Seattle to Austin

[Grumpy Goat]

Very nice pictures.

[Lee]

Today we leave Las Vegas and head for Lone Pine, CA via Death Valley. Really looking forward to this one. You want desert? 

We've been through Death Valley two times and Debbie hated it both times 
Several times we saw coyotes on the road shoulder. She told me even the coyotes were looking for a ride out 

The last time was in 2000.
   

   

[saread]

Today we leave Las Vegas and head for Lone Pine, CA via Death Valley. Really looking forward to this one. You want desert? 

We've been through Death Valley two times and Debbie hated it both times 
Several times we saw coyotes on the road shoulder. She told me even the coyotes were looking for a ride out 

The last time was in 2000.

Yeah, Death Valley isn't for everyone. It's the history and natural occurrences that make it interesting for denizens. My dad loved the place. What I like is the terrain around the valley.  The ride in and the ride out are fantastic. At least on the route I took. The valley itself is sort of an interesting diversion along that route. Right now I'm looking at the east side of the Sierras - like across the street. Very dramatic. I will follow that track clear to Reno. It will be another fantastic day of riding. At some point I have to get west of them....

From in front of my motel in Lone Pine:

[Paughco]

Way cool, man. I'm enjoying reading about your ride. looking forward to the next segments.

No snow in the Siskiyous on I-5 as of October 27. Snow and slush in places on Snoqualmie Pass (I-90). More of the same on Stevens Pass (Hwy 2).

Seeya
 ATB

[Lee]

The ride in and the ride out are fantastic. At least on the route I took.

From in front of my motel in Lone Pine:

I agree and the higher elevation helps.
We stayed at a motel in Lone Pine and entered the park from the west.
We stayed at that same motel in 2009 on a California trip.
Pictures from that motel
   

   

[Lee]

After Badwater and Furnace Creek we rode up Scotty's Castle road and took a tour of Scotty's Castle.
Looks like the road and Castle have been closed a long time because of flood damage.
https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/flood-2015.htm

[saread]

Nice pics Lee. That's the place. Scotty's was indeed closed. I believe it belongs to California so getting any repairs done may be an issue. Eccentric rich guy's house in Death Valley may not get a lot of budgetary notice. I saw it a couple of times as a kid and it's pretty cool. Restoration work could be problematic as a lot of the finishes were imported from Europe along with the artisans. Hard to replicate what was/is there.

[saread]

The ride up US395 to Reno was very nice. Lots of great California Sierra scenery. Not a lot of technical riding, but I think I crossed 5 passes. Two of which were 8000 feet. The weather was really nice if just a touch cool, but not bad at all. Man, those $30 lunches out in the hinterlands will add up after a while. Going to be a chilly one today as I head for Klamath Falls, OR.

I haven't done a lot of touresty things on this ride. But, as much as my professional proclivities drug me to Hoover Dam, my moral proclivities made me stop at the Mazanar Internment Camp just north of Lone Pine. Being from Seattle, the interment of the west coast Japanese population during WWII resonates.  Those were our neighbors and friends and it was a horrible thing to do to them. Manzanar is the best preserved of the internment camps, but there is actually little left. Building foundations, rocks ringing gardens, and some of the Japanese gardens are about all. The camp cemetery is there and is maintained as a monument to the internment. Less than 150 people died at the camp (of about 11,000 interned) but most of the remains have been relocated by families. Only about a half dozen remain. I took a moment to pay my respects. The locations of various facilities are well marked though none of the buildings remain. The baseball field and basketball court notwithstanding.  Unfortunately, the information center was closed due to the current political climate. Manzanar remains as a testament to our collective misogyny at times of stress. A reminder.

[saread]

The last few days of this journey will take me over some well known country. Reno to Klamath Falls, OR takes you up through northern California via Susanville. I always enjoy this leg as it takes me through some nice NorCal country. Lots of pine trees and junipers. Easy on your senses if the road isn't particularly challenging. A nice ride with sunny skies and the last of the reasonably warm weather I will see.

Klamath Falls to The Dalles takes you up US97.  This is a route that can best be described as the spine of Oregon and Washington. In Oregon it is very straight and very flat until it gets to the Columbia Gorge and it has to wind its way down to the river to intersect I-84.  You will see lots of pine trees and high desert country.  Kind of like riding in Texas with trees and sagebrush. I peel off about 60 miles from the Oregon/Washington border onto SR197 that took me to The Dalles. This was the highlight of the ride as not long after you leave US97 Mt Hood pops up and soon after Mt Adams and Mt Ranier. You run along a high plateau that winds its way down and out of the Deschutes river drainage. Then runs along the plateau with some really nice views until you have to wind down to the Columbia.  A really visually appealing and fun ride.  Especially after droning along on US97.  The terrain in this part of Oregon is famous for some fabulous riding country.  John Day and Baker City will host various groups all summer riding the area. Take my word for it, there is some fantastic riding in this part of Oregon.

Tomorrow takes me home.  I will ride down I84 to Portland then take a right to I5 and on home to Bothell, WA. This will suck but it keeps me off the snowy passes. It will be chilly (mid 40's to mid 50's) and I know that slab like my wife's face. If there is an upside, it should be dry, I may get to stop at one of my favorite lunch places in Longview and I will be home. Or, it will decide to rain and I'll be trapped in a traffic jam. Hoping for the best.

This is pretty much the end of my travelling blog. I may post more later on about impressions, good and bad, about gear, about the motorcycle, about roouting, and/or anything else I find interesting.  I hope you will as well. Thanks for reading and following on my journey. It has been a heckuva 3 weeks and I have enjoyed it immensely.

[Motorhead1977]

@saread, thank you for your excellent blogging of your journey! It's almost as if I did the ride.

[Lee]

Another big thank you for the report.

[saread]

My pleasure to share with you all. I do what men are good at: talking about myself. Walked out to the bike this morning to find ice on the seat. I think I'll hang out at the motel a bit to let things warm up. Just can't wait to jump out there, brrrrrr.

[Paughco]

Great ride report! Thank you for posting!

Seeya
ATB