SSA Sierra Sportbike Association | Reno Nevada Motorcycle Trackday Weekend Riding Club

General Chat - Weekly Rides, Bike Discussion, & More . . . => General Discussion => Topic started by: RichVee4 on March 04, 2017, 05:52:01 PM

Title: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: RichVee4 on March 04, 2017, 05:52:01 PM
Early spring get away to Death Valley to enjoy the wildflowers and warm temps, average temp for March is 82.  Peak season for wildflowers is Feb-March. This is a Sat - Mon ride, first night Lone Pine.  Day 2 will be in Death Valley with exploring and short hikes.

The Mrs and I are going and would be open to one or two more riders.  This is a touring ride, we will pick up some nice roads but majority will be straight long hwy riding.  Bringing camera and will be looking for photo stops along the way.

Sights
Artist Dr.  ( worth looking at on youtube if your not familiar with)
Bad Water basin, lowest point in US
Dante's View

Route is 395 south, so weather needs to cooperate for this to happen.

Let me know if your interested.
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: GreenMachine on March 04, 2017, 06:34:07 PM
:announc

In.  Don't think there are any conflicts in my schedule. Let's hope the weather gives us a nice window to squeeze through.
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: RichVee4 on March 04, 2017, 07:24:11 PM
 :GrnWheelie   Sweet, you can help carry some of the Mrs gear..  Actually if you remember the OorB trip she didnt bring much and was the first one at the bikes in the morning.  We have a reservation for the first night at Best Western in Lone Pine ~$90, so you can make plans.   

Still considering night two, Sunday.  Could do out and back from Lone Pine or what I am leaning toward is exit Death Valley East into NV then loop around to Bishop for night two. That is a 263 mile loop, but 105 miles are from Lone Pine to Death Valley so would be ~160 miles to loop around to Bishop.  Figuring Sunday night will be easy to find a hotel so I am not overly concerned where we end up. 
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: Vegasrider on March 05, 2017, 04:59:14 PM
I think I've ridden through Artist Dr.  I recalled it may have been one way, minature Badlands Nat'l Park. The ride from Death Valley towards 395 is epic, just seeing the backdrop of the snow capped Sierra's was very impressive when I did that run.   
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: dub on March 05, 2017, 08:57:08 PM
I'm busy.
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: GreenMachine on March 06, 2017, 03:50:30 PM
If one or two people are interested we can share a double queen room.  The cost has already gone up to $120+/night.   :-\

Must be peak season price gouging.
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: RichVee4 on March 06, 2017, 09:05:49 PM
One more person would be great to so you could split the room cost.  I signed up for their rewards so that's why it was a little less, with tax 100. 
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: RichVee4 on March 07, 2017, 05:36:11 PM
This map section from Butler maps shows the start of day 2 into Death Valley some good mc roads.  Its 106 miles from Lone Pine to Furnace Creek.

 
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: GreenMachine on March 07, 2017, 10:11:47 PM
We should get together for the fun of it to go over some of these ideas.  What do you think?  Do you have any time in the next week or so?  I could swing by or we could meet at a pub or something.
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: GreenMachine on March 08, 2017, 07:25:06 AM
Offer to share the cost of the room going once.  Going twice...
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: RichVee4 on March 08, 2017, 05:43:28 PM
Quote from: GreenMachine on March 07, 2017, 10:11:47 PM
We should get together for the fun of it to go over some of these ideas.  What do you think?  Do you have any time in the next week or so?  I could swing by or we could meet at a pub or something.

Works for me.  I will msg you.
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: GreenMachine on March 09, 2017, 09:39:24 AM
Quote from: GreenMachine on March 08, 2017, 07:25:06 AM
Offer to share the cost of the room going once.  Going twice...
Booked!

Found a deal through Travel Advisor, right off of Google Maps.  So my rate won't be so bad, unless this is the one cheap room next to the check-in office or the stairs or the main highway.   :o

Who cares.  I'm soooo excited already.  Gonna have to condition myself this weekend by going on a preliminary ride.

Thanks guys for taking the lead on this.  Can't wait too for OoB III.   :banana2
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: GreenMachine on March 09, 2017, 03:32:54 PM
Sorry, Trip Advisor.  But I had a bit of confusion this morning.  After setting the arrival/departure dates and booking, I reviewed the confirmation, which said I had up until the 18th to cancel without penalty.  Doh!  Somehow it booked my reservation for the 19th?

Since the reservation was minutes old there was no way to change it online, so I called instead.  Found out that Costco has discounts through Best Western too, which dropped my rate 12%.  Not bad.  Reserved for the 25th now.  Happy again.
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: RichVee4 on March 09, 2017, 06:30:44 PM
I'm always afraid I will book the wrong date when doing online reservations.  Good you caught the error now.
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: GreenMachine on March 12, 2017, 04:46:53 PM
All set.  I think my front tire is a close to worn, but it's a hard touring tire so I think it'll be okay.  Other than that, just have to toughen up in the saddle.
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: RichVee4 on March 13, 2017, 07:00:05 AM
I started the bikes yesterday.  The Sprint is good to go.  My VFR battery, shorai,  was dead even though it was on a shorai charger all winter.   I put it on a different charger and got it to start after charging awhile.  Will charge it overnight then take the charger off and let it sit a day or two then try it again.   
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: GreenMachine on March 13, 2017, 08:13:28 AM
Get the Mrs. to carry jumper cables.  No worries.  If it's hard to start in the mornings, the two of you will probably still beat me out of the parking lot.

Is it daylight savings time already?  ;)
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: GreenMachine on March 14, 2017, 11:33:02 AM
Wow, mid-90s down there already, going through Saturday.  So much for the Spring bloom!   :-[  This is going to be a rude awakening going from low 40s in the morning here to down there and baking.

:terrified
Title: Re: Ride to Death Valley 3/25-27
Post by: GreenMachine on April 09, 2017, 12:08:52 PM
Damn, the Death Valley triangle struck the Web site too.   :P