Riding to the Regatta

[N4teTheGreat]

Headed north for some unnecessary, but fun miles.

Fun indeed, though I quickly turned off 72 and headed west right after this shot.

No complaints about that change of direction. Empty roads and sweeping views (with sweeping corners to boot)

Fishlake National Forest's namesake lake.

Another unplanned win, I got to see Pando (the worlds largest tree by weight and landmass). My niece and Nephew had been talking about this tree while I was in Colorado so I was funny that my route happened to cross it.

Full disclosure, I really needed to pee, so I might have peed on Pando, but I think Pando is into that sort of thing.

At the top of of 25 headed back towards 24 (yes I could have just stayed on 24 but where's the fun in that I couldn't see Pando anymore, but I could see a rather ominous fire ahead of me.

My route turned directly towards the fire and I was slightly concerned if I'd be able to get through. Despite plenty of fire fighting activity, the roads were open. It was pretty crazy to see however. The smoke started blocking the sun as I rode past.

Kingston Canyon was pretty as I made my was towards 89 and I was hoping, gas.

What would have been a convenient gas stop instead made a fairly end of the world feeling photo op with the fire in the background.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

I stopped at the Bear Valley RV park for gas and apparently another root beer. Strange cravings on this trip.

The attendant was nice enough to tell me the hot food they had out was due to be tossed and could be mine for free it wanted. I considered it, but decided not to. A couple who came in after me cleaned the place out and had a meal in their car, so someone used it.

Aside from this cool lava flow.

And this kinda uninspired shot taken after I came as close as I ever had to getting taken out by a deer. I'd been hooning at a spirited clip through some tight turns in that densely forested section of road. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the blur of a deer making a b-line towards my left side, not in front of me, it popped out of the trees right next to me and somehow barely avoided hitting my rear wheel. I didn't dwell too long on what the outcome of that impact would have been at the speed I was going, but I figured it wouldn't have been good. I slowed down a little, for a little, after that.

Perfect time to slow down too as Cedar Breaks is really pretty and there were multiple lookouts to check out.

Bryce NP waaaay off in the distance. When I'd started up this road there was a sign stating "this is NOT the road to Bryce NP" which tells me a lot of people were getting lost up here.

And up here we were...

Yeah, it's a pretty spot.

Definitely a worthwhile stop if you ever find yourself in the area... and apparently, it's end of day isn't a bad time to visit. I considered staying for the sunset, but I had roads to ride.

Well one road, Cedar Canyon specifically. The road descends from roughly 10,000 feet to roughly 5,000 feet over 27 winding miles. I took a single picture as I was having way to much fun.

Getting into Cedar City I realized I'd booked the same motel I stayed at in 2023 on my way to Colorado. I guess I have a type. I also remembered that this motel has a no smoking policy on the entire property. That is not my type. I ordered pizza, grabbed some beer and cleaned my chain while I was waiting on the pizza.

Dinner might look sad in this picture, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

As I really wanted to smoke a cigar, I went to the only bar in town, Mormons, amirite? Also boomers, amirite? I'm easily amused.

I walked into the bar, admittedly on a Tuesday night at 9pm and it was empty. I kinda chuckled as I asked the lone bartender is she was planning to close. She told me "I haven't called last call yet" to which I pondered, who would have heard that call? So I ordered myself a round and proceeded out to their very nice patio for a smoke. The bar was playing nothing but 90's grunge. I felt both at home, and old.

For some reason this amused me on the walk home..

The moon was looking good, so I grabbed a shitty cell phone picture of it.

I also marveled at this very cool moto shop. I dug the look of the interior and they had a LOT of cool toys for sale. Maybe it is because Cedar City is a college town, or maybe it's the awesome roads in the area, but I saw a ton of bikes there, most of them sporty bikes. I also saw some cheap ass rents advertised, and they have a cool ski resort nearby in the winter. After a few rounds I was certainly thinking about what it might be like to live there...

 

[CDONA]

Extreme nono, for an '08 Hyper, I hope yours is different.
Chain maint. action shot,
'08s had the side stand bolted to the engine cases.
I hope yours is attached to the frame !
My on road chain maintenance tool,

My TW maintenance,

My forks fixed? New seals installed, with all the oil I provided, and new spring preloads, cut from shower rod. Both tubes overfilled, one within 1/4" overflowing, other down about an inch. Both stiff on compression, oil and spring, way more than I brought in. Fill level is 5.3" down from the...

bayarearidersforum.com

Good to see parts of Utah, I haven't seen yet.
I get a strange guilt vibe about NOT having kids, when I visit there.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

As far as I know this is not an issue on my bike. Also, I'm pretty sure there is more load on the kick stand when I mount the bike with a full tail bag than when I use my little stand to prop the rear tire off the ground. Been doing it this way for a few years now with no ill consequences at any rate.

 

[Cupid's Arrow]

This is one of my favorite threads on here

 

[N4teTheGreat]

From Cedar City, getting across Nevada to Cali didn't present many options, but I figured I'd just cross the whole state and head to Bridgeport. A big day for sure, but it'd make getting back to SF the following day easy.

Those makeup remover towels are great for bugs too..

Heading east out of Cedar City I stopped briefly for a picture of the beautiful morning weather.

Before too long as I was at the Nevada border and temps were feeling, very Nevada-esq.

It was gonna be a long day of views like this...

I briefly stopped in Panaca to grab a picture of this cool old building.

Then a longer stop for some caffeine and a rest at a gas station just outside of town.

Caliente provided a little range to off set all that basin they have in Nevada.

Newman Canyon was pretty striking.

Pulled off a bit later for a little bit of Chokecherry Mountain, not the best vantage point, but in my defense, it was hot.

