6000 Miles of Summer - Day 3

 Ely (NV) to Barstow (CA)

(620 mi)

The night was filled with heavy thunderstorms and rain - quite impressive. And a free bike wash! This day will be a hot one, so getting out early is imperative.

Ely itself is dead at 4:30am, the air is clean and relatively "fresh" after the rain, and I fill up and head South. Pitch black, possible Deers crossing.... taking it easy until the sun comes up.

What will the day look like today?
Well, there the first 10 for 24 photo stop in Rachel, (NV), near Area 51 and along the Extraterrestrial Highway. Then via Valley View (NV) South into Death Valley NP and finishing up via Route 66 into Barstow (CA). 

Temperature is quite enjoyable; just cruising along for the next 140 miles until the next gas stop.

Even checking in with my loved one at home. It's amazing how far cell network coverage has come in those areas.

Coffee? - Check.

Gas? - Check.

Water (lots of it)? - Check

Ice in the cooler? - Check.

Let's do that.

NV-375 is empty; thinking of all these theories of what lies behind the mountain range to the left. 

50 miles to Rachel were passing quickly. time for that photo at the famous UFO-seeker spot. Snap!

The diner is still closed. Moving on, towards the lesser fun part back on a
major route, through Valley View and South. It's definitely warming up now.

US-95 is nasty (traffic-wise). You got to flow with traffic, which is going fast. Balancing the speed with stress on motor and tires in these hot conditions. Debris of blown-up tires left, right and center of the road, serve as a reminder to check on them frequently out here. Beatty (NV) is the next stop for gas, and I can't wait to leave that main road.

Death Valley - been there several times, but never in July, and never on a motorcycle. What a brilliant idea! (sarcastically speaking).

Well, if man and machine make it through there, the rest of the trip will be peanuts. Roasted peanuts. Or plain nuts. Whatever, no turning back now.

Surprisingly quite some traffic in the valley. Cages, exclusively. It's an experience nevertheless, here's from CA-374.

Death Valley Visitor Center is a welcome spot to fill up on water and stick my head into an air conditioner (almost figuratively). The "Furnace" is definitely on, and we'll crank up the heat near Badwater Basin. 

A stop is needed at Badwater, my tire pressure warning popped up with "Pressure too high"; got to fix that. 122F (50C).

Watching some tourists confirming that indeed you can fry an egg (and hands!) on the pavement. Alright. The parking lot is spotted with fried eggs. I guess it's the thing to do. 

Past Badwater Basin road is getting smaller, and all the traffic has gone. Also climbing from below sea level back up over the mountain range to leave Death Valley, and further South towards I-15. There are some neat Trading Posts along the way, and a welcome (A/C) break with lots of hydration. That was an experience, for sure. And no issues with the bike whatsoever.

Gas stop in Baker - and there is one (well, two) stops before the final stretch. Jerky! Alien Fresh Jerky! Get some! 

Baker also has a really tall thermometer. 
For whatever reason, I have seen enough temperature readings all day, so I'll skip that, focusing on the Interstate. Which is closed.

Wait, what? There are not many options for a detour, really. There really is only one, which will add about 120 miles to the journey. It's still well in 3-digit temperature territory right now. The traffic reports show no time of opening the highway any time soon. [insert colorful words here]. The guy on the GS next to me is contemplating his fate as well. Do we stay in Baker (unlikely, hotels are likely full already)? Do we go South and ride into the night? Not a fan.... Behold! It's California! Lane splitting is a real option (albeit, on a 900lbs bike, not a really fun exercise). What the heck, let's team up and do it! And so, we did....

It wasn't just a short stretch to the actual accident. This was about 20 miles of lane splitting, negotiating weaving cars and Semi's, yelling at [another colorful word] folks who block you off deliberately. What's wrong with you people? I wanted some videos, but my GoPro had given up already in Death Valley (overheated). I guess it's really a cold weather camera more than anything?

Anyhow: when passing the accident site, which was actually "only" a turned over and burning semi on the opposite direction (which, as I learned later, carried batteries, so the fire couldn't be handled), the traffic on that side backed up almost until Barstow, which is a good 35 miles. Stand-still. And many electric vehicles. In the heat. With AC on. I wonder how many got stranded, running out of power, and what do you do then? Not just adding few gallons and go to the next gas station.....

Last stop before the hotel in Barstow. One of the Route 66 signs. I'm toast (I mean it), so that stop wasn't as exciting as I wanted it to. Rather looking forward to that shower. But it was a bucket list item on a motorcycle. Yay! No coin. Just a pic. Done it!

I need a beer! Ice cold beer!