Death Valley and Mojave National Preserve trip report - BARF

norcal_RVT1000R · 03-16-2006, 12:40 PM

My riding buddy Jim and I just returned last night from a successful trip to the Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley.

We started Monday morning from Sacramento, where we caught Hwy 104 to Jackson, where we headed south on Hwy 49 as far as it would let us before we hit snow (Mariposa). Then Hwy 99 to Bakersfield, and Hwy 58 to Barstow. Stayed the night here, before tackling Mojave National Preserve first thing in the morning

norcal_RVT1000R · 03-16-2006, 12:41 PM

Kelso Depot (above), in the middle of the preserve, has just been restored and reopened as a museum/visitor's center. It was briefly used as a Union Pacific depot in the 1920s. Met up with Jim's friend Mike in Kelso, where he said hi to his old bike and joined us for the ride to Shoshone. Unfortunately, he had to return home to pick up his daughter. Thanks, Mike, for the ride~

We stopped for lunch in Shoshone, right before heading into Death Valley:

Welcome, Death Valley:

The wildflowers were blooming in full force:

norcal_RVT1000R · 03-16-2006, 12:42 PM

Here we are at Badwater:

We stayed at Stovepipe Wells for the night. The next day was going to be long, heading from Death Valley back to Sacramento. We quickly climbed out of Death Valley:

Rode through some incredible roads on our way out of the national park:

norcal_RVT1000R · 03-16-2006, 12:43 PM

Goodbye, Death Valley:

The Sierras are pretty snow-covered... What did the first settlers think when they saw that wall of mountains?

We headed south on US 395/Hwy 14 to Hwy 178, which took us over the southern Sierras via Lake Isabella. The roads were incredible, highly recommended. We were too busy having fun on the twisties to stop for much picture taking, but took some of these on Hwy 178 west of Lake Isabella. Hwy 155 was blocked for us due to snow.

Hit Bakersfield and Hwy 99, and slabbed it home.

In all a great experience! Thanks to Jim for tagging along! It made a good trip great! I'm sure he'll chime in here in the next few days with more pictures.

Now, where to go next.. I'm bitten by the bug.

maxboxa · 03-16-2006, 01:21 PM

nice pics! so, how long do you think it'll take before your body recovers from riding that rc around for a few days?

NoGall · 03-16-2006, 01:33 PM

Nice pics!

Did you end up using the extra gas on the RC? If so, from where to where?

wazzuFreddo · 03-16-2006, 03:27 PM

Looks like fun

I think I need to take a trip out that way next month. Perhaps stop over in vegas for a couple nights

rumpofsteelskin · 03-16-2006, 04:11 PM

Notice anything wrong with this sign?

norcal_RVT1000R · 03-16-2006, 08:08 PM

@maxboxa: hehe, I'm back in business today. That RC isn't nearly the torture rack people make it out to be (shhh... its a well kept secret)

@NoGall: Nope, didn't need the extra gas, but gotta prepare with a range of 120 miles.

@rumpofsteelskin: hehe, if you don't look closely it appears to say 855 meters. You can see the (dot) on the larger version of the pic.

Frisco · 03-16-2006, 10:01 PM

Thanks for the post! Excellent photos.

I did this trip last year during the incredible spring bloom. My avitar is from that trip. It's highly recommended.

CJ

wazzuFreddo · 03-22-2006, 04:23 PM

I am going to head out that way on a solo ride later next month, should be a kick in the pants

Elseanno · 03-22-2006, 07:29 PM

Lovely pics of Death Valley! I would love to go there with a dual sport or adventure tourer so get to some of the cool spots not easily attainable with a regular bike. Last time I was IN D.V. I was passing through at about 1 am. It was a chilly 100 degrees F.

Did you take the tour/s of Scotty's Castle?

Elseanno

wsmc831 · 03-23-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rumpofsteelskin
Notice anything wrong with this sign?

Someone doesn't know their feet from a meter....ooops.

been through there in 97 on a bike, different world.

Kato · 03-25-2006, 11:21 PM

norcal_RVT1000R,

Sick ride....& cool picks.....I'm so jealous of you guys right now.

Did you incounter any bad weather on your trip. Also, I noticed
the spare gas tank, did you need to use it.

norcal_RVT1000R · 03-26-2006, 08:26 PM

Kato: No bad weather, unless you call clouds and 40F bad... And no I didn't need the gas. But you know, with the RC you never know when you're out in BFE...

03-16-2006, 12:40 PM	#1
norcal_RVT1000R Rookie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Motorcycles: 2002 Honda RC51, 2004 Trek 2100 Name: Chris	Death Valley and Mojave National Preserve trip report My riding buddy Jim and I just returned last night from a successful trip to the Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley. We started Monday morning from Sacramento, where we caught Hwy 104 to Jackson, where we headed south on Hwy 49 as far as it would let us before we hit snow (Mariposa). Then Hwy 99 to Bakersfield, and Hwy 58 to Barstow. Stayed the night here, before tackling Mojave National Preserve first thing in the morning __________________ 2002 Honda RC51 2004 Trek 2100

