Part II: Dockingpilot & NJ Crew Ride TAT West

[johnpitts01]

I just love that vintage photo of DockingPilot.

[Snuffy]

Got a question when you get into Nev.

[DockingPilot]

Baker Nevada. A small outpost on the eastern edge of the Great Basin Desert & the Utah, Nevada border. There is nothing here except the bare nesscities (sp) and an albino bus boy/waiter. This is the state I was most anticipating.
Unfortunetly this would be the end of the TAT trip for Tony. From here he would head east for Salt Lake, then north for Idaho Falls. Safe ride home my friend. Your a good man inspite of being neckless.

Nevada would bring mining ghost towns, abandoned mines, wild horses, antelope, old cabins, old stage coach route, antelope trail, sage, more sage, and still more sage, and much more. It would around 700 miles and 4 days across northwestern Nevada. We loved every mile.

So now the 4 of us saddle up to continue the westward progression.


It was really cold this eary morning, the Gerbings, if you had em, were ON.






We start to break up. Here's one of the guys spreading it out.


How far out did we sometimes spread ourselves I'v been asked. Well this is a close encounter. Look in the backround and you can see one of my partners dust cloud as he wicks it up across the desert. Today I dont think we saw much of John. If I remember right, he was in front and we would not see him until that evening at the motel. And he absolutly loved the solitude of it.



In this photo a herd of Antelope are crossing our path at full speed.



We noticed the Mustangs were extremely skitish. When they caught the slightest sense that we were around they just bolted. Here is a band of them trying to put as much distance between us as they can.


We are pretty far out there now. Suddenly we come into this small mining ghost town in ruins. I just love this shot. The folks who built these towns out here had balls let me tell you. I just cant imagine the nerve it took to come out here back then.


Bruce snacking on jerky



Morphing ahead in time a bit, here we see the old Lincold Highway marker


Again, mid day temps in the mid 70's



Just before we pull into Eureka for the night. It was around 1530 when Bruce and I rode in.
Here's DK's shot, he was solo for most of the day as well.


Eureka was cool. Wooden plank sidewalks, not touristy at all, the real deal here.
When I continue, we'll head north to Battle Mountain where we have oil/filters and fresh tires waiting for us.

[Pockethead]

5 stars for sure!

[docgonzo]

Great report, Frank! Sure am jealous, though most of the pictures look just like the Pine Barrens of NJ.

Yeah, right!

[johnpitts01]

Frank is correct. Straight ahead in this photo was the promise of some deep sand. With my problem leg and the heavy KLR I was not looking forward to that. So I turned right @ 1 mile ahead. I sort of went around the mountains while Frank and the others went over. Spent the entire day alone in what must be the most remote sections of the USA. I took lots of photos, but to be honest they all look the same. Me, the bike, a long straight section of road ahead and behind, mountains on both sides. I didn't see anyone all day. It was fantastic. And as you can see the weather could not have been better. This is normally where I would discuss the relative insignficance of man in the universe, but I won't go there.

[Snuffy]

Frank, remember some old fart on a x-challenge at the chevron in Eureka just about dark time? I just came up from the southeast on some dirt road that i don't remember and was needing gas and a place to stay. You and your partner said yall were doing the TAT. Was that you??? I must have been a few hours behind.

[WIthumper]

Awesome ride report DockingPilot!!
It looks like that Husky is taking it in stride.
Two thumbs up and looking for more!

[Xfool]

Originally Posted by DockingPilot

For the next state on the Trans America Trail

Installing the other bookend for Nevada.

ude-ude-hoo. wa-wa-wa.
How fitting, an Italian western.

[DockingPilot]

Originally Posted by Snuffy

Frank, remember some old fart on a x-challenge at the chevron in Eureka just about dark time? I just came up from the southeast on some dirt road that i don't remember and was needing gas and a place to stay. You and your partner said yall were doing the TAT. Was that you??? I must have been a few hours behind.

Snuffy ! Yes that was us and of course I rmember you !! Very cool. Small world here. Ill be continueing here shortly.

[DockingPilot]

Originally Posted by Xfool

Installing the other bookend for Nevada.

ude-ude-hoo. wa-wa-wa.
How fitting, an Italian western.

Youll see just how much I was thinking that when I post the Nevada video X.

[DockingPilot]

A morning deaprting shot of the Eureka Opera House. Crystal clear skies again today, but the electrics are on also this am.


Today we would see many wild Mustangs on our way to Battle Mountain which was only about 125 miles away. This was good because we had planned bike maintence for this afternoon. We had fresh tires, oil and filters waiting on us at Nelsons Racing in BM. I called Colt Nelson and told him we'd be there right after lunch barring any mishaps.

NW to Battle Mountain



I have to pinch myself



You might remember this shot from Bigdog and Gaspipes RR


You'll see the Mustangs in the upcoming video. We saw quite a few bands of them on this stretch.
We pull into Battle Mountain around High Noon
This was around the 1,200 mile & 1/2 way mark for us.
Colt Nelson is ready and waiting for us so we head for his shop.


Now, we have a pact on these trips. The dirt from the journey stays on the bike and is not washed off until it's back in your driveway (of course I now have Nevada sagebrush growing in my New Jersey lawn ). A small exception was made for today only. You could only wash off the dirt from your motor because we were doing oil changes. But clearly in the photo below, you can see the defendent, I mean John, washing his swingarm, a non essential part to the maintence. Verdict: 2 point deduction.


Colt Nelson. Great guy. He said: "basiclly, I'll service any bike you guys want or you can have total access to my shop and tools and do your own" We're not in Jersey anymore Toto........
I mean the guy is terrific. If you need any maintence on the trail go see Colt.

Besides Donna's Brothel is practiclly right next door where "Dinner and coversation without obligation" is their motto

www.donnasranch.net
Now we didn't go in. We really didn't ! Colt said in Battle Mountain Nevada, all you see in there is 4' girls who weigh in at 300lbs !

New Michelin Deserts


Air Filter and Oil/Filter



Ill be back with more in a bit. We'll head up to Fort McDermitt which makes Battle Mountain look like NYC

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by DockingPilot

Now we didn't go in. We really didn't ! Colt said in Battle Mountain Nevada, all you see in there is 4' girls who weigh in at 300lbs !

Each or total?


Just taking notes.

[DockingPilot]

Originally Posted by larryboy

Each or total?


Just taking notes.

Each !

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by DockingPilot

Each !

Where is the :crosses-off-list smilie?