| Author | Message | ||
     Blue_eyed_buellgirl |
Jim and Glenn heading out.    It was great meeting Jim. It would of been nice if the meeting had been longer, but lots of miles left for him to cover. Gods speed Jim. Go Nance Go!  | ||
| Jlnance |
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| M2nc |
Fantastic picture. I am still trying to retract my jaw. Go-Nance-Go! | ||
| Jlnance |
I wish that picture did it justice... I'm sort of overwhelmed. I haven't posted anything about yesterday, which was a fantastic adventure, and today I saw the Grand Canyon, which just blew me away. Oh, I accidentally planned my route over Hoover Dam, so I saw that too. I'm sitting in a restaurant which I picked because it was located between two motels. I figured my chances of stealing internet would be good here.  I've got so much I want to tell and not enough enough energy to do it. Cell phone coverage in Arizona seems to be comparable to Wyoming, which is to say it doesn't exist. A few random shots:    | ||
| Denisea |
Nice, nice, NICE. My God, does that pic of the Dome take me back or what? Don't know whether to thank you, or not. May the stars light your way! Forward Nance! | ||
| Court |
How the Ulysses handle that pothole? . . . the trick is to carry plenty of speed on your approach! Ride safely and have fun! Court | ||
| Jlnance |
Yesterday was the first day I spent much time on backroads. The road into the valley before death valley was the stuff they tell us about back east. I was running fast. I see lights approaching (it's daytime) so I back way off the speed so I'm only going 80. It takes several MINUTES (as in more than 2) for the car to reach me. Now if we assume he is doing 60 and I'm doing 80, we are closing at 140 MPH. You do the math. Then I get to a fork in the road. One way says "Death Valley via 190" the other days "Death Valley via Wildrose" I look at the map, Wildrose is closer. It didn't take too long before I figured out why you might want to go the long way. The road had been paved, at least twice, I know this because the top layer of pavement was often warn away. The bottom layer was occasionally warn away too, so the road alternated between rough pavement and dirt. The Uly did ok on that. Of course it's supposed to, but that doesn't mean I can. Then I get to this sign which indicates that civilization is 30 miles away. I think I have enough gas. So I start on this road. And it's winding up the side of a canyon. It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time. It was fun to ride (despite the gravel in the corners,) but you knew if you crashed it might be a day before anyone else came down the road. I eventually passed a sign that said Emmigrant Pass, which I think is famous. I can see why. | ||
| Jlnance |
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l22/jlnance/cros s%20country/?action=view¤t=Picture066.flv | ||
| Jlnance |
Court - It was the ones in Death Valley I was more concerned with. D - I agonized over posting that picture because I knew it would make you homesick.  | ||
| Jlnance |
 Well, I've blown over an hour here posting picutres. Off to Silver City, NM. | ||
| Jlnance |
 I've got dual citizenship now. Kristi - Their stickers reflect ;) | ||
| Denisea |
It's ALL good. ...and may the wind be at your back. Godspeed! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
I've got so much I want to tell and not enough energy to do it. anyone who's logged a monster ride like yours can sure relate to that sentiment. this is so cool to be able to follow along, to imagine what you're feeling and seeing, the grand adventure of truly being on the road. great stuff! GO NANCE GO!! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Jim, i hope you don't mind if i add a little caption material to your last few pix? you can do a burnout in our driveway when you come back thru here if you do!  is that SMOKE i see hanging in the Grand Canyon, maybe from the fires in Cali??? | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
wow, how bizarre to see the ThunderDome again! i was wondering if Unibear would take you that way. the view looking DOWN is much better - give me a sec and i'll see if i can find a photo... | ||
| Reindog |
