Adventure aging: or my CA backroads Bday ride

[demenshea]

Of course the plan was spontaneous as I am never one that actually gets out of town in a timely fashion. I had the bike packed with a moderate amount of garbage and was ready to go by noon, not bad in my estimation, especially considering I wasn’t sure I was going anywhere until 10!

I had sent a message to my riding friend Jamileh, asking if a houseguest was in order for a frivolous evening of birthday pranks. With an A-ok, my plan was to ride to Visalia via a route that Gary had conjured up, which involved some shlugging on 99 as I tried to make up the time lost in getting ready to go! He drew a route that began at Madera taking some fabulous Central California roads that made the shlug down 99 worth the pain. This afternoons roads included Millerton, Tollhouse, Burroughs’s Valley, Maxson, Trimmer Springs, Pine Flat and Elwood Roads. I ran out of time and ended up taking 180 to 63 into Visalia instead of the planned General’s Highway. I guess that will be another trip and one that I could possibly take with some of the 559 riders!

I met Jamileh and Bruce (TripleTee) at Border’s Books around 8ish and we had coffee before Mileh and I headed to her house for the evening. The first day of my newly dubbed, “Annual Birthday Ride” was a good day full of twists and goat and some really boring slab, but all added up to a totally great day of riding. I only stopped for a couple of pix and only this one was decent.

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/day1%20copy.jpg

Burroughs’s Valley Road
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3617.1.jpg

Jamileh and I stayed up late gabbing and as a result we were a bit sluggish the next morning, but I was out on the road by 8:30 after deciding on a route over Yokohl Road connecting to Hwy 190, one of my very favorite twisty roads. The cemented grin on my face gives descriptive credence to the miles of twisties leading up to a beautiful pine forest, then down to the Kern River.

Yokohl Road
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3622.1.jpg

Some fine flowers on Yokohl Rd.
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3624.1.jpg

A fortuitous shot…
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3625.1.jpg

More wildflowers
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3630.1.jpg


A bit goaty
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3627.1.jpg

The surrounding countryside
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3632.1.jpg

Road surface questionable!
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3633.1.jpg

Lots of run twists
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3634.1.jpg

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3635.1.jpg

Self-portrait on Hwy 190
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3647.1.jpg

Foot bridge on 190 (does anyone know why it is there??)
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3652.1.jpg

Fall colors
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3659.1.jpg

190
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3660.1.jpg

[demenshea]

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/day2%20copy.jpg
More gorgeous Fall foliage
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3663.1.jpg

Kern River
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3664.1.jpg

Lone Motorcyclist (I saw only about 5 other riders)
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3669.1.jpg

The beginning of Sherman Pass down to Hwy 395
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3670.1.jpg

Some very sandy turns
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3671.1.jpg

I suspect this is but one of the culprits of the sandy roadway
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3674.1.jpg

One of several hairpin turns
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3675.1.jpg

The summit rocks and burned area
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3677.1.jpg

Kennedy Meadows…proving that all I needed was gas and ice cream
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3679.1.jpg

Sherman Pass east end
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3684.1.jpg

Joshua tree and valley
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3688.1.jpg

Death Valley Dunes at sunset
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3697.1.jpg

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3699.1.jpg

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3701.1.jpg

Love how the colors are so much more vibrant at dusk.
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3702.1.jpg

Devil’s Cornfield
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3705.1.jpg

On the way to Beatty, NV
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3709.1.jpg

[demenshea]

Arriving in Beatty on my actual birthday seemed a bit mellow-dramatic, as there are few places to have any sort of celebration, especially solo. Figuring that a birthday is probably the perfect day to do some small time gambling, I headed to the Stagecoach Casio for dinner and free drinks! The casino restaurant put out an excellent fillet migon steak dinner for a meger $15.00. My waitress brought me a complimentary piece of Coconut Cream Pie and a cute handmade card, created on the fly. It was pretty cool, actually. I then headed to the casino floor where I invested my token $10bucks and found a penny slot with the Mona Lisa on it. I sat there over the next 2 hours drinking well martinis and playing. I actually left tipsy with nearly $40 bucks in my wallet! Woohoo. The only thing better than a silly solo evening in Beatty NV, would have been surrounded by friends anywhere else!!

I must admit to waking to a bit of fog on Saturday morning. I slept-walked to the coffee pot and downed two cups and loaded the bike. It was a brisk morning with
the Nevada winds taking the air temperature down a couple of notches. I let the Bandito warm up and then headed south on Hwy 95 with a full tank of gas.

