Your host, upon departure from home in Edmonds, WA. I left at 0730 May 5th and rode 790 miles to Yuba City CA on the first day. I took a short break near Mt. Shasta as I entered California.
On day two, I took a side trip up into the hills south of Bridgeport CA off of US 395 up to the remains of Bodie, an 1880 gold mining town.
For a look at Bodie check out my Bodie Page.
Near Carson City Nevada The Sierra mountains were still receiving snow almost daily.
I spent the third day in Big Pine CA exploring the roads and hills in the area. Check out my page on my Eastern Sierra Day Trippin'
Day four
Death Valley
Paul Hinshaw on Death Valley Road and me, in Death Valley CA
Crankshaft Crossing. Leave your used motor parts here The "Crankshaft Tree" ( I always wondered where they grew these things )
My Death Valley pictures are limited to these, as I had a tire challenge, which took me outa' there, way sooner than planned. Paul has contributed some of his fine photos of Death Valley which can be found here.
Paul leading through Valley of Fire St. Pk. NV Take the Kolob Res. road north out of Virgin and you come into the west edge of Zion NP, and this nice campsite about where the road re-enters the park for the 2nd time. Good dirt all the way.
These were taken at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park , UT. Good campgrounds in the area. We found the blm camp up the road empty, with the Coral Pink SP camp fairly full of dune buggy folks.
Zion.......... Bryce........ Grand Canyon North Rim.....
Beautiful sights to see in all of the National Parks. I won't attempt to show it all to you. You will have to go see for yourself. My pictures do not do it justice.
I was awed at the sight of it all.
After Paul left for home and a new tire, I went out to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for my first look at this wonder of the world. It is truly an experience to see such a graphic illustration of how old our planet is and to ponder the whole concept of time and space. I regret that I did not stay longer, but at this high elevation camping would have been a bit colder than I was ready for. The N. Rim had only opened three days before and there was still much snow on the ground in the camping areas of the Kaibab Plateau. I headed out to Marble Canyon at Vermillion Cliffs, where I had a reservation at the Lees Ferry Inn where Paul had stayed last fall. Over 120 different beers available, and great food. I recommend it also.
Lees Ferry , Monument Valley, and Moki Dugway
Great fun. I can't wait to do it again. Next time I will mount new knobbies near the desert, lighten my load, and will ride with two or three others for safety in exploring more great backroads.