So we are in Kernville, California, amongst many other riders, trickling in, rain or not.

We left north of St Georges yesterday morning around 7am with a temperature of 20 degrees, Spirit was double coated tucked into the chair, I need to get on with it and hook up his electric blanket and take some measurements for a nice coat… I hope that by the time I get all done squared away it will not be summer!

I don’t have my Map CD with me, must have stayed behind. It was close to a 500 mile ride with 499 miles fighting the headwind. I am so much hoping that the same wind will prevail… a tailwind for a change will be welcomed Sunday when we return to Utah for our next destination being Torrey where my friend Glenn will join us… He has a 2800 mile round trip, we only have 1000!

The roads themselves where inviting… somehow people have a tendency to over exaggerate upcoming situations… always wondered why? Since I was taking 95 west we did need to get near Las Vegas (again!) to pick up 215 west, a bypass, empty of traffic and a pleasant overlook to the City… even 15 from Mesquite had many side roads that we took, one has to look! My theory is that Freeways were always built after the roads where!… those roads, gravel or dirt sometimes are still there, maybe not on the maps… but in reality… they are there…

Yesterday, unlike all other days, was not intended as a scenic, stop every mile to take a picture, journey. I just wanted to get to Kernville before dark to set up which did with plenty of margin, specially gaining an hour on the clock traveling west.

The sights however were inviting and I could not help stopping quite often. Specially Death Valley which I know so many are familiar with. No more of the red mountains we have been amongst these past weeks… but instead all shades of browns, whites, greys, all with such a different geological structure than what we have been seeing.

Death Valley is the kind of place one, as we will someday, can spend much time exploring the black tops and the dirt roads, its mountains and valleys below sea level. The ride was fine, the roads great, from below sea level to above 5000 feet in a matter of minutes… the wind was no help.

The Rally, the get together, was starting officially Friday, but already by Thursday night quite a few riders were present… with a spaghetti dinner in the works! I would say about 20 were present and it was great to see some familiar faces, most that I had met at another get together in Ouray, Colorado, a few years back.

The Rally, the get together, was starting officially Friday, but already by Thursday night quite a few riders were present… with a spaghetti dinner in the works! I would say about 20 were present and it was great to see some familiar faces, most that I had met at another get together in Ouray, Colorado, a few years back.

And we jump to Saturday am… I think… sitting at the Coffee shop… people watching and writing!

I think my days of camping in 20 degree weathers are over for us… I realized that this am when ice was everywhere and I was shaking to no end!

A great surprise, Jkam showed up, you remember maybe the first homeless get together south of Lake Havasu… and another surprise… not as pleasant, Geode, Glenn… from Maine… bailed out to ride the 3000 mile round trip for some bread and water… (I really was going to cook some awesome meals…). But… fully understandable… bad weather… too short of a schedule.

This changes my own plans… the cold is still up here and will be even worse in Utah… I think it is time to move on West… real West… Maybe?… you should know by now how it goes!

Spirit is doing much better… You know I love my Dog… I just had to take this picture however!!!

Too funny but DOES NOT express my sentiments!!!

I am going to keep this short… have to get back to camp and chat with Jay… get ready to ride back to Utah to gather up all my”stuff”… and hopefully make the right decision to meet warmer weather! We are having a great time… nice to meet some of my readers in person… we are such a great community!

Till soon… you be well… enjoy the pictures!!!

Ara & Spirit

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 21st, 2007 at 1:05 pm and is filed under travel, spirituality, pit bull, sidecar, motorcycle, cooking, photography, riding, homeless. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.