Death Valley

SportsterDoc

SportsterDoc

Road warrior
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Had a very relaxing ride to Death Valley, yesterday, including Pahrump, Shoshone, Badwater, Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, Beatty.

Relaxing = close to speed limit most of the time. I was averaging 56 MPG until I left Stovepipe Wells and ascended from sea level on a spirited ride up Daylight Pass to Beatty (3,300 feet).

The 109 miles from Beatty to home started out at 70 MPH, but going with traffic ended up at 80-85 MPH. I figure less chances for a head-on (two lane highway) with another vehicle a few hundred feet ahead.

355 miles, 8 1/2 hours

51.1 MPG (67 MPG for 30 miles from Pahrump to Shoshone)

7 gallons fuel ($4.499 and $4.409 per gallon within Death Valley)

Great weather in the southwest, right now. Would like to go to Duck Creek in Utah and then the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but that road will not open until May.

Planning a shorter (~200 miles) on Monday to Pahranagant Lakes. It has become a tradition for a photo alongside the lakes with my street bikes.

Hope I do not have the same experience that I did with the Moto Guzi.
If you go to this link, notice that the fuel economy of the V7II is no better than our 1142 cc CB! Note also that the V7II is 6500 RPM at 107, whereas a 6 speed CB is only ~5000 at 100 MPH.

http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showt...629&page=3
 
That's a great ride. I used to lead a one day, 800-mile ride from San Diego to Furnace Creek and back. We'd do it on Thanksgiving Friday. Anything for a good burger.

Is the one-woman show still playing at the Armagosa Opera House? It's been 20 years since I've been there and I imagine she's long gone and the place is shut down, but thought I'd check.

The road from Jacob Lake to the North Rim -- that's a special one!
 
Nice ride. Still freezing here in the Northeast. I recall driving across the Mohave in a Toyota Corona hatchback. Only AM radio and barely at that. 55 mph speed limit in 1985. I did a flat 60 mph all the way across the country. First stop was Kingman, AZ, home of a Rubbermaid plant.
 
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LongRanger_imp said:
That's a great ride. I used to lead a one day, 800-mile ride from San Diego to Furnace Creek and back. We'd do it on Thanksgiving Friday. Anything for a good burger.

Is the one-woman show still playing at the Armagosa Opera House? It's been 20 years since I've been there and I imagine she's long gone and the place is shut down, but thought I'd check.

The road from Jacob Lake to the North Rim -- that's a special one!
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Good sandwiches at the Crowbar Cafe in Shoshone. For less traveled/remote places, be prepared for over $10 for a hamburger...sometimes I pack a lunch, but a cafe break is most welcome.

The Amargossa Opera house in Death Valley Junction had a one woman dance and mime show by Marta Becket from the sixties until Feb 2012. Hotel is still there.

I enjoy the Ponderosa Pines beginning a few miles southeast of Fredonia (<5,000 feet), where 89A climbs to 6,000 feet quickly and then highway 67 gets close to 9,000 feet before reaching the rim at 8,000 feet.

http://elevationmap.net/n-kaibab-tr...tlngs=(36.21491722092656,-112.05642700195312)
 
2 of my 6 Harleys were Sportsters, a 59 XLCH (right side shift, left side brake) bought used in 1969 and a 94 XLCH bought new in 1993 (had to wait months to get it). It was amazing how similar the bikes were in sound and feel, but the 94 was of course a much better bike than the 59.
 
Thread starter
The ferret_imp said:
2 of my 6 Harleys were Sportsters, a 59 XLCH (right side shift, left side brake) bought used in 1969 and a 94 XLCH bought new in 1993 (had to wait months to get it). It was amazing how similar the bikes were in sound and feel, but the 94 was of course a much better bike than the 59.
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I have ridden only one right shift bike, a European dirt bike and I can't begin to recall how many times I downshifted instead of using the rear brake!
Houtman_imp said:
I remember years ago driving thru death valley with my wife in a terrible thunder storm , luckily we were in a car.
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The area roads had many signs of flash flooding during the last rain(s).

Most sand was cleared but enough left to be cautious entering blind curves.

Many folks think of the desert as sand, but under a shallow layer of sand or rocks is a hard layer that prevents peculation, so the water flows, oft with destruction (Death Valley Scotties "castle" is still closed).

Lots of tar snakes on highway 178 near Jubilee Pass. Not good for aggressive cornering in hot weather.

