Off to Rhyolite and Death Valley with smiling sun-loving faces. Today’s weather is warm and wind free, much different from yesterday’s cloud cover and low temps. Dave has never seen Rhyolite, so a quick visit is in order then we’ll cruise through DV via Hwy 178 and head to Needles, CA. Why Needles you ask, because it’s just where we ended up, no intention in mind.
Dave in Rhyolite
We filled our bikes in Beatty before entering DV, and a good thing, I might add. It was nowhere near that price in Beatty.
A compulsory shot on Artist’s Loop in DV.
We grabbed a bite in the Crowbar cafe whose food was quite good but the service was VERY SLOW. Not a place to go if you are in any sort of hurry. The waitress was quite nice, but there was obviously some breakdown between the waitress and cook as we were there over an hour. We were satiated and and very ready to ride!
Traveling down Hwy 127 was pretty damned boring from my perspective but entering Baker we realized we had little choice but to take Interstate 15 about 70 miles to a nice road traveling southeast, Hwy 164. The road was a red road with little to no traffic, open spaces and lots of zigs and zags. It beat the hell out of the interstate.
Laughlin is one of my least favorite places. Growing up in NV taught me that gambling never pays and free drinks simply pad the way for more gambling. That said, I have to admit to falling victim to the Alien slot machine. I think it’s the silly artwork and the fact you can rack up some easy cash if you hatch the alien. I am such a sap. Luckily for me, we didn’t stop and continued on to Needles where we found a wifi hotel and a decent restaurant.
Today we ride to Tucson and old friends. Dave will be staying with family friends and I will be visiting pals from college, oh so many years ago!
The ride to Tucson was one fraught with high winds. Leaving Needles along Lake Havasu was certainly not what we desired. The road was filled with stop lights, slow traffic and strip mall after strip mall. We inched our way trying not to meet eyes with an “I told you so”. We stopped in Parker for needed coffee and a pep talk. It had to get better. It didn’t.
The gusty winds out of Phoenix were so bad that I was concerned about Dave’s well being. I was used to riding the winds of NV so this wasn’t too much different but for a fairly new returning rider, I know this was not fun. We split off just outside Tucson, and the look on Dave’s face said it all. Grrrrrrr. I know he was ready to be off the bike with a cold brew in hand. His dream was about to come true and I was soon toasting with my old pals.
The weather in Tucson was nearly perfect. Bronze sunshine, a nice breeze and the warm glow of friendship. Though I had been years absent, we picked up like there had been no time lost, laughing at the past with knowing indifference, drinking a few glasses of vino and eating great food. I suddenly began worrying about the lack of adjustment in my riding pants!
My Tucson abode
My friend Deb works at the Tucson library and her husband has a business playing and selling Kalimbas. He gave me an amazing Kalimba when I showed a growing curiosity at his playing. I don’t know if you know Kalimba music but it has a beautiful melodic sound born in Africa and has been played in one form or another for nearly 800 years. It is a hand held piano played with the thumbs. I am working on mastering it, made a space for it in my luggage and tried not to drive Dave nuts with my practice.
While my friends worked, I played at the kalimba and did a bit of touring around the Tucson area. The city is a mixed bag, showing signs of a bad economy but grasping at a lively arts scene. There are great restaurants, lots to see and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum was a wonderful way to while away the day as my friends earned their living. I was thrilled walking the trails, surrounded by local flora and fauna.
Tucson neighborhood
Life in Tucson is adverse for some
But new life seems born to adversity
My house companions
Fun artwork at the desert museum
Lots of flowering cactus
Camera shy scamping conejo.
A nesting hummingbird
A white winged dove whose beautiful eyes were mesmerizing
I was not sure what this guy was, but he was certainly pretty.
Bighorn sheep
The museum has awesome sculpture.
Sculpture and wildflowers!
The quintessential Heron pose.
This color is so vibrant and alive!
My friends…
We spend three days in Tucson and I enjoyed every moment and was actually feeling a bit melancholy when we rode east towards New Mexico, but even that was not without a lesson. One click past my bike’s locked forks is a setting for parking lights. Hmmmm, now whose idea was that? Of course I clicked there and must have left the lights burning away at the battery and it had no life left. Dave saved me with jumper cables and his trusty V-strom. We were quickly on the road.
Route to Needles
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Route to Tuscon
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