Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Final Push

We left Fallon, NV, and our motel for the previous evening that we lovingly refer to as the "Bud, Get in!"

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Headed towards California.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

We tried to take some forest roads over the mountains, but it wasn't happening. Still gated shut, I assume due to all the snow fall.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Just a couple of hours later we arrived at Lake Tahoe.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

We decided to stop here for the day, check out the lake, and relax a bit.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The weather was turning bad on the other side of the range, so we figured we would enjoy the nice weather in town today, then push through the bad weather in the morning. The next day, we woke up to a rainy 38 degree morning.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

I was kinda second guessing our decision to stop here yesterday, but it was too late now - we had to push through it. We hit some snow as we climbed up and over the Sierra's, but the weather warmed up as we dropped into the valley. The sun actually came out, and it turned into a beautiful day, as we picked up some smaller California highways...

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

That brought us through some wine country,

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

And towards San Francisco.


As we neared the Bay area, we took a little diversion into the Muir Woods, and out to view the Pacific Ocean.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug


WE MADE IT!!!

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Well, sorta.... We still had a couple freeway miles to go without getting hit by a Toyota Prius before we get to our destination in town.

Heading back up to the 101.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

We catch our first glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

And like good tourists, we drive half the speed limit, while taking pictures and video of the bridge.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug


Heck, it cost $6 per bike to cross, we gotta get our money's worth!

And we arrived at our destination in town, no worse for wear really, considering the path we took to get here.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

We will spend the next several days in San Francisco being tourists and resting before heading back to the epoxy garage floors Glow Coatings has waiting back in Texas.


Jordan

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Creating the TNT

We are heading due West now from Eureka, NV. Yesterday we finished up the potion of the Trans-America Trail (TAT) that we are riding. By use of a bit of dead reckoning we will attempt to continue on West on similar primitive roads that we have been on so far - we will see how we do.

Heading out of Eureka, NV.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Picking up our new trail heading West - we dubbed it this new route, "The Trans-Nevada Trail" (TNT).

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Passed some abandoned mining sights today...

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

It is quite amazing seeing the poor condition the mining companies leave these areas in once they are done with them. I guess there was no clause in their contracts about "removing all contractor debris"?

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Following the Nevada two-track across the open valley...

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

An old homestead?

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

We spotted our first wild horses.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

And would you believe it, a wild donkey!

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Accidentally routed us through a section of private property, but this was confirmed after we had already come through.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Continuing on, we passed this sign:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Looks to me like they planted a million acres of sage brush, not wheat grass.

Then we jumped on Hwy 50 for a few miles to go check out a Petroglyph Site.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Then we head back into the ranch land.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Spotted some mule deer, or maybe pronnghorn?

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Maybe these people were attempting to drive the TNT! HaHa!

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug


Then it was time to cross over the range, through the N.F.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Which started out really nice...

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

But soon we came to our first really deep water crossing, which we passed through...

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Only to be stopped at the next one, due to fear of drowning the bikes by getting water into the airbox. Water was close to 3' deep. It has been an incredible year all over the west for heavy snow fall, and this equates to a lot of flooding when it melts. We had to bail out and headed into Austin, NV for some gas, and lunch.

Heading out of Austin, our off-road options were non-existent due to salt washes and Naval bombing ranges - we stuck to the main route.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Which was long, hot, and boring.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

But all that can be dealt with when you see this in your rear view mirror!

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

She has been quite the traveling partner!

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Random sand dune.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug


We ended the day in Fallon, NV. Tomorrow we head into California and the Sierra Mountains.



Jordan

About Me

My photo
Explorations by motorbike...