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[grandpadoc]

Terry and I had the opportunity to do a three dayer last weekend and ride to Death Valley with our local HOG group. The weather in SoCal is usually in the 60-80 range this time of year and affords us some great riding opportunities. This ride started in Temecula CA and took us to the West side of DV along some great two laners. This is the view after we found a critical gas stop had no fuel available. 

[grandpadoc]

...but we did manage to limp into this station and gladly paid the price.

[grandpadoc]

We arrived in Beatty, NV and after settling in met this character at the Happy Burro beer and chili bar. Jimmy (Panhead Jimmy) was there with his As-hole bike club. I would travel there again just to have a bowl of that chili, soo good.

[grandpadoc]

The very friendly owner of the Burro took Terry for a tour and she later escorted me into the mens room to see the urinal. Apes on a urinal, with the clutch lever hooked up to the flush valve. Ummm got to have one of those in the Man Cave.

[grandpadoc]

This whole trip took a new twist as soon as we got into town and met Jimmy and the As-holes. Jimmy said they were all going to their annual meeting place called Gold Point, NV and invited us to tag along. These guys wake up really late in the morning so we said we would meet up with them after taking a ride through the park. Here we are overlooking DV coming from Beatty.

[grandpadoc]

We rode down to Bad Water which is the lowest point in North America (-282 feet).

[grandpadoc]

...which overlooks Mt. Whitney the highest point in the US.

[grandpadoc]

There are many more sights to see in the park, but we had to beat it to Gold Point, they must be up and there by now. We parked next to the first bike we saw (Jimmy's) and wandered into the first shack that had some signs of life and settled in.

[grandpadoc]

Here we are with some of the the As-holes. The guy behind the bar is Sheriff Stone who owns the town.

[grandpadoc]

Here is a shot of one of the "rental cabins" available if you choose to stay in town. Never fear though, after he moves one of these old miner shacks into town he frames out the interior then adds plumbing and electrical, sheet rock, wall paper, and antique furniture.

[grandpadoc]

What was intended as a guided tour of Death Valley with our HOG group turned into a different kind of adventure after meeting up (coincidently) with Jimmy in Beatty. We have been to DV a couple of time before and never tire of what it has to offer.  Lou and Terry

[9 1/2 Beers]

...but we did manage to limp into this station and gladly paid he price.

 Same place in 2005, and we thought those prices were bad 

[djkak]

Great stuff!  I rode through Death Valley in record heat late July of ’03. We left Vegas at 6:00 AM and by 8:45, one of our riders had passed out on the back of a bagger; we left that couple in Furnace Creek.

Prior to this it had ridden in temps up to around 115, but it had never occurred to me that big heat on the bike could kill you; I came to that realization on this ride heading south on I-15, about 50 miles north of Vegas where the air temps were north of a buck twenty off the asphalt.

I understand and practice good hydration, but I was surprised to learn about clothing that keeps the cold out also keeps the heat out. I’ve ridden this part of the country a number of times since then, but not in that kind of incredible heat.

[grandpadoc]

Same place in 2005, and we thought those prices were bad 

We were supposed to gas up in Trona but both gas stations were closed. One station didn't pay its bills and the other one was having its tanks replaced. My GPS said there was a Shell 80 miles away, so now I know why. They must have changed to an independent since my last map update.

[grandpadoc]

Great stuff!  I rode through Death Valley in record heat late July of ’03. We left Vegas at 6:00 AM and by 8:45, one of our riders had passed out on the back of a bagger; we left that couple in Furnace Creek.

 

Death Valley in July, was there anyone else there  The high this trip was 80 in DV and 65 in Beatty, very pleasent.