In an endless pursuit of the elusive bonus points for the Big Money Rally I droned a short 3 day jaunt over the somber Nevada desert. Unlike many, I adore riding through my childhood state, over the never ending straight highways that seem to lead to yet another town oddly named with legal brothels and gambling. The only thing that would make it a bit better would be a finely paved remote twistie road and if one looks long enough, even those can be found. Yes, Nevada holds a place in my heart.
I mapped a route covering many miles of the dull boring stuff, but it was the quickest way to my bonus points and and the plan was to cover some serious miles in a very short period. I guess this rally fever is bring me closer and closer to an IBA run, at least I’m giving it some serious thought.
This map is mostly accurate except I ran on Hwy 139 instead of Hwy 395 to Susanville to include Adin in my points!
I left home fairly early knowing I had several stop and photo sessions as well as five hundred miles to cover so that I could reach Winnemucca by dusk. I took one of my local favorite roads through Fiddletown over Shake Ridge Road to Hwy 88 and my first bonus of the Kirkwood sign. It was an amazing day.
Highway 88 still had plenty of snow showing and the air was crisp but doning my Kilimanjaro jacket and heated grips, I was quite comfortable.
Wow, there is some serious distortion in my windscreen, but I hate that bastid anyway. I gotta solve that dilemma.
This silly sign was my first point of the day and let me tell you they got even sillier as the day want on. As you can see, you need the object of the points, the bike and the placard and it’s not always easy!
I’ll not bore you with many of my bonus photos, but there are a few that total illustrate how fun this rally has been.
From the snow covered hills, I settled down into the NV desert at a very quick twisty descent. I love Hwy 88, but today sadly it was covered in CHP. I don’t believe I have ever seen this many. I saw four before I reached the NV border and the final one was hiding in some brush about 100 yards from the NV border as the double yellow opened up for passing. Man, our state must really need some revenue. Sigh…
Love this neon in Minden.
Moundhouse, NV was my next destination to get my bonus points for all the NV cathouses found there. This endeavor has been quite amazing. I have met some of the girls, had conversations with film crews and men heading in for drinks and company. Let’s just say, this is probably nothing I would have know about otherwise. 😉
There are several cathouses in Moundhouse, but my favorite of the day was Sage Brush Ranch.
When I arrived to get my bonus, there was a film crew in the parking lot and tons of equipment. Cords were strewn all over and when I stopped and took my helmet off, one of the film crew was quite curious why I was there. He first asked if I was stopping by for a drink. I just chuckled and told him, “uh no…just a photo”. I asked what they were filming and he said a “sort of documentary”. Hmmmmm.
We chatted about bikes and riding gear and suddenly, the lot was teeming with brothel girls and one gent, who was getting plenty of attention from the girls. I’d love to know the inside tale, but one thing is for sure, it was an awesome photo op! Cheesecake warning!
Last but not least…my favorite shot!
I can only tell you the rest of my journey was a bit dull after all that excitement.
I did a quick stop in Silver Springs and then I headed to I80 for the shortest route possible to Lovelock and Winnemucca. The wind on 80 was howling but my Hugo was steady and true and quick as I wanted to go. 😉
The bonus in Winnemucca was a redwood log. Let me tell you, I had absolutely no idea there WAS a redwood log in Winnemucca. Apparently this log was donated to Winnemucca to mark the beginning of the “Winnemucca to the Sea” highway. Hmmmmm
This bonus presented it’s own challenge. The log is on a busy street and there is only a turn lane with no where to stop. So, I parked the bike on the side street red zone and ran back grabbed the shot and moved on. The local police just watched, and then chuckled when he saw what I was up to.
It was 8ish but the time I was done and I found a motel which brings me to another subject. The prices in Winnemucca have now nearly doubled since the town if full of miners. I was stunned to barely find a place under $100bucks that wasn’t a horrid dump. I highly recommend the Town House Motel. It’s an old school motor lodge that was only $68 plus tax and very nice and clean.
I left Winnemucca in a chilly 35 degrees at 7:15 am, a serious record for me, who lazes around until well after 9am before even considering leaving, but I knew I wanted to go to Reno, via Gerlach and Cedarville, Alturas, and Adin. I knew I’d need several hours to complete this ride. I had my heated gear, which certainly came in handy and I was shedding my liner entirely by 10am. It was another lovely day.
I got this shot of the Truckee River in Nixon, NV. You are seriously out in the middle of nowhere here. They try to say Hwy 50 is the “loneliness” highway. Uhh, NOT…try Hwy 447 to Gerlach!
Hwy 447
The Black Rock Desert, home of Burning Man
When in Gerlach, one MUST stop at Bruno’s.
It’s only 84 miles between Gerlach and Cedarville, but let me tell you it’s a long and lonely 84 miles! Then suddenly it opens and there are the Warner mountains and gorgeous green. Ah, water in the desert!!
This building was being restored in Eagleville.
The Warner mountains.
Beautiful old building in Cedarville.
Another
The road between Cedarville and Alturas is short only about 20 miles, but it’s a dynamite twisty road and I was soooo ready to pick up my pace and let my bike ride the corners, but then out jumps several of these…darn it!! It follows the rule, if there is one there are more!!
But what a wonderful road!
When I arrived in Alturas, I was soooo excited about getting my library and bridge bonus that I completely forgot about gas and had last filled in Gerlach. I LOVE my beemer. I get awesome gas mileage, luckily and made it to Susanville with about 10 miles to spare. 😉 I’ll be more careful next time, but i have to say, the gas station bathroom provided a chuckle.
When I arrived in Reno, it was getting dusk but I caught the Reno sign just in time!
I headed to my friend’s in Carson and was ready for wine, propped feet and friendship. It had been a good day.
The following morning, Mike and I got up and got the bikes ready as he decided to join me on his motorbrick. We went to Lake Tahoe and around the west side of the lake and it was fantastic. Little traffic compared to summer and the views were exquisite. What a wonderful day to ride!
First glance of the lake from Hwy 50.
Emerald Bay…i apologize for not stopping to really frame this shot, but I was riding with a mate!
Dead trees, flying brick and water!
Mike and I parted ways in Tahoe City. I shot the bridge there and headed to Squaw Valley for another bonus, then on to old Hwy 40.
I had to get a bridge outside of Truckee and fortuitously, there was a train going by.
Onward to Old Lincoln Highway
Here on top, I was wishing for a better camera. Tyler or Sam could have done this justice!!
Love the train tracks with the snow covers.
Warning…art shot. 😉
From old Hwy 40, I headed back home to Carmichael. My two day sojourn scored me nearly 30 points and some wonderful riding, both solo and with a friend. This is a great time to be motorcycling and I’ve made Bronze on my rally…next is Silver. Think I can do it? 😉