I left my work in Salt Lake at 1:00 on Friday December 30 and make the 463 mile super-slab drone to Vegas, arriving around 7:00 that night.
Here's my lodging for the next 4 days (picture was taken the next morning).
Arriving a day early allowed me to take a ride through the Valley of Fire Nevada state park. Fellow Utahns, Jared and David, joined me. This is in the visitors center, about 50 degrees warmer than the temps had been in Utah.
The "Mouse's Tank" road.
Back on the main road.
We stumbled onto a hidden valley and found this indigenous civilization untouched by modern man. They thought we were Gods on "steel horses" and offered us gold and precious jewels, we of course declined and left them as we found them...
Leaving the Valley of Fire we next went to the Hoover Dam, intending on takeing the Dam tour, but with parking fee $7.00 and the tour $11.00 we found it to dam expensive. So we said, "darn" and went on our way.
The original road across the dam connecting Nevada and Arizona was narrow, winding, scenic, and fun. But to save time and increase safety of the dam this bridge was built. This is the Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman memorial bridge. It is nearly 2000 feet long and is around 900 feet above the ground in the middle.
We hung out in this parking garage for a few minutes.
After seeing the dam we ended our day, about 193 miles for me
And here is the start of the New Years Day ride. We met at a gas station on a CHILLY Nevada New Years Sunday morning. A varity of bikes attended, from a Hayabusa to KLRs. Lots of good people were there too.
Everywhere you looked there were bikes!
We all went to the Famous Crowbar for breakfast.
Yours truly and Mike, aka Vegashotwheeler, the ride organizer. We are pointing to the M2W logos on our shirts, "My2Wheels" is the forum most of these riders hang out on.
And the day just got better and better...
And the day just got better and better...
8 comments:
LOL! You can delete "Brynne's" post. Didn't realize she was signed in...
Great write-up like usual! I had a amazing time in Vegas and will plan on making Mike's DV run a tradition.
Stay tuned for my pics and write-up on the trip. :)
-Jared
UtahMotorcyclist.org
Great to have you guys come along.
Will look for some different stuff to add to next years.
Just hope the weather cooperates like it did this year!
Dear Ken:
What a great adventure right out of the gate for 2012! I am so envious. Then again, the last time I drove over Hoover Dam it was in a limo with a hot brunette, with an extraordinary talent.
Great pictures!!!!
Very cool blog you have! Vegas by bike, may have to put that on my trip list!
Jared - Glad you made the trip, it's always good to ride with you!
Mike - It WAS a great ride! You have super connections with Mother Nature....keep that line open! :)
Jack - Since this is a family friendly blog can we assume her talent was of a musical nature....maybe a flute player or something?
Dar - Put it on your list for next New Years.. We had a blast.
Thanks for reading my blog!
Ken, really enjoying this post as I've actually been to a few of those places. We drove through Death Valley from Lone Pine to Las Vegas (via Stove Pipe Wells) in Sept 2010, but unfortunately missed a lot of interesting stuff due to not researching it well enough prior. I certainly plan to return in the future.
The new bridge at Hoover Dam was built back then but not open. We had to go through a security checkpoint to get to the Dam wall. It was pretty obvious that many iconic US sites were being well secured against terrorists.
Those temps looking just about perfect for riding, though sunset is pretty early!
Jules - The new bridge is amazing, but to tell you the truth I miss the old dam road; it had so much more character. Be sure to let me know when you come over again...
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