Old story, same old story...

[larryboy]

Oh Love, oh love
Won't you rain on me tonight?




Oh life, oh life
Please don't pass me by...




Don't stop, don't stop
Don't stop when the red lights flash...




Oh ride, free ride
Won't you take me close to you?




Far away, far away
Waste away tonight
I'm wearing my heart on a noose...




Far away, far away
Waste away tonight
Tonight my heart's on the loose...




Oh lights and action
I just can't be satisfied...




Oh losers and choosers
Won't you please hold on my life...




Oh hours and hours
Like the dog years of the day...




Old story, same old story...




Won't you see the light of day?




Five days to the wonderful and mysterious Saline Valley. Come with?

[LeDakaR!]

Come with? Heck yeah!

[Nixels]

Fuckin' A!

I've got my imagination packed and ready to ride!

[wachs]

standing by . . .

[sopascat]

[larryboy]

Loaded up and ready to go!!




Same old route out of town, stellar weather.




While enjoying the weather a storm marched down the Sierra's from the north. I tried Hwy 4...closed, Hwy 108...closed, Hwy 120....closed, all had been open when I left home.




Looks like I'm going around the south end this time. I don't ever go into Yosemite, but I'm here right now. Why not?




Stayed in the hills as long as possible, had to go into Fresno, then south to Delano to get onto Hwy 155.




In the dark, bad wind starts as I go down the grade into Wofford Heights, around the back of Lake Isabella out to 14 north to Olancha for fuel. Wind is incredible, 60 mph steady with higher gusts. Waves of sand would wipe out all visibility as I wobbled past the Olancha Dunes.




I had grabbed a bundle of firewood and had given up on getting to the hot springs, planning to stay in the Boxcar Cabin. I missed it in the dark and wind, finding myself at the South Pass before I realized it.




Grapevine Canyon in the dark after this years monsoons isn't what I had planned, but here I am. It's hard to tell, but I need to hug a dropoff on the right with a severe washout to my left with wind trying to knock me down.

[larryboy]

Jumped up the second I felt the wind slow and scooted down the hill, some challenging rock crawling for the big bike, the road is pretty thrashed down to well North of the Lippencott turnoff. Long washboard straight to the west was really tough with the 60 mph wind from my left in the dark. North past the Saline Dunes I finally see Bat Rock Road which takes me east, but I'm protected from the wind by the dunes for awhile.

My camping spot is exposed out in the wind, fought the tent up really quick. It's 1:30 AM Friday and I have been on the road since 7:30 AM Thursday morning. I don't bother with the air matress, just pass out on the floor of the tent.

[larryboy]

Rough windy night, was worried the bike would blow over a few times.




I didn't eat yesterday...crab cakes for breakfast.




I had called the missus from Olancha, but I knew she would be worried with the brutal weather, so I stomped around and found a spot where a text would get out.






Still pretty windy, but it was a nice soak.



Saw some old friends, TahoeTammy..Owen from North Dakota...John, dirty adventurer from here.

Made a blurry dinner.






Tammy had invited me down for dinner, but I was fully exhausted and was asleep for the night shortly after dark.

[UpST8]

great start!!

[LittleWan]

Originally Posted by larryboy

I didn't eat yesterday...crab cakes for breakfast.





Made a blurry dinner.

Seafood in DV!



You're a brave man, Rob.

[Ladybug0048]

Starting the day riding with LarryBoy get me started with a smile.

[larryboy]

Thanks for reading, everybody!!


I'm going to lay around camp, read a book and eat good food for a few days.

I brought both air mattresses, determined to find all the holes and patch this one up.




This is John, we met here last year. He has also 'gone desert', he is sick like me and will never escape.




I'm a day behind on my menu, so I invited John over for a hen that night.




Sunday morning John is taking off.




It's been warm right until I got here and snakes are looking for a place to winter.




I've known this German chick for a couple of years now, she's into bugs and snakes and stuff. She is talking in German to Georg the camp host.




Bacon and eggs today.




Then the snake came nearby.








This guy wanted some bacon.

[larryboy]

I finished my book today and donated it to the library in the out house. Hope I wasn't supposed to give it back to Nixels.




Last sunset in the desert for this trip, going home in the morning.




I had a nice campfire and cooked my steak over the fire. Ken and Owen came over to hang out, really nice time.






My neighbors had some of those wish balloon things, they sure did go way up into the night sky.






Then German girl says, "Rob, let's flip over rocks and look for scorpions with a black light!!", Ok, sounds fun!!

He's there, as the white splotch.




Monday morning...I'm rolling north.




I soon find myself at Steel Pass.






Heading towards Eureka Dunes.




Into the slot canyon.




Sigh...so awesome.

[Nixels]

That WAS the book you were supposed to return.

Somebody will enjoy it.

Did you?

After your cold, windy ride down, it looks like you had great weather.

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by Nixels

That WAS the book you were supposed to return.

Somebody will enjoy it.

Did you?

After your cold, windy ride down, it looks like you had great weather.

Ooops, I knew I had one that I was supposed to give back.

Damn fine read, it was tough to get started, but once I figured out the authors strategy(time jumping), it was a great read.


Don't forget it's winter and I have to get over thos damn Sierra's yet.