This morning I just felt the need to get away from all the familiar roads and the traffic.  I hopped up on the slab and twisted the throttle with just enough discretion to avoid the CHP; and stayed just like that until I left Mojave.  About 25 miles north of Mojave, just past Jawbone Canyon and Dove Springs (I’ve spent many hours riding dirt bikes in this area) you will be in Red Rock Canyon State Park.  We’re often going so fast, or are so intent on getting to our destination, that the sites along the way are either completely missed or barely register as you pass by.  I was looking at the sandstone through this area and wondered when exactly these multicolored stripes were laid down.

90 miles farther down the road you’ll find the home of your Crystal Geyser Natural Alpine Spring Water – Olancha, CA.  This is also where you’ll find the turnoff to Hwy 190.  This is the road that takes you from the Owens Valley, over into the Panamint Valley, and down into Death Valley.  The road from the floor of the Panamint Valley up over the Panamint Range is one of the greatest roads around for wide and sweeping turns – on a motorcycle, this translates into, the faster the better.  Today however, it was so windy that high speeds were out of the question.  Still a fun road though – even at 65 mph.  If you’re interested, here is a link to a video I made when higher speeds were the order of the day.

Panamint Valley and Panamint Range behind

A road I’ve never taken is always more of a draw than familiar ones; so in Death Valley I headed toward Scotty’s Castle then took the road to Beatty, NV.  I was the only vehicle on this road for miles and miles.  And – due to all the clouds, it was not hot at all, in fact I actually stopped for my sweat shirt right after this picture was taken.

The clouds were welcome to keep the heat away but clouds bring rain and it was raining all around me today.  From Beatty to Las Vegas I could feel the cold air from the heavy rain falling on the mountains less than 5 miles to my left, lightening and everything!!  In order to avoid the rain I did a little rushing to beat a moving storm and waiting under a shelter for the rain to pass.  With the much appreciated assistance of my weather gal (Robin), the rain gear stayed in the saddlebag all day.

I didn’t think I had that far to go on this first day so I didn’t pack the bike the night before or anything else that would lead to a speedy early morning departure.  Since I didn’t leave the house until after 10:00, I should have taken a fairly direct route to Mesquite, NV.  I didn’t do that, and with a couple rain delays, it was after 8:00 when I finally pulled up in front of the Virgin River Hotel & Casino.  Quick bite to eat, shower and bed.