Google Maps
 
Crowbar Cafe -- been there. Next time you're in Shoshone, check out the old miner's caves across the highway from the cafe. They're quite creepy at night. Nearby is the Shoshone public library. My riding pals and I holed up there one night when the winds were absolutely howling and it was far too dangerous to continue riding. I'm sure you can relate.

Marta Becket -- yep, she's the one, thanks. She did a great job. Hope you had a chance to see her.
 
Thread starter
LongRanger_imp said:
Crowbar Cafe -- been there. Next time you're in Shoshone, check out the old miner's caves across the highway from the cafe. They're quite creepy at night. Nearby is the Shoshone public library. My riding pals and I holed up there one night when the winds were absolutely howling and it was far too dangerous to continue riding. I'm sure you can relate.

Marta Becket -- yep, she's the one, thanks. She did a great job. Hope you had a chance to see her.
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Never saw Marta, even though we moved here in 2006.

Across from the Crowbar is gas station and general store. Did not notice any caves/mines.

When I arrived at the pump, I texted my location to my wife (she always wants to know where to pick up the body!), before going inside to pay.

One of the ladies there came out, just ask how many ccs. Get a lot of that.
 
I seem to recall the gas station and general store, but it's been quite a few years. Anyway, the caves are called Dublin Gulch and I guess they were occupied by vagrants until the 1970's. Located about 1/2 mile south of town on the west side of the highway.
 
Thread starter
LongRanger_imp said:
I seem to recall the gas station and general store, but it's been quite a few years. Anyway, the caves are called Dublin Gulch and I guess they were occupied by vagrants until the 1970's. Located about 1/2 mile south of town on the west side of the highway.
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Ah, I came from the east on highway 178. It has been a few years since I came north on highway 127 from Baker. From spring 2006 until spring 2017, I did an alternate week commute to Ventura County from Las Vegas. Sometimes we would take a longer route home, such as getting apples in Tehachipai or driving through Death Valley.
 
Riding in Death Valley exceeded all expectations...simply spectacular.

ac384eb5aab8f2479bb1d4ef432dcb59.jpg
 
SportsterDoc_imp said:
LongRanger_imp said:
I seem to recall the gas station and general store, but it's been quite a few years. Anyway, the caves are called Dublin Gulch and I guess they were occupied by vagrants until the 1970's. Located about 1/2 mile south of town on the west side of the highway.
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Ah, I came from the east on highway 178. It has been a few years since I came north on highway 127 from Baker. From spring 2006 until spring 2017, I did an alternate week commute to Ventura County from Las Vegas. Sometimes we would take a longer route home, such as getting apples in Tehachipai or driving through Death Valley.
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Ah, I came from the east on highway 178. It has been a few years since I came north on highway 127 from Baker. From spring 2006 until spring 2017, I did an alternate week commute to Ventura County from Las Vegas. Sometimes we would take a longer route home, such as getting apples in Tehachipai or driving through Death Valley. Talk about "Living the Life"? I nominate SportsterDoc for the prime candidate. That's really something.
 
SportsterDoc wrote: "I have ridden only one right shift bike, a European dirt bike and I can't begin to recall how many times I downshifted instead of using the rear brake!"


You have to become "ambi-foot-strous"

Some days I look at my Guzzi and scheme on converting it to RHS like they use to be.
 
Thread starter
CBhooligan_imp said:
Great MPG! I average 45 MPG even riding conservative.
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Leaving the Windmill Ridge cafe in Alamo, heading south past the Pahranagat Lakes, today, average MPG was almost 54, cruising at 65 and being cautious of deer (many signs "major deer crossing").

Leaving that area, for the next ~80 miles, cruising at 75 MPH, sometimes 80, average MPG dropped to 47 MPG. Slight crosswind/headwind.
 
I never would have thought that Death Valley would become a "Bucket List" ride for me, but between this thread and others by rboe, nvbobr, and Stichill, I have to figure out how to get out there. Great post. Great pics.
 
Sea, it has a beauty all its own, especially if you enjoy miles and miles... of miles and miles. Very nice in the spring, especially after a wet winter when the desert is blooming (not this year!). Avoid in June/July/Aug.
 
The problem is getting there in the early spring. Unless I rent or trailer..hmmm.. Oh darn, Cheryl can't get off work during the months of April, May, or June. Will have to noodle this a bit.
 
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