SDAR Goes to Death Valley - March 2014

[hodnettjj 0]

Ok... I'll have my go at the ride report...

I was on the fence whether I would ride the GS up with the Big Bike crew or Joe Haul up with the DRZ or Bring my son... or bring both bikes to get a mix of big miles and big adventure... First World Problems...

I was always open to carpooling... It's nice to share long drives and split the cost...

Travel day... At the last minute Goofy asked if I was in interested in carpooling... So I decided to carpool and bring the DRZ. I left work about noon and had not packed a thing... By 3 I met up with Goofy and we were off...

We made a stop in Adelanto for groceries... It was like a scene out of the Star Wars Casaba... A different and interesting sight around every corner... There could definitely peopleofstaterbrosadelanto.com...

We arrived at camp around 1030 in the evening... the wind had just started to kick-up... this made putting up my tent interest to say the least...

Day 1 ride... This started... or rather didn't start... with a extended wire repair and troubleshooting session on Tim's bike... Once it was repaired we were off to Salene Valley, Lippincott, The Racetrack, Hunter Mountain...

The road from and to Panamint Springs was awesome... It was cold at elevation... there was snow in places... and giant mud pits that were easy to drive around...

I'm having problems with photo linking.... I'll finish this later...

[kato 53]

This is awesome everyone!!!

[hodnettjj 0]

Day 1

Goofy and Bubbagums

Climb up Lippincott

Moving Rocks at the Racetrack....

That's the pics for day one... I had to use Google Chrome to load these links... once again it was my fault... not the sites...

[hodnettjj 0]

We stayed at Panamint Springs as you all know by now... $18 a hamburger and $6.50 per gal for gas a pretty standard in DV...

Day 2

This was Saturday... I believe we were 3 groups at this time (maybe 2 that later branched in to 3). Goofy and I headed out Nadeau... Loose gravel for miles... I felt the big bikes would be working pretty hard to get through.... and they confirmed my suspicions later at camp.

Pics...

We found this marker. I took a 360 panorama at this spot.

We headed over to Ballarat then up Goller Wash...

This place had slot canyons, running springs... and hiding spots...

Remnants of the Barker Ranch... the Manson Hideout.

Goofy on a little hill climb.

Goofy on the way down.

There are stocked cabins throughout the park. This was in front of the Geologist cabin...

So we immediately entered and I began touching everything...

We had lunch in Furnace Creek...

Goofy's birthday nap spot...

I checked out the Visitor center. We then headed back to camp... Everyone was already at the restaurant as we rolled in...

[hodnettjj 0]

Day 3 Sunday

We headed out to Darwin to fix Goofy's bike.

1NADV was getting a work out wrestling the KLR through the washes and rocky climbs. He was testing his personnel limits... and loving... almost every minute.

The was the only trail pic I took that day... had too many tools on my hands the rest of the time...

On the way back we came upon a long line of slow lumbering elephants... well they were actually Harleys... I saw the slow moving train waaaaaayyyy off in the distance... I made it my personal mission to catch-up-to an pass them all... on my dirt geared... 440cc bike... If I was going to blow my motor again it was going to be on this...

I caught them and made quick work with my little bike, knobby tires, and super moto style... If was a great way to end the trip after the recent repair/tow/repair evolution...

Till next time...