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Here is a fun movie I uploaded.... It seemed to flow nicely with the music.

I give you.... The Magnificent 7 Death Valley Ride 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUTZ0kFS ... ata_player

Cheers!

Ted

Marlboro Country, eh?
Thanks Ted. I've always wondered what Death Valley looks like. Good to see a bunch of greybeards out enjoying themselves in a harmless way. Any chance of a commentary? How long it took, where you stayed, any problems, etc.

I almost felt like lighting up a gasper!

That was good Ted. Which one was you?

As you can tell the ride was amazing. The day before was a total downpour under a cold front from the bay area to Lake Isabella (the annual route there was from Oakland to Hollister to Paso Robles across the central valley to Bakersfield then the climb up to Lake Isabella via the most spectacular 600 miles of mostly 2 lane nicely managed roads). this time of year snow falls at lower elevations and riding a bike with a wind chill of 32 is daunting even for the hardest od us. Lake Isabella is about 2500 ft in altitude. It gets near or below freezing this time of year at night. The motel we stay at is homey and family run. they are nice to deal with and are happy to see us every year.

We got started early after a nights sleep with some coffee and store muffins from the motel. we follow the winding pass road 178 and headed to Ridgecrest. The winter sun warms the road and the air enough so you can shake off the cold. The twists and roller coaster ride begins at the start. this yea by 830 the frost had left the highway and very few cars shot down the fun road. after about 60 miles we stopped like we always do at a mexican place, Bernadinos in Inyokern for heuvos Racheros. there is penty of parking and cheap, endless pots of coffee. we then moved toward Ridgecrest another 15 miles away. As we headed there, one of the seven with a well loved GS indicated it had a voltage problem. At the Chevron Station in Ridgecrest in true airhead fashion, the guy tore his GS bike apart in minutes to diagnose the problem. (As it turned out, it was a poor Radio Shack part that was failing which was the problem - no problem. we were back on the road within 25 minutes start to finish.)

The weather warmed to the high 50s once we got to Trona as we passed the aliens, mutants and white beds of borax and mineral mines. The road becomes interesting from there as we took the Famous Wildrose canyon road to Death Valley back door. the road is a patchwork or blacktop, potholes and gravel. sweat, moisture and coffee favored spit is wicked fast but luckily the air is cool so it's quite comfortable. there are so many twists and turns that even the most jaded rider can't help but smile with each new road break or unknown ageless horizon. Once through the canyon, Walker pass, Rises to nearly 6000 feet - here the desert has a dry cold wind, brown weeds and spotty fresh snow just off the road. This is a great place break to shake off some cold, put on warmer clothes and to take a photo op. The ride down the pass into the desert is unforgettable in more ways than I can write. When you finally get to ride on to the Death Valley floor it is made for motorbikes, something you should not miss - and we took the opportunity to breath it all in. Our Campground this year like most years is at Furnance Creek. the airhead tribes gather there. Most ride airheads, but each year the camp has more newer bikes. the Grey beards and backs still dominate the scene and every screwball airhead still will feel welcome. many riders and their friends come year after year from thousands of miles away and for their part wouldn't haven't any other way.

Great ride and good commaderie. Every airhead need make the pilgrimage to one of the oldest airhead events. make your plans, I'll get you a bike.

Very nice!

I was just on that same ride - only it was in Texas: http://www.boxerworks.com/forum2/viewto ... =17&t=1711

Without the cool music!

Excellent Ted, man I'd like to come over and ride the states.

Loved that music!

ME 109 wrote:Excellent Ted, man I'd like to come over and ride the states.

Rain or shine, the DV Rendezvous continues to be my most favorite winter ride or long ride for that matter. The folks are exceptional and friendly. It is the roads which we think about when we look at our bikes. - My big goal this year is to really get off my cheap bumm and get the second bike r100 rider ready. It will there for a good man from a distant land to make and share in this epic four day weekend ride.

Hell yeah Ted, now that would be something to work toward.
I've got the riding on the wrong side of the road thing down pat!

Reckon it might take me 5 years to get there though, kids in secondary (middle?) school.
etc,etc.

ME 109 wrote:Hell yeah Ted, now that would be something to work toward.
I've got the riding on the wrong side of the road thing down pat!

Reckon it might take me 5 years to get there though, kids in secondary (middle?) school.
etc,etc.

It worries me , I'm pretty sure I'd forget just when it was a bad idea ! We regularly have nasty crashes up this way with US tourists pulling to the Right when things go wrong .I've been pulling to the Left for 40 years .....it's a hard reflex to overcome .