Death Valley Noobs Rally
March 2010
March 2010
The Death Valley Noobs Rally is always a fun gathering of like-minded offroad motorcyclists gathering to explore and ride in Death Valley. One of the goals is for experienced riders to help beginning riders and those new to Death Valley explore the adventure of Death Valley. For 2010, I again rode my BMW R1200GS, but this time with spoked wheels (care of Woody's Wheels) that could handle Death Valley.
I left for Death Valley on a Thursday from my Mom's house in Las Vegas. I passed by Red Rock Canyon, always a pretty and scenic sight. From Hwy 160, I headed south on Tecopa Road and the Old Spanish Highway, stopped for gas in Shoshone, and then east on Hwy 178 into Death Valley National Park. I took West Side Road to get off the pavement, and explored some of the side roads. Then it was on to Panamint Springs to meet up with some of the other riders and begin talking about rides for Friday and Saturday.
I left for Death Valley on a Thursday from my Mom's house in Las Vegas. I passed by Red Rock Canyon, always a pretty and scenic sight. From Hwy 160, I headed south on Tecopa Road and the Old Spanish Highway, stopped for gas in Shoshone, and then east on Hwy 178 into Death Valley National Park. I took West Side Road to get off the pavement, and explored some of the side roads. Then it was on to Panamint Springs to meet up with some of the other riders and begin talking about rides for Friday and Saturday.
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For Friday, I decide to join a ride to Chloride Cliffs and Titus Canyon, which was being led by my friend Joe. We stopped in Stovepipe Wells for some the group to top off with gas and to get their National Park permits. Then it was on to Chloride Cliffs, and some spectacular views. After some snacks, we continued on to Rhyolite and then Titus Canyon (and the old mining town of Leadfield). Finally, it was back to camp and a hamburger dinner!
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On Friday, several of us decided to take a long loop around Death Valley. We headed out to ride Titus Canyon again, and then turned north and took Death Valley Road towards Crankshaft Junction. Then on to Eureka Dunes and eventually to Big Pine and a ride through the Alabama Hills. It was a long ride, and I think we made it back to Panamint Springs about 8pm.
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On Sunday, Avern and I decide to ride part of the way home together - I'm heading back to Camas, WA. We stopped by Ballarat for a quick refreshment, and then headed to the Lake Isabella area to find the Remington Hot Springs for a quick soak (sans clothes). The pics below will show the three cement lined pools (pics from the internet) since you don't want to see pics of mostly old, nude people. They were a friendly bunch there, and offered us a nice cold beer, which was welcome in the 100+ degree water. After the hot springs, we ate lunch if Kernville, and then Avern took off for Hanford and I was heading east to the coast for the ride north to Camas. I spent the night in Cambria.
t took me two more days to ride home to Camas that included rain, freezing rain, freezing wind, and hail. It was a day and a half of riding hell (if hell is freezing cold); but it was all worth the great riding in Death Valley!
t took me two more days to ride home to Camas that included rain, freezing rain, freezing wind, and hail. It was a day and a half of riding hell (if hell is freezing cold); but it was all worth the great riding in Death Valley!
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