I thought that was the house from Psycho. On second thought, it IS/WAS! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Reindog, it was extra-psycho when YOU were there! the view from the 'Dome, photo by Dino:  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Jim, this is a pretty sunset shot from Death Valley, and absolutely blows me away how late in the day it was and how brutally far away Las Vegas is from this spot: hope you got to spend a minute at Badwater, and that it was still light enough to see when you got there! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
ah yes, the lower Kern River Canyon, coming up 178 from Bakersfield. looks like you guys had great weather! i'm wondering if Unibear told you the story about hearing the thundering voice of the California Highway Patrol come booming out of the mountains along here one evening? | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
The road into the valley before death valley was the stuff they tell us about back east. cool description! that's the Panamint Valley, and it is indeed spectacular in a "OMFG!!" sort of way. the jets from China Lake NAS use this valley as one of their training areas, and it's REAL common to be down there and have several of them strafe you so low you can see the pilots! sorry if i'm stepping on your thread, i don't mean to be, but here's a shot of Panamint Valley looking north, about 10 minutes out of Trona (you'll probably remember this exact spot):  and the caption i originally wrote here on BadWeB for that photo: overlooking the Panamint Valley, which parallels Death Valley (to the east, beyond the Panamint Mountain range you see in the distance). Panamint Valley is, believe it or not, even more desolate than Death Valley. on a relatively cool day like today, it's an enjoyable, albeit slightly surreal, ride up the valley. in the meat of the summer, Panamint Valley is a Grade-A Number One Bitch. the highest point you see is Telescope Peak, at 11,049 feet. just beyond Telescope Peak is Badwater, the lowest point in the US at -282 feet. this is a land of stunning, often brutal, extremes. great stuff Jim, thx for taking us along! GO NANCE GO!! FB&D | ||
| Rubberdown |
Ride well Jim | ||
| M2nc |
What is the opposite of Claustrophobic? Did you feel that way taking the video in death valley. All alone in all that space spooked me just watching on video. You da man! Kristi says hey. Go-Nance-Go | ||
| Unibear12r |
Sunday was a great day for weather after the previous days rain. Boom! Just now heard thunder in the distance! Good timing Jim! I told him many stories about the area but not "The Voice!". It'll have to wait for the next trip, along with all the REALLY good roads and views around here. Sadly he didn't make it to Badwater as it was just too late/dark.  Likely more than a bit my doing. Well then the next time he's here I'll just have to take him to Badwater and the Portal so he's been to the highest and lowest! | ||
| Diablobrian |
M2nc: Agoraphobic? Ever seen the movie "Copycat"? | ||
| Jlnance |
Clovis, NM, in a Chinese Buffet next to a motel advertising high speed internet. | ||
| Jlnance |
Sorry to leave you all hanging yesterday. After I left Flagstaff, I east on I-40 over to the place I would take 180 (?) down to Silver City. I took the exit and I see the "Wigwam Inn" where you too can sleep in a wigwam. It was the second time that day I'd driven through a town on Rt 66 and thought "the people who wrote Cars came through there." Then I notice the parking lot is full of old cars and there sits 'Mater. I don't know if the cars were added before or after the movie, but it was cute. I stopped in a convenience store and bought gas. It's interesting to be in a place where everyone is Navajo, I wasn't on the reservation either. I came outside and did see one other white guy. He was a scruffy man, probably about 70 years old looking at my bike. He told me he had read about Buells but never seen one, and asked me how it compared to the big Harley's. I really don't have any clue. He told me he has a bike, so I asked what kind. What kind of bike do you think it was. I'm sure you all guessed right, but I was surprised when he said BMW 1150R. I guess I shouldn't stereotype people. I looked at the sky and realized I didn't have much daylight left. I decided I didn't want to ride backroads into Silver City in the dark, so I got back on I-40 and headed for Albuquerque, NM. It got cold on the way , and I was having trouble going. I saw a sign for a Super 8 "15 miles ahead." That sounded nice, so I got off in Grant, NM and found a place to stay. It wasn't the super 8, but a place down at the end of the road for the exit. It was nice enough, with a view of the railroad tracks and internet that could allegedly be picked up from the service station across the street. I never got that to work, the room had no phone, and if you don't have Verision out here, you don't have cell service. The up side of not being able to talk is that all I could do was sleep. I went to bed before 10, got up at 4 and left. Full heated gear this morning and it was just barely warn enough. | ||
