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Death Valley Tour, April 14-18, 2012
- Thread starter rodr
- Start date
arty 
rodr
Well-known member
Day 3
Day 3 was our first full day in Death Valley.
We rode South to Death Valley Junction and stopped at the Amargosa Opera House.
Then on down 127 and gassed up in Shoshone, and then West on 178 and up Badwater Road to Badwater:
[youtube]uXAp_YPqgeI[/youtube]
Then we continued up towards Furnace Creek, hitting Artist's Drive along the way:
[youtube]SrVXYGdzvQ8[/youtube]
The burger in Furnace Creek was pretty good, almost worth the $18.
Day 3 was our first full day in Death Valley.
We rode South to Death Valley Junction and stopped at the Amargosa Opera House.
Then on down 127 and gassed up in Shoshone, and then West on 178 and up Badwater Road to Badwater:
[youtube]uXAp_YPqgeI[/youtube]
Then we continued up towards Furnace Creek, hitting Artist's Drive along the way:
[youtube]SrVXYGdzvQ8[/youtube]
The burger in Furnace Creek was pretty good, almost worth the $18.
Last edited:
Griffindor
rookie
- Joined
- May 8, 2011
- Location
- DiscoveryKingdom
- Moto(s)
- 0 at the moment.
'but a 2022 Honda Rebel 500 ABS or CB500F would be ideal.
- Name
- Will
W O W...congratulations to all three of you, Tim, John & Rod. Welcome back & can't wait to hear some, if not all your stories on this epic road trip.
The Smokester
Old Newbie
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2011
- Moto(s)
- 2016 BMW R1200RS
- Name
- John
I finally have a chance to post some of the pictures from this great trip. On the first night, Rod and Tim camped in the Carrizo Plain National Monument which required riding about 30 miles of dirt road. They had adventure bikes. Since it had recently rained (actually was raining as we were arriving there), and I was on a sport-touring bike, I decided to chicken out and stay at a motel in Taft. A 330 mile day for me.
The next morning I rode a few miles to Maricopa to meet up with Rod and Tim through oil drilling territory.
Since I was early, I went up Highway 166 and turned down Soda Lake Road to the southern entrance to Carrizo to wait for the other guys to arrive. Soon their headlights appeared in the far distance coming along the dirt road.
Together again!
The Carrizo Plain area is a beautiful rural setting. Look up “bucolic” in the dictionary and you should see a picture like this.
We returned to Maricopa and went to Tina’s colorful diner and had a delicious breakfast. Highly recommended. Great art on the wall, colorful people and a delightful hostess/owner. Here’s Tim reflecting on his recent repast.
The next morning I rode a few miles to Maricopa to meet up with Rod and Tim through oil drilling territory.
Since I was early, I went up Highway 166 and turned down Soda Lake Road to the southern entrance to Carrizo to wait for the other guys to arrive. Soon their headlights appeared in the far distance coming along the dirt road.
Together again!
The Carrizo Plain area is a beautiful rural setting. Look up “bucolic” in the dictionary and you should see a picture like this.
We returned to Maricopa and went to Tina’s colorful diner and had a delicious breakfast. Highly recommended. Great art on the wall, colorful people and a delightful hostess/owner. Here’s Tim reflecting on his recent repast.
The Smokester
Old Newbie
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2011
- Moto(s)
- 2016 BMW R1200RS
- Name
- John
After breakfast we made a bee line towards Death Valley, and found ourselves on the exhilarating Highway 178 through the mountains east of Bakersfield, and on through Ridgecrest, passing through scenic and memorable Trona, population 18 and site of an extensive soda ash mining operation.
We entered Panamint Valley from the south (pictures shown previously in the thread)…
…Then up through Wild Rose Canyon, through Death Valley to our motel in Beatty, NV where we would spend three nights. About 330 miles for Day 2.
The next day we set off on a 220 mile loop from Beatty, through Shoshone and past Badwater in Death Valley, and back to Beatty. A highlight was the stop at the Armargosa Opera House, Death Valley Junction, CA …
Part of the building is a hotel, with colorful murals in the dining room…
and fancy decor in the bedrooms…
I’ll probably stay there next time I’m in the area. Web site here: http://www.amargosa-opera-house.com/
We then rode to Death Valley and a picture-taking session at Badwater…
…Above you see Rod (right) and Tim standing near the lowest point in the USA at about -282 feet below sea level. In the background is snow-covered Telescope Peak at 11,043 ft. Between the two constitutes one of the greatest sudden vertical rises in the contiguous USA.
Then a nice scenic loop around Artists Drive…
Followed by lunch at Furnace Creek and then a posers’ session…
And return to our hotel in Beatty for a total of 201 mile for Day 3.
We entered Panamint Valley from the south (pictures shown previously in the thread)…
…Then up through Wild Rose Canyon, through Death Valley to our motel in Beatty, NV where we would spend three nights. About 330 miles for Day 2.
