My grandson has spring break this week which means grandma is off the time clock and can take a quick jaunt to the desert for needed fix of pure high desert air. It seems I can’t go over a month without some sort of desert exposure. It’s funny, some people think of Sacramento as a dry hot growing paradise, but it seems over the years it has gotten more humid and less of a paradise. I like Sacramento, but still feel the need to be elsewhere fairly frequently.
Ready to go…
I sat with google map and sketched out a vague route. The sun was blazing through the clouds, but it looked as though the battle between clouds and sun would likely be won by the clouds. As I rode east that was definitely the case. I decided I would go over any pass open, and that became Hwy 88. The road was beautifully clear, with some running water over the road but no ice or slick spots, however I avoided the shadows. I was surprised how little snow there was on the top, but i did enjoy seeing any snow at all. It was cold enough to wear my gerbing on a low heat, but I imagine a “regular” person wouldn’t have even needed anything heated.
I rode my favorite road up to Hwy 88 via Fiddletown Road. I was reminiscing my early days of riding and how intimidated I was riding Latrobe Rd and Fiddletown Rd and how now it’s nothing but fun and zero stress…ah the learning curve!!
Calla Lilies return…
I saw these two that looked conjoined!
Once up to Hwy 88, I began seeing bits of snow and on the top it was still nice and snowy.
I couldn’t resist shooting the Bandito at Caples Lake.
I stopped in Bridgeport and filled the bike and was astounded to pay over $5.00 per gallon. I believe that was the most I have ever paid for gas, ever!! After filling, I stopped at ranger station to find out if Hwy 168 was open and clear. He checked CalTran to discover it was unhindered. I was not set for some fun riding over California’s best kept secret road. I topped off my tank in Big Pine as it’s a long stretch without gas until one reaches Beatty, but oh what a stretch. You can judge yourself from the photos, sadly I never stop to take decent photos, i simply shoot from the hip!
Gas!
Mono Lake
The beautiful Sierra Nevada range
Hwy 168
I saw one car in nearly 40 miles! Woohoo!!!
When you reach the top you ride a plateau for about 10 miles then you are back to the twisties…it’s the gift that just keeps giving!
The view looking back where you have been…
Hwy 168 connects to Hwy 266 which is a beautiful pass road with NO traffic!
The sun was beginning to set and the color was perfect, even with my little point and shoot Canon.
Man, I’m riding a monstrously big machine!
When I arrived in Beatty, I dropped into my favorite motel, the Atomic Inn to find a nice room, lucky for me, they had an open room, since it’s a major Death Valley visiting time. As I pulled in, I met a group of Austrian riders that rented bikes in LA and one of them was the new Goldwing which was lovely. It looks completely different to my eyes and more like a cruiser than a wing.