03-16-2006, 12:41 PM	#2
norcal_RVT1000R Rookie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Motorcycles: 2002 Honda RC51, 2004 Trek 2100 Name: Chris	Kelso Depot (above), in the middle of the preserve, has just been restored and reopened as a museum/visitor's center. It was briefly used as a Union Pacific depot in the 1920s. Met up with Jim's friend Mike in Kelso, where he said hi to his old bike and joined us for the ride to Shoshone. Unfortunately, he had to return home to pick up his daughter. Thanks, Mike, for the ride~ We stopped for lunch in Shoshone, right before heading into Death Valley: Welcome, Death Valley: The wildflowers were blooming in full force: __________________ 2002 Honda RC51 2004 Trek 2100

03-16-2006, 12:42 PM	#3
norcal_RVT1000R Rookie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Motorcycles: 2002 Honda RC51, 2004 Trek 2100 Name: Chris	Here we are at Badwater: We stayed at Stovepipe Wells for the night. The next day was going to be long, heading from Death Valley back to Sacramento. We quickly climbed out of Death Valley: Rode through some incredible roads on our way out of the national park: __________________ 2002 Honda RC51 2004 Trek 2100

03-16-2006, 12:43 PM	#4
norcal_RVT1000R Rookie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Motorcycles: 2002 Honda RC51, 2004 Trek 2100 Name: Chris	Goodbye, Death Valley: The Sierras are pretty snow-covered... What did the first settlers think when they saw that wall of mountains? We headed south on US 395/Hwy 14 to Hwy 178, which took us over the southern Sierras via Lake Isabella. The roads were incredible, highly recommended. We were too busy having fun on the twisties to stop for much picture taking, but took some of these on Hwy 178 west of Lake Isabella. Hwy 155 was blocked for us due to snow. Hit Bakersfield and Hwy 99, and slabbed it home. In all a great experience! Thanks to Jim for tagging along! It made a good trip great! I'm sure he'll chime in here in the next few days with more pictures. Now, where to go next.. I'm bitten by the bug. __________________ 2002 Honda RC51 2004 Trek 2100

03-16-2006, 01:33 PM	#6
NoGall .. AMA #: 690440 BARF Admin Founding Member BARFies '06, '08, '10, '14 Contributor ++++BB Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: East Bay Motorcycles: FJR1300 Name: Tom	Nice pics! Did you end up using the extra gas on the RC? If so, from where to where? __________________ BARF TOS \| Be a BARF Contributor \| Join the AMA \| Berkeley Honda Yamaha \| Berkeley Performance \| CA Sport Touring \| Craig Hightower

03-16-2006, 01:21 PM	#5
maxboxa Veteran Contributor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: NOT daly city Motorcycles: 03rsv 04gsa 01drz 04crf Name:	nice pics! so, how long do you think it'll take before your body recovers from riding that rc around for a few days?

03-16-2006, 03:27 PM	#7
wazzuFreddo WuTang is 4 the children Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: norte del Rio Bravo Motorcycles: antisocially distantanced Name: bobesponja	Looks like fun I think I need to take a trip out that way next month. Perhaps stop over in vegas for a couple nights __________________ Don't Try Support bacteria, it’s the only culture some people have.

03-16-2006, 04:11 PM	#8
rumpofsteelskin friend to spiders Contributor Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Motorcycles: bicycle Name: ******!	Notice anything wrong with this sign?

03-16-2006, 08:08 PM	#9
norcal_RVT1000R Rookie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Motorcycles: 2002 Honda RC51, 2004 Trek 2100 Name: Chris	@maxboxa: hehe, I'm back in business today. That RC isn't nearly the torture rack people make it out to be (shhh... its a well kept secret) @NoGall: Nope, didn't need the extra gas, but gotta prepare with a range of 120 miles. @rumpofsteelskin: hehe, if you don't look closely it appears to say 855 meters. You can see the (dot) on the larger version of the pic. __________________ 2002 Honda RC51 2004 Trek 2100

03-16-2006, 10:01 PM	#10
Frisco Veteran Contributor + Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: El Cerrito Motorcycles: Yammies ‘17 FZ-09 and '13 FJR Name: Carl	Thanks for the post! Excellent photos. I did this trip last year during the incredible spring bloom. My avitar is from that trip. It's highly recommended. CJ

03-22-2006, 04:23 PM	#11
wazzuFreddo WuTang is 4 the children Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: norte del Rio Bravo Motorcycles: antisocially distantanced Name: bobesponja	I am going to head out that way on a solo ride later next month, should be a kick in the pants __________________ Don't Try Support bacteria, it’s the only culture some people have.

03-22-2006, 07:29 PM	#12
Elseanno Endo specialist Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bay Area Motorcycles: Concours Tiger Name:	Lovely pics of Death Valley! I would love to go there with a dual sport or adventure tourer so get to some of the cool spots not easily attainable with a regular bike. Last time I was IN D.V. I was passing through at about 1 am. It was a chilly 100 degrees F. Did you take the tour/s of Scotty's Castle? Elseanno __________________ Elseanno

03-25-2006, 11:21 PM	#14
Kato Veteran Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sacramento Valley Motorcycles: RC51/On Layaway till 2009+ Name: Kato	norcal_RVT1000R, Sick ride....& cool picks.....I'm so jealous of you guys right now. Did you incounter any bad weather on your trip. Also, I noticed the spare gas tank, did you need to use it.

03-26-2006, 08:26 PM	#15
norcal_RVT1000R Rookie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Motorcycles: 2002 Honda RC51, 2004 Trek 2100 Name: Chris	Kato: No bad weather, unless you call clouds and 40F bad... And no I didn't need the gas. But you know, with the RC you never know when you're out in BFE... __________________ 2002 Honda RC51 2004 Trek 2100

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