OK, off we go with the ride report. I'll jump in and try to build the site a little bit.
Left a couple of weeks ago and headed up Hwy 50 to Tahoe to make my way over the Sierras to Hwy 395 down the eastern Sierras. Of course I had to stop along the way to enjoy myself and the scenery as I planned on only getting about half way.
There's been a series of rock slides on Echo Summit, and the repairs are ongoing.
(that's Lake Tahoe peaking around the corner there on the right)
Lots of one way traffic, lots of stops. No problem, I have time to enjoy the views.
Even towing the bike in the trailer was refreshing heading down 395, I just enjoyed the views all along the way.
Finally made it to a converted gravel pit campground just before Bishop California, that was the best $5 a night place I've been to. Excellent pit toilets, spaced out camp sites, and oh the views from my site.
Next morning after fixing coffee I packed up and made the trailer ready for more miles of sight seeing.
Bishop has this "World Famous" Bakery that always has a crowd in it, with good reason. The sourdough sheep herders bread is great. Along with pastries, pull apart loafs, and any other bakery delight you can think of.
https://schatsbakery.com/wp/
On down to Lone Pine (which we would wind up going through multiple times that week) and then out 136 to Hwy 190 towards Death Valley.
Planning the trip and researching maps, I came across some useless trivia of sorts. One of the 80's Mega Bands was Irish rockers U2, and their most famous album was "The Joshua Tree". A photo shoot out in the Mojave desert somewhere for the album artwork created some sort of pilgrimage for fans to find this tree. Well they did, and wanting it to survive forever, they watered it. But when you water a desert tree, you drown it. So it died and fell over in the early 2000's sometimes. That doesn't stop people from still going there, and I found it's only about 150 yards off Hwy 190.
Now my cousin who passed away about six years ago was a HUGE U2 fan, and my uncle has given me all of his old CD's which included this one. So I stopped, looked through my binoculars and saw it off the road.
Took a picture, popped in the CD, and cranked up "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
Now as I pull away and start to get back on the road..............
There is a deafening sound and my truck begins to shake, I let off the throttle as a F22 Raptor buzzes over me at about 300 feet.
(not my picture, but that's what it looked like from my angle)
Let the vacation begin with an airshow! (more on that later)
Now when you get close to Panamint Valley, you have to make a huge drop in altitude down a VERY winding pass road. But I did pull off to take a picture of the infamous "Star Wars canyon" which is actually named Rainbow Canyon and there is Father Crowley Overlook along the middle of it.
https://www.nps.gov/places/father-crowley-vista-point-rainbow-canyon.htm
This is where the fighter jets fly through and just rip around in what is unbelievable maneuvers.
Then on down to setup camp for the week. Checked in, found Darrel was my next door neighbor, and cracked open a cold Indian Wells Brewing Co "Mojave Red Rattler", and it was good.........
Unpacked the bike, got the trailer setup for my rustic cabin accommodations, and relaxed to the sound of more fighter jets blasting down & around Panamint Valley.
Next up, riding the dirt roads........................
Left a couple of weeks ago and headed up Hwy 50 to Tahoe to make my way over the Sierras to Hwy 395 down the eastern Sierras. Of course I had to stop along the way to enjoy myself and the scenery as I planned on only getting about half way.
There's been a series of rock slides on Echo Summit, and the repairs are ongoing.
(that's Lake Tahoe peaking around the corner there on the right)
Lots of one way traffic, lots of stops. No problem, I have time to enjoy the views.
Even towing the bike in the trailer was refreshing heading down 395, I just enjoyed the views all along the way.
Finally made it to a converted gravel pit campground just before Bishop California, that was the best $5 a night place I've been to. Excellent pit toilets, spaced out camp sites, and oh the views from my site.
Next morning after fixing coffee I packed up and made the trailer ready for more miles of sight seeing.
Bishop has this "World Famous" Bakery that always has a crowd in it, with good reason. The sourdough sheep herders bread is great. Along with pastries, pull apart loafs, and any other bakery delight you can think of.
https://schatsbakery.com/wp/
On down to Lone Pine (which we would wind up going through multiple times that week) and then out 136 to Hwy 190 towards Death Valley.
Planning the trip and researching maps, I came across some useless trivia of sorts. One of the 80's Mega Bands was Irish rockers U2, and their most famous album was "The Joshua Tree". A photo shoot out in the Mojave desert somewhere for the album artwork created some sort of pilgrimage for fans to find this tree. Well they did, and wanting it to survive forever, they watered it. But when you water a desert tree, you drown it. So it died and fell over in the early 2000's sometimes. That doesn't stop people from still going there, and I found it's only about 150 yards off Hwy 190.
Now my cousin who passed away about six years ago was a HUGE U2 fan, and my uncle has given me all of his old CD's which included this one. So I stopped, looked through my binoculars and saw it off the road.
Took a picture, popped in the CD, and cranked up "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
Now as I pull away and start to get back on the road..............
There is a deafening sound and my truck begins to shake, I let off the throttle as a F22 Raptor buzzes over me at about 300 feet.
(not my picture, but that's what it looked like from my angle)
Let the vacation begin with an airshow! (more on that later)
Now when you get close to Panamint Valley, you have to make a huge drop in altitude down a VERY winding pass road. But I did pull off to take a picture of the infamous "Star Wars canyon" which is actually named Rainbow Canyon and there is Father Crowley Overlook along the middle of it.
https://www.nps.gov/places/father-crowley-vista-point-rainbow-canyon.htm
This is where the fighter jets fly through and just rip around in what is unbelievable maneuvers.
Then on down to setup camp for the week. Checked in, found Darrel was my next door neighbor, and cracked open a cold Indian Wells Brewing Co "Mojave Red Rattler", and it was good.........
Unpacked the bike, got the trailer setup for my rustic cabin accommodations, and relaxed to the sound of more fighter jets blasting down & around Panamint Valley.
Next up, riding the dirt roads........................