a sign. As I rolled into Bishop CA, checked hotels/motels and mostly either full or REALLY summer expensive. Hungry, but continued on to Big Pines.
Big Pines Motel in Big Pine CA had one room left and she let me have it at a discount as she wanted to go home and once I was in, she was done in the office for the night. Win. Every restaurant in Big Pine (2 of them) was closed by then. Lose. Walked down to 1 of the 2 open gas/markets. Got a 1.99 gas station hoagie, small bag of "Full Dressed" Ruffles (if you haven't tried them, do), an orange crush - and for dessert, bought a 6.5oz plastic bottle of Jack.
Sat in the nicely tended courtyard of the Big Pines Motel on a swinging bench in the moonlight and soft park lights in the quiet eating a simple meal reflecting on what was and what was to come.
Day 2 started early with a protein bar. Headed east on a new road for me, CA Hwy 168, that on the map promised some sweeps and twists before reaching flat straight desert in Nevada.
Map Link: Hwy 168 - Big Pine CA to Oasis CA
Yaahooo. LOTS of twists and sweeps running through whoopdee dos!! Like riding a rollercoaster. Other than the one RV that believed he should be able to drive in any lane that was convenient, Hwy 168 was flat out amazing and recommended.
http://youtu.be/KLtkFIl1SfM
Hwy 168 lead me to NV Hwy 266 and eventually Hwy 95 in Nevada where I headed south. Stopped in Beatty NV for some fuel and photos. But it was hot so I headed on the Vegas before it got REALLY hot. (Hwy 95 is kind of a bore by the way).
When I hit Las Vegas from the north, it was the first time in 8 or more years from this direction. Holy Cowabunga Batman - such growth - and all of it standard boring western US style metropolis filled with chains. Freewayed it through to my destination Best Western actually in Henderson. This would be my napping HQ prior to Bark at the Moon.
Got there at 1PM - asked the nice young clerk if she could store some of my luggage until it was check in time. Instead she gave me the room early. I moved in. Searched out some passable food. Then relaxed / napped until it was time for the Barking to start.
Bark at the Moon - A midnight ride at through Lake Mead Rec Area and Valley of Fire State Park. Fun and adventure.
Read a couple of reports and see a few pics and videos here
After OMC and I wrapped it up the Bark at the Moon, I went back to the BW for a couple of hours of shuteye.
Day 3 (kinda) started with a pleasant ride up to Mt. Charleston. Who knew there was skiing 30 minutes out of Vegas. Tons of people and traffic that late Sunday morning heading up for some hiking and outdoorsing. After peaking (on a road anyway) I headed back out and then south to the road to Pahrump.
Road to Mount Charleston
Stopped for pizza in Pahrump. Nice older lady took my order. Looked at me funny when I ordered and walked off slowly looking confused. I can then hear her in the back saying "half and half, can we do that/ DO we charge for 4 toppings or 2? Have you ever heard of that?" the pizza cooks says, "what half and half, what, that's what he ordered? well it's still only two toppings per half, so..." They talked for 5 minutes about it. The whole time me thinking, what kind of pizza place has never heard of a half and half pizza. What kind a pizza am I gonna get? Turns out an awesome and tasty pizza for one. Nice job Nicco's Pizza in Pahrump.
Spent the night at a Best Western in Pahrump. Got to bed early to catch up from the Bark at the Moon. (so no losing, gambling, for me)
The first cars I see about a mile out of Kernville are 2 Kern County Sheriff patrol cars. Good thing the welcome to Kernville came about 1/2 mile before the turn they were sitting at.
