09 WCT Day 5 - Ride thru NV to 29 Palms CA

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Day 5 - Saturday - 19 SEPT
The rest of the team was going in for another run on the salt, but my son was waiting and I had to travel 600 miles to get there. We said goodbyes that morning and took some last minute pictures. The guys headed to the salt before I left. They were gone before 6:30, I waited until sun up to start my journey from Wendover UT to 29 Palms CA. One of the first warning signs just a mile or so south of Wendover was an open range sign with a sheep on it. However I would travel all day and not see a single sheep. I would take 93 thru NV and wind my way through the Mojave reserve to 29 Palm. Hwy 93 is marked as a scenic route and indeed it was great. I stopped many times for pictures. Majestic is the best word I could use for what I drove through. I was glad I had my 3L camelbak bladder in my tank bag. Filled with ice then water it provided me with cool water all day I only had to refill it once. It got hot. At Ely I bought a subway sandwich to eat on the road. I wanted to find a picnic area to enjoy it at. Picnic areas are few and far between but I did finally find one and was it ever a great place for a break. I was concerned about gas between Ely and Las Vegas. The clerk at the Big Lots next to our motel in Wendover had told me there was gas at Alamo. I found there were a couple more gas stations all along that route. I continued with my practice of storing a waypoint in the GPS whenever I saw a pay at the pump gas station when out in the boonies. I had started doing this while riding in remote areas like North and South Dakota. Next time I am in those areas I will be less restricted in my route options. Even if I take the same route, I will worry less.

I was having a great time until about half way thru the Mojave. That’s when I noticed that my speedo and tach were not working. I was in the middle of nowhere. I had only seen 2 another cars since I had entered the Mojave and there was not an ounce of shade. It was gourgous though. I wanted to stop for pics but it was too hot. And now I didn’t want to turn the bike off in fear that it would not start again and I would be stranded. By the time I made it to 29 Palms I was a done for the day, stressed out. It was good to see my son.

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Photos

Effie in NV
Every corner brought more vast beauty.

Sams Pit Crew
Bill, Sandy, me, Opa and Karl.

Open Range sign
Sheep was a new one. I collect pictures of them. The funniest is the cow zing sign I have. Obivously designed by someone that has never had cows.

Effie in NV
I stopped for lunch at a roadside picnic area. I had bought a subway sandwich and was waiting for just the right place to stop. This was it.

Comments

[Sharing the Journey]

Did I miss something?
Have you been having problems with the 883? You said you were scared it would not start.

[roadcapDen]

Luv it, Thx
Wish'n I had the time to travel like you do, the best I can do is Sturgis next year from Toronto ON, CDA on my Sporty.