Apparently these rock outcroppings caught my heat addled minds attention as well...

I stopped at a little shack at the intersection of 93, 375 and 318. While alien jerky was on offer, I was just in it for some water and to eat the hard boiled eggs I'd grabbed form the motel fridge that morning.

And of course, shade.

While I was hydrating and proteinating a few riders I'd seen at the previous gas station rolled up. We chatted for a bit. They were out from Ohio riding as much of the southwest as they could in three weeks. They'd been in Colorado a bit and we'd ridden by the same fire in Utah, though they'd been off road and apparently took a wrong turn and followed a fire break into town. They were headed to the Area 51 gate and asked if I was headed that way. I considered it, but I had far enough to go still. It would have been interesting. I also wondered about the utility of their thigh holstered weapons for riding, but I'd imagine guns and camping in the sticks go hand in hand.

They took off and I finished my water and snacks and decided to keep on moving as well. Next photo stop was the summit of Hancock Pass

Well just past the summit actually...

Decent views and I find all the rock formations you can see interesting.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Had to stop for the sign of course. I also needed to stop for gas as it was a long stretch to get to Tonopa.

They only had 87, but it was 109 miles to Tonopah, so... I'd rolled into this place on fumes coming from Tonopah on a past trip so I knew to stop and fill up to the neck.

Not being concerned about range (I didn't know there was gas in Rachel on my last trip so I was kinda worried) I was able to enjoy the scenery a bit more this go round.

The road was otherwise unremarkable, long and straight with a bit of a headwind.

I'll bet this place was a nice stop back in the day. I looked like the hot spring pool was still there, lots of no trespassing signs and all that so I didn't investigate futher. I didn't see an outlet so the water was probably pretty gross if it was still flowing at all.

I was tempted to ride out to the test range, but it was hot, I was fuel limited and I still had to make it to Bridgeport.

Made it to Tonopah with no gas light, so that was nice.

Leaving Tonopah, it was looking like I might end my good weather streak on this trip...

The headwinds were really strong and I was having trouble keeping up with traffic. Nothing like a close pass from a big ol' vegas tourist busto remind you to speed up. I guess I could have just gotten to Hawthorne REALLY early for the rally.

I was pretty glad to finally connect with 6 and equally glad to have skirted by the weather.

Finally, the home stretch was in sight, back in Cali.

I was amused by this sticker combo as I was putting up one of my cat.

No more stops for pictures despite the ride being rather pretty at the end of the day, I was ready to be done. Finally, I rolled into my stop for the night.

Somehow I'd managed to book a room for the following week, but they guy running the place (might have been the owner) was happy to move things around and luckily they had a free spot for that night. Great place really, the tent cabin was cozy and only cost 80 bucks a night. It included a gas fire pit and they gave you stuff to make smores.

Dinner at their restaurant, while not cheap, hit the spot.

The special came with Salad, Garlic Bread and Ice cream, so really, not a bad deal after all.

Nice sunset to boot.

I even had time to enjoy the firepit, though it was a bit to light around camp to see much of the Persiod Meteors, and also I was too tired to stay up until Midnight when it was supposed to start peaking.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Well, all good things come to and end, and it was time for me to get back to SF so I could get ready to do the Northern California BDR with a few friends for your yearly dirty excursion (note to self, we need to make more than one dirty excursion per year).

The plan was pretty simple, 120 through Yosemite and all the way home, but, about halfway through the park I realized just how slow things are during prime touristing season and I got greedy for more twisties, so, I opted to take 140 south and then nab a bit of 49 before slogging home. Worth it, I think I ended up doing something like this.

First things first, coffee and a little chain service as things back there were getting a little looser than usual.

With the chain clean and adjusted, I took my time to enjoy a bit more coffee before packing up and heading out.

Grabbed a quick scenic shot as I was heading south to 120.

I largely had 120 to the park entrance to myself, and where I didn't I found my way around. Always a good run up that road. Then I got to the entrance and despite numerous signs stating no commercial trucking in 120 through the park, there was this Amazon truck.

The driver had meltdown after the female park ranger told him he had to turn around. As far as all of us observers could see he had tons of room to back the truck up more for a turn, but he kept saying he couldn't do it, got out to film things a few times and was generally having a tantrum. One woman who walked up to watch mentioned she used to drive big rigs and was considering offering to turn the truck around for him as he clearly had lost his cool. He eventually go it and tried to blame things on the park ranger to anyone who with open windows. I don't think he got any sympathy from the line of traffic.

On the upside, they just let everyone in without payment and told us to pay at the visitor center or at the exit. I had my park pass so no stops needed. Well, aside from week day construction traffic in the park and tourist traffic.

As such I didn't stop for too many views since it would just bury me deeper in traffic.

I think I pulled out here because I was already stuck in a long line of traffic...

I eventually settled in to cruising the park and taking in the views. Around the time I got to Crane Flat I was getting a little peckish so I stopped for caffeine and food before gassing up.

I was able to get a few good turns on Big Oak Flat after stopping for this shot to let a line of cars go ahead.

After that it was no stops. It was hot and overtaking was happening on 140. 49 was also a good hoon with minimal traffic and somehow two sheriffs who failed to notice my antics, or just happened to be in the right portion of a corner where I appeared slow enough? The road was smooth tasty pavement, but I missed a few sneaky rocks. Figured they were all pretty small for me to not see them and the minimal slips they caused. When I was looking over the bike at a gas stop it would appear at least one was a bit bigger. Opps.

The rear tire wear spoke to good times being had. You always wanna try to round off the road tripping flat spots when you can...

Happy tire...

After that bit of fun it was just a long hot slog home where I'd have four days to get myself and my DRZ prepped for the BDR.

 

[budman]

Most enjoyable...