After Randal and Venice gave me a tasty sample of the beauty surrounding them, I decided I needed to get some photos and further explore the area. I got a late start, relaxing all morning, which was wonderful I finally got the bike packed and Randal topped my gas, another wonderful benefit of friendship and turned my bike around in his driveway. YEA!! I hate moving a totally full bike around as it is so top heavy! Thanks again, Randal.
We took some parting shots and I was on my way!
Ready to ride! (thanks Venice for the NICE photo!)
Venice and Beau the wonder dog!
Randal and Venice at home
First stop was Cathedral Gorge a scenic hidden canyon.
This place is really cool and has a super spiritual feel to it.
Closer…
The visitor center…a very distinct architecture
I got back on Hwy 95 and headed north toward Pioche, an old mining town with plenty of history. This town was rough and ready in its day with nearly 10K inhabitants. The story goes that boot hill had 72 buried there before any died of natural causes! Must have been one wild lawless place. Looks to be much calmer these days.
I was fascinated with this ore tram. It took the ore by gravity flow to the bottom of the mountain and a mill. Pretty amazing design for its time.
U can see the crest of the hill where the ore carts started the descent below.
The smokestack is where the mill was located.
Too bad the Truth Center wasn’t opened. I could use some truth
Anyone wanna go in with me on restoring this theater??
Nothing a bit o’ paint couldn’t fix.
Bandito and the “million dollar courthouse”
I don’t see why anyone would have a problem riding in the desert of NV * wink wink *
Train tunnel outside of Ely
Desert terrain
The loneliest highway Hwy 50
The Shoe Tree of Hwy 50
The worst encounter in crossing NV was the road construction outside of Austin. At one point they held traffic for nearly 20 minutes in the late-day desert heat. No shade or air conditioning for us riders, only the pounding rays of sunshine. When the pilot car finally arrived, I couldn’t understand the need for 5 miles of following a pilot and 30 ft. of actual construction. It was crazy and usurped a good 40 minutes of time. Oh the horror!
By the time I reached Fallon, it was becoming dusk and I knew I needed to make a phone call to friends and make arrangements for one more overnight before arriving home. The beauty of 30 year friendships is that there is never a bad time to show up for a visit. I was greeted with dinner and vino and a soft welcoming bed. Ahhhhh.
Before my arrival in Carson, I was treated to this view of the sky. Nothing beats a desert sunset in my opinion with the sky lit like the 4th of July. What a wondrous world!
The culmination of these days of riding, the meeting of new friends, the AMA conference, the gorgeous scenery, the amazing landmarks, and my fabulous motorbike has redefined the “BEST TRIP EVER!” The sublime of the sublime!! I can’t wait to see where I go next.