I never thought I’d need motivation to go for a motorcycle ride, however this winter has been one where even though the weather wasn’t bad, I just wanted to hole up and vegetate. I haven’t been motivated to do art, to do much knitting or even to get into some fine cooking, so when I signed up for the Big Money Rally, I had a reason to get out and ride.

I took a short jaunt in February over to Monterey gathering my first BMR bonuses, but then parked my poor beautiful bike making him the king of the garage. After a month of reading other people’s ride reports, I told myself to shed the apathy and go for a ride!!

I planned out a week plus ride covering about 5K miles. I needed at least that to sharpen my dulling skill level. I checked the bikes and even though the Bandit had better tires, I decided I needed to spend some more time bonding with the BMW, so I got it out of the garage, polished it up, checked fluids and tire pressure and was good to go. I loaded up my stuff, which I’m proud to say that over the years has gotten smaller, though I still need my hair gel!

Shooting into the sun is sometime fortuitous.

I got out of Sacramento relatively late, considering I desired traveling to Ely in one day stopping along the way to get some BMR bonus points. Ely is nearly 500 miles which for you iron butt riders is nothing, but for my “not so iron butt” is more than enough! At least I had daylight savings time on my side, but still I didn’t roll into Ely until a good hour of riding in the dark encountering Elk and very slow speeds! American’s loneliest highway 50 is just that in March past dusk!

First stop was to see one of the old highway markers for the Lincoln Highway. This one is located right outside of Reno just off the now I80.

This shot ended up being my favorite.

One of the BMR bonus categorizes that breathed some life in my ride to Ely was that of Cathouses of NV. I have to admit never having visited one and here finally, was my chance. I knew there were two right outside of Reno. The ever-famous Mustang Ranch and the Wild Horse Saloon. This was my lucky day, as I not only got my bonus photos, but met some of the girls.

I even met some live ones. 😉

On my way out to the ranches, there is a dirt bike track which was seeing some action. I got a couple of shots of the guys as they caught air over a jump.

Bored on Hwy 50, I got in some buggy windscreen shadow shots!

I had one bonus to get in Eureka, the famous old Opera House.

By the time I arrived in Ely, I was done for the day! I took one shot from my room in the Hotel Nevada and ordered a room service BLT and went to bed! So much for the exciting life of a traveler!

When I awoke in Ely it was 14 degrees outside. I stalled as long as I could, geared up and went out to greet the clear cold sunshine. Despite the temps it was a glorious day. Libraries were one of the bonus catagories, so I was able to shoot the Ely library before heading to the two local brothels. Once I had my shots, I was ready to head to Las Vegas seeking the most scenic route possible. Along the way, I did get some bonus words, yet another category, and enjoyed a fine day of riding.

Once I reached Panaca, I stopped to gas up and made a side stop to return to the Cathedral Gorge State Park. I find the colors and formations devine.

Map to LV

More to come maybe tomorrow, as I’m sharing as I go.