Head winds reaped havoc on my gas mileage, so I thought it best before turning at the Lida Junction to head into Goldfield for a top-off, but as fate would have it, the sole gas station in Goldfield is closed on Saturday…what??? I took a few shots of the town and then returned south to Lida Junction Hwy 266 to connect to Hwy 168 with 1/2 tank of gas which in a perfect world should get me just over 100 miles. The sign on 266 said Big Pine was 85.5 miles. Phew.

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/day3%20copy.jpg

Love the wild donkey/burro
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3715.1.jpg

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3716.1.jpg

Goldfield is a trip…here are a few pix I tweaked.
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3719.1.bw.jpg

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3720.1.bw%20copy.jpg

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3720.1.jpg

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3722.1.bw.jpg

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3727.1.jpg

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3728.1.jpg

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3730.1.jpg

Hwy 266 is a bit mundane but has some absolute gorgeous vistas of the Sierra Mountain Range. I also love the fact there is no one on the road, but a few lone vehicles and the speed limit is 65mph and no one is around to enforce it. ; )
*crossed fingers*

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3732.1.jpg


Lida Summit
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3736.1.jpg

Now Hwy 168 is a total blast of a road, in fact one of my very favorite diversions! From the git at either end is twisty delight, perfect pavement and no traffic. It truly doesn’t get much better. I delighted in a personal challenge of pushing my skill level to its fullest and really riding the most out of this fantastic roadway. Which brings me to a bit of introspection.

I have been riding for 4 years now, a pittance compared to many others, however I also have nearly 100K miles on 4 different motorcycles and have come to trust my riding judgment. I was mulling this over on this my “achm” birthday and thinking how only a few years ago I was terrified of nearly every aspect of riding.
How far I have come. How I love riding!

I now know my journey to better riding will never be complete. I know that I can never be all that I wish I were in the world of riding and that I will always be striving to improve my skills. I feel good on my bike, like it fits well and I know it like an intimate friend. I can lean over the bike, knowing that I will remain upright after discovering the laws of riding physics.

I know that when I throw my leg over, to be prepared for the most unlikely of experiences and cherish the ones that are simply scenic nostalgic journeys. I have come to appreciate matched riding partners, desiring the same aesthetic in the journey. Did I mention how I love riding? I also feel fortunate to have a supportive partner who allows me the space to take off solo knowing our relationship is secure and sound.

Ah…see what riding solo does for the soul??? Now, after my blithering self-disclosure, I will continue with my Birthday ride!

Two older pix of 168 as I did no stopping.
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/050108_girlypreride/100_3062.1.jpghttp://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/050108_girlypreride/100_3081.1.jpg
The last 6 miles of 168 I coasted into Big Pine, apparently not getting quite the mileage I was anticipating. I was forced to put my bike on reserve when I still had 48 miles to go! Note to self: get a liter gas container…in fact get two!! The coasting was not because I was totally dry, but to save whatever was left so that I could turn left at Hwy 395 and get to the station one mile down the road. It was no sweat and actually kind of fun with an 8% grade taking me up to 50mph. The downside of this coasting craziness was no engine breaking.

I filled in Big Pine and discovered my tank took 4.98 gallons so I must have had about 1/2 gal left…hell, I could have gone another 20 miles!!

Once I was on Hwy 395, which for a slab is scenic and a decent surface, but I immediately spotted 3 chippies and several more as I headed north. I controlled the urge to speed, and enjoyed the sights of Mono Lake and the beautiful Sierras. Time was passing quickly and I knew I could no longer rider Ebbetts Pass as planned without doing it in the dark, so I took Monitor to Markleeville and then Hwy 88 which is an easy ride at dusk.

Mono Lake tufa
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3739.1.jpg

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3740.1.jpg

Monitor Pass
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3743.1.jpg

I stopped for a top off at the Shell station in Pioneer and spoke briefly to Bandit12 Ray. He saw me gassing up and stopped for a quick hello and to tell me he was having a marvelous time at the pashnit gathering. We parted as it was quickly becoming dark and I headed toward home after an amazing two days of perfect riding. Ah, another year, a few more colored gray hairs and many many smiles.

Miles 1474--elevations from below sea level to 9500 feet

Homecoming…wine opened and ready for toasting!
http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3745.1.jpg

[Astir]

:wootrock:

I am jealous! Makes me want to quit my job so I can decide at 10 to leave on a trip at 12.