The next day we set off on a 220 mile loop from Beatty, through Shoshone and past Badwater in Death Valley, and back to Beatty. A highlight was the stop at the Armargosa Opera House, Death Valley Junction, CA …
Part of the building is a hotel, with colorful murals in the dining room…
and fancy decor in the bedrooms…
I’ll probably stay there next time I’m in the area. Web site here: http://www.amargosa-opera-house.com/
We then rode to Death Valley and a picture-taking session at Badwater…
…Above you see Rod (right) and Tim standing near the lowest point in the USA at about -282 feet below sea level. In the background is snow-covered Telescope Peak at 11,043 ft. Between the two constitutes one of the greatest sudden vertical rises in the contiguous USA.
Then a nice scenic loop around Artists Drive…
Followed by lunch at Furnace Creek and then a posers’ session…
And return to our hotel in Beatty for a total of 201 mile for Day 3.
The Smokester
Old Newbie
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2011
- Moto(s)
- 2016 BMW R1200RS
- Name
- John
The next day we separated because of the different capabilities of our bikes. Tim went for Titus Canyon which is a one-way ride on gravel and dirt for about 26 miles eventually going through a spectacular slotted canyon. Since my road bike and experience level was not up to this, I chose to ride a paved loop to Ubehebe Crater, Scotty’s Castle (to pick up some souveniers for the folks back home) and then out to 95 and back to Beatty. Rod stayed back at the hotel and worked on his consulting business.
Ubehebe Crater looking east…
Near Ubehebe Crater looking north and west in the general direction of the Eureka Sand Dunes (not seen here)…
And here is Scottys Castle which I have been to many times; A romantic vision built through the 1920’s and 30’s in what is even now a remote desert.
The road from Scotty’s Castle winds in a northeasterly direction through a canyon…
then through open desert in Nevada to Highway 95.
That evening, Tim contemplated adding to the stable...Probably could have strapped this to the back of his KLR
A mellow total of 140 miles for Day 4.
Day 5 we started our return trek home. Since I still had an extra day, I bid farewell to Rod and Tim just after Dresslerville and rode to South Lake Tahoe via a rather gloomy and cold Kingsbury Grade and spent the night at the Holiday Inn Express. Tim and Rod rode Highway 50 to get home in one day. Here is a monument in Tahoe dedicated to the Pony Express riders who provided fast communications across the Sierra Nevadas, and other places, for a short time in the mid-19th century before the telegraph became ubiquitous.
Day 5, was 333 miles for me.
After a fine night in Tahoe, I proceeded cautiously in the early morning on Highway 88 up over Carson Pass (at 8650 ft) and home to Livermore. The road was entirely clear of snow and after 10a any overnight ice was thawed.
Day 6, 185 miles.
This was a very mellow trip with two great traveling companions. I came away learning a lot and I think there is an adventure bike in my future.
I want to thank Rod for inspiring and arranging the trip and Tim for imparting so much knowledge about motorcycling.
Ubehebe Crater looking east…
Near Ubehebe Crater looking north and west in the general direction of the Eureka Sand Dunes (not seen here)…
And here is Scottys Castle which I have been to many times; A romantic vision built through the 1920’s and 30’s in what is even now a remote desert.
The road from Scotty’s Castle winds in a northeasterly direction through a canyon…
then through open desert in Nevada to Highway 95.
That evening, Tim contemplated adding to the stable...Probably could have strapped this to the back of his KLR
A mellow total of 140 miles for Day 4.
Day 5 we started our return trek home. Since I still had an extra day, I bid farewell to Rod and Tim just after Dresslerville and rode to South Lake Tahoe via a rather gloomy and cold Kingsbury Grade and spent the night at the Holiday Inn Express. Tim and Rod rode Highway 50 to get home in one day. Here is a monument in Tahoe dedicated to the Pony Express riders who provided fast communications across the Sierra Nevadas, and other places, for a short time in the mid-19th century before the telegraph became ubiquitous.
Day 5, was 333 miles for me.
After a fine night in Tahoe, I proceeded cautiously in the early morning on Highway 88 up over Carson Pass (at 8650 ft) and home to Livermore. The road was entirely clear of snow and after 10a any overnight ice was thawed.
Day 6, 185 miles.
This was a very mellow trip with two great traveling companions. I came away learning a lot and I think there is an adventure bike in my future.
I want to thank Rod for inspiring and arranging the trip and Tim for imparting so much knowledge about motorcycling.
Cafe Racer
King of this hill
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2002
- Location
- San Francisco
- Moto(s)
- ...fall in love with me.
- Name
- Miguel
- BARF perks
- AMA #2881773
Nice writeup!
I will be in the area art the end of the month. Anyone else want to join? Check the Group Rides, "Circle California" tour.
Miguel
I will be in the area art the end of the month. Anyone else want to join? Check the Group Rides, "Circle California" tour.
Miguel
psychocandy
wrecker
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2008
- Location
- Oakland
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- '71CB500, '60Vespa, '65Lambretta, '95FZR600, '02SV650s, '00KTMLC4, '05SV650N, '06 DRZ400sm
I recommend the Amargosa Opera House as well. Although Marta's retired now, they might still put a show on in the actual opera house occasionally. Check their calendar. It's an old place, not a 5 star hotel by any means. But the owners are nice and its got lots of personality.