| Jlnance |
Sorry about the rotation, it's my clutch hand. http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l22/jlnance/cros s%20country/?action=view¤t=Picture081.flv | ||
| Ram |
Wow. I'm physically stone cold sober, but that video just made my brain drunk.  Hiccup. Perhaps Santa needs to bring you a video mount for the Uly. I'll write him. Whoot whoot! Go Nance, GO!  | ||
| Jlnance |
Before I forget all this. Sunday I woke up and felt much better. I left early for Bakersfield to meet Unibear. I got on I-5 and ran south. This is the boring part of I-5 Jerry was alluding to. There isn't much to see, but you make good time. I called Unibear once I was about 100 miles out. I attempted to follow them but I was pretty sure I was lost. I finally ran into a road that actually had a number on it, and found it on my map. I get myself to Bakersfield and met Unibear at a Dennys. We headed off to meet his g/f and her daughter for lunch. Lunch was fun, we took our time and I enjoyed the company. Then Unibear led up toward Death Valley, via the Kern Canyon rd. It was simply fantastic. Fun to ride, fun to look at. Then we head up over lake Isabella, and over a couple passes. I keep asking "is this death valley" and the answer is always "not yet." We probably rode 3 hours and then he had to head back. Thats the only section of this trip when I've gotten to ride with someone and it has been my favorite part so far due to the company. Having been duely warned about the lack of gas, I head out on my own. I passed through Chloride, where I suppose they make salt. Then off into the desert. I've already described my voyage through Emmigrant Pass, so I won't repeat it. I got to Stovepipe Wells as the sun was going down. I turned off the bike, let the fan stop, and the silence was beautiful. It was a gorgeous place. Lots of people were camping. I headed off for Furnace something, where the next gas was. This was about 25 miles down the road. I filled up the bike again, because they had premium. It was dark by now, even though it was only about 6:30 or 7:00. Since it's a valley, darkness comes when the sun goes behind the mountains, but the sky is still somewhat light. Its a neat effect. As I pulled out, I saw a sign that said "Next Services 57 miles." I decided my admiration for Erik Buell would be diminished if I ended up walking any portion of that. There was occasional traffic, but in a very real sense you are quite alone on that road at night. I passed the turnoff for badwater, but it was completely dark by this time and there didn't seem to be much point on sightseeing in the dark, so I went straight. I drove for miles and miles, and then came to this sign that said "Direct Route to Las Vegas City" and it had a convoluted arrow pointing a direction. Then it noted 35 miles to Parhump, and 85 to Las Vegas. It seemed impossible to be someplace so remote, yet only 35 miles from a city. I turned and road perhaps a quarter mile down the road and there is an opera house by the side of the road, all lit up. It was the only thing with lights I had seen for 50 miles. There were no people there, but it was a lit up building. I got off the bike, sat down on a bench, and read a map. I deciphered the directions on the sign, and headed down "state line rd" for Padhump. I could see the lights from the town from miles and miles before I got there. I got gas in Padhump, noted that yet again I had no cell service, and set out for Vegas. You can see the Vegas lights from Padhump, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised as you can see Vegas from the moon. It was dark and getting cold. I was coming over a pass and as soon as I crested it I could see the moon in the sky and Vegas in the valley below. It was a great sight. I cruised down to the strip and saw a sign "Motel 6 - 43.95/night." My kind of place. | ||
| Mikej |
Art Bell will get mad at you but I'm pretty sure it's spelled Pahrump.  And now that you've been thru that area at night you'll have a better idea of how he comes up with some of the stuff he does. (I'm not even sure if he's still on the air.) Excellent trip, thanks for keeping us posted. |