:perfect10: on the pictures and report!

[bobcat]

Very nice. I particularly like this photo:

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3720.1.jpg

[Veda]

Wow you take some great photos. Are you using an SLR?

Is this a legit working gas station?

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3679.1.jpg

[demenshea]

Wow you take some great photos. Are you using an SLR?

Is this a legit working gas station?

http://www.demenshea.com/moto/2008/102408_bday/100_3679.1.jpg

Thanks all! I am using a Kodak Easyshare Z650 with a 10X zoom. I have another camera, but i much prefer this older model as the color is simply fantastic!! I also do post production in photoshop, so i suppose i cheat a bit in emphasizing contrast a bit. I am totally into high contrast work.

I think that pump did work until recently when prices went through the roof. Many outback places are now closed.

[KCDakar]

Great report. I have been on a lot of those roads. I tend to love the Goaty ones...:devilsmile:

[Luna Tique]

:wootrock: As always your writing style is fun to read & your eye for taking pictures is a :perfect10:

demenshea I am happy you were able to celebrate your birthday with a great road trip .:cheers:



PS so what did your bike get for your birthday? :D:

[TylerR]

Now that's how to celebrate a birthday!!! :wootrock:

[demenshea]

:wootrock: As always your writing style is fun to read & your eye for taking pictures is a :perfect10:

demenshea I am happy you were able to celebrate your birthday with a great road trip .:cheers:



PS so what did your bike get for your birthday? :D:

I can't agree more about the goaty roads. I must say that riding solo gives one another perspective on some of the road i ride as I have to imagine being found as one bleached ass skeleton if there are any issues. Hence my spot GPS locator. At least they will find my carcass. :rofl:

Bandito got a full blown 50K tune up and my fine ass upon his corbin!! :lol:

[Luna Tique]

It sounds like you both made out :lol:

[KCDakar]

I am sooo not going to touch this. It could go so wrong so fast.:lol:

[Luna Tique]

Only you Dakar :slaphead: :lol:

[KCDakar]

:devilsmile:

[ridingAK]

Truth be told LT I had the same thought, but I'm nicer than Dakar and decided to let it go.











:hiding:

[KCDakar]

Ouch...:lol:

[ridingAK]

:lol: just kidding Dakar :hug2:

[KCDakar]

No problem. I am just going to go for a ride.:devilsmile:

[Luna Tique]

even funnier is I almost included you in my statement rAk but decided I would not rile the waters :rofl:

[KCDakar]

Are we off topic yet?:lol:

Sorry D. This just never happens around here.:slaphead:


:lol:

[TylerR]

Are we off topic yet?:lol:

Sorry D. This just never happens around here.:slaphead:

Isn't that part of the fun? ;):

[ridingAK]

:lol:

[KCDakar]

Isn't that part of the fun? ;):

Oh, we are WELL known for running off topic all the time for sure!

That is except me. I am always on topic!:D:

[TylerR]

Oh, we are WELL known for running off topic all the time for sure!

That is except me. I am always on topic!:D:

So are you being off topic by telling us that you are always on topic cause the post is off topic about being on topic? :drool:

[KCDakar]

So are you being off topic by telling us that you are always on topic cause the post is off topic about being on topic? :drool:

Yep...:lol:

[KansasKawboy]

:rofl:

[Luna Tique]

So are you being off topic by telling us that you are always on topic cause the post is off topic about being on topic? :drool:
:omg: that just got my head spinning :rofl:

[TylerR]

:omg: that just got my head spinning :rofl:

I had to think about it a couple of times while trying to type it... :roflmao:

[ridingAK]

:rofl:

[demenshea]

OMG... you are all slaying me....:rofl: I think that on or off topic this is why we are all here for the fun and games and the fabulous paling around we get to do.

As to the Bandito...i am certain he'd like several of your bottoms gracing his corbin...:drool:

[TylerR]

As to the Bandito...i am certain he'd like several of your bottoms gracing his corbin...:drool:

So to speak... :D:

[Luna Tique]

:lol:

[waterlilly]

Great pics and yes you have a way with words, I enjoyed your report.

[bikerbunny]

Great ride,great piccies & what a great way to celebrate your birthday.

I only really started riding solo 2 years ago, following a change in my personal circumstances, but I have to admit I do enjoy it more & more.

Its so great to have the freedom to just turn off if you spot an interesting road or sign without having to explain yourself to others, or to stop to take photos whenever you want ,which I m doing more & more ,is just fab.