I was up early considering I had gone to bed early, I wasn’t too surprised. I got the bike packed and left Holbrook after some coffee and a quick bite at the motel around 8 am. It was a bit chilly, so I donned my Kilmanjaro jacket and called it good. I knew it would warm up later in the morning. I was hoping to ride some of the historic Route 66.
Love the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook. I had no idea they actually rented rooms, or I might have considered overnighting there! They told me at Safeway, when the blue sign was lit, she was renting rooms, but it all depended upon her mood. She had owned the Wigwam forever!
It’s difficult to follow Route 66 as it simply ends in some places, but I did my best. I had to take a side trip to Winslow and stand on the corner!
Loved the photo, but I do wish he had actually gotting some of the background in as well. The bane of strangers using our cameras!
One thing that I really noticed that I rarely notice in CA were all the trains. They were everywhere in TX and in AZ.
Seligman, AZ on historic 66.
Loved the kid sitting here with the manikins.
I had met these two riders while getting gas in Seligman. They had ridden all the way from Michigan and were intent on reaching Las Vegas, NV. They were really fun to talk to and asked if I wanted to ride along on the old Route 66. I said I’d catch up with them after stopping in Seligman to get some shots. Well, I not only caught them after about 15 minutes of photos, but tried to ride with them. I am not sure how they made it from Michigan, but they consistently rode 10mph under the speed limit. I didn’t hang long until I passed and bid them a wave.
I tried to take a Hoover Dam tour, however it was too crowded and the tours for the day were sold out. They charged $7 bucks to park and walk around, so I instead simply headed to Las Vegas.
Viva Las Vegas.
374 miles
Leaving LV was no loss. I am never impressed by the town, nor do I enjoy the scene particularly. I did have a decent meal at the Hard Rock Hotel, but had to laugh as it’s was a special not on the menu, you had to ask for the “gambler’s special”. I was served a nice steak, three jumbo grilled shrimp, garlic mashed pototaoes and a caesar salad, all for $7.77. I thought a nice Merlot would accompany it well, but upon receiving my bill, I was amazed that I had been charged $7.77 for the meal and $10 for the wine…hahaha, so much for saving money in Las Vegas!
I have to say, I enjoyed gassing up in Texas and New Mexico. Both places were nearly one dollar less than what we pay in CA. It makes a big difference when traveling. At one point I was gassing up next to a land yacht and he told me he got 6 mpg!! He also said, if you have to worry about the cost, stay home. He had a good point!
Speaking of expenses, I met two young riders in LV. They were a couple from Germany and had been riding several months in Latin America and South America and were heading across the US now. They shipped their bikes from Germany and had easily loaded on the miles riding both pavement and dirt. It was fun to talk to them and I was amazed at the beating the bikes had taken, but then they were made for this sort of excursion.
We ate breakfast together and talked about crazy rides.
I got ready to leave LV and the temps were already in the 70s. It was going to be a great day to ride to Carson City.
A good portion of the trip is quite dull as you ride north to Beatty, but after Beatty is where the fun begins. I always like to ride Hwy 266 to Hwy 168 and Big Pine, but today after lots of deliberation, I decided to ride through Fish Lake Valley, knowing it was rarely patrolled and I could make good time, where going up Hwy 395 from Big Pine is quite the opposite.
The summit of Hwy 266 and the Sierra Nevada Range
Descending to Fish Lake Valley, NV
I stopped in Fish Lake Valley for gas, and it was only $5 bucks a gallon! Yowsa!
I asked the locals if the road was ever patrolled and they told me, rarely, except for the local sherrif. Well speeding along, I come quickly upon a black SUV and guess who! I traveled the remainder of 266 to 6 at 55mph. I didn’t quite make the time I was planning!
I arrived in Benton, CA and rode over Hwy 120E into Lee Vining. I love this road with all it’s whoops. I tried to take a photograph and just couldn’t do it justice riding solo. If you are riding with someone, you can get them as they crest the whoops and it’s way cool. Oh well.
Hwy 120E
Love the shades of fall in the background.
Mono Lake
I took 395 north to Carson City. It was heavily patrolled and I had a near moment, but lucked out. I got into Carson late afternoon to see my friends and I just couldn’t convince myself to head over the summit to home, knowing I’d have another couple of hours of riding over the passes. I decided I’d stay in Carson and then take Ebbetts home, the following day. It was the right decision.
439 miles
Almost home…
I had a leisurely morning on Friday and realized I had been 13 days on the road. I had seen alot of diverse country, met with some amazing friends and ridden some awesome roads. It was time to go home and get my house ready for my family. I could easily have taken either Hwy 50 or I80 and been home straightaway, but I decided I’d end this journey over one of my personal favorite roads, Hwy 4 Ebbetts Pass.
The day couldn’t have been better, it was clear sunny and gorgeous and the road, traffic free and clean for the most part. What a wonderful way to end a long journey with some amazing technical riding.
The fall colors were still in full regalia.
Alpine Lake
I didn’t get many photos as I was busy with riding the twisties and even the nice big sweepers coming into Arnold. As I got to Murphy, I was reminded I was back in CA, as the traffic began to pulse. It was a long ride from Murphy to Carmicael and I finally conceeded and stopped in Jackson for a needed cup of coffee. I got home about 30 minutes prior to dusk to a loving husband and a welcoming red wine, that wasn’t $10 bucks a glass! Life is good.
188 miles and over 5 hours!
Total journey 3424 miles.