Ye Olde Route 66 from Winslow to Albuquerque!

After a comfortable night in Winslow...i was heading towards Route 66, thinking i do not need a map it is only "one" road to Albuquerque, which was my next destination for a much needed multi-night rest...
 However even though i was well equipped with a fantastic AAA Historic Route 66 map...it was like a scavenger hunt trying to find it in some places...
i had to hop on I-40 for some and play dodgeball with the big boy (and lady) truckers, which is no fun...but not for much of it...as i zigged and zagged my way across the roads...finding bits and pieces of 66, some intact and some as deserted and left  behind...like it just happened yesterday...very bizarre...
i roamed through much more native land and many curios shops...enjoying most of my 2 lane ride into ABQ...
The day wore on it was getting very hot...but i made it with many stops for hydration and resting!
I was glad to get here and check in for 3 nights to rest up...as my bike is getting very heavy in my weariness....
I do not know where i am headed from here...but have my maps to peruse and till Friday at noon to decide!
Good place Indeed!!

Grand Canyon to Sedona to Winslow, AZ

My morning started out waking up in the tree covered lodge of the Grand Canyon South Rim…so pretty much it is going to be a great day…I loaded up Aichi and then headed east to the Desert View exit of the Park…this is about 30 miles with scenic viewpoints to pull over and admire the sweeping and majestic glory of GC…Wow…how serene it is…so old and still…lovely…

After exiting the park I am now riding through Navajo country…wow what a tough people they must be because the land is so beautiful but yet so harsh…I stopped at a small roadside stand to look at some locally made jewelry buy the Navajo women…such beautiful beadwork and necklaces…when I pulled up, before I could even get my helmet off this little boy comes running out towards me and screaming motorcycle, motorcycle, motorcycle…then he walked me into the shop…his name is Riley…what a cutie pie!!

It is getting hot now and down through the Navajo Indian reservation….and then turning south to head towards Sedona…I first stop off at the Sunset Crater national monument…this has eerie and amazing lava beds all surrounding this little red and orange topped volcano…quite a lovely park…

Now south to Sedona…after riding through flagstaff…I get on 89A…which is a pretty road going through ponderosa pines and then it turns into a steep grade and winding esses…on a very, very rough road…teeth rattling and spine jarring ride down the canyon until you see the first view of the red rocks of Sedona!  Wow pretty amazing…riding through and reconnecting back on to 17 North hwy towards Flagstaff. Which is also pretty and not so treacherous..up and over the mountains so the heat of Sedona was quickly replaced with the coolness of high elevation….beautiful views for miles from up there….

Then over to Route 66/Hwy 40 east towards Albuquerque…stopping for a few ghostly Route 66 historical moments…and the last one being in Winslow, AZ…where after a delicious dinner at the Falcon Family Restaurant, which looked pretty scary at first, but the food was so fresh and good!  Found my hotel and sweet dreams to all ….thanks for coming along….

Total Miles = 2527.4

Vegas to the Grand Canyon…

Well early morning in Vegas is pretty quiet...a few left over from the night before stumbling about…I wanted to ride my moto down the strip and luckily it was a nice brisk morning to see all the extravaganza that Vegas has to offer in its building and fantasy…very cool feeling…Leaving..Hahaa

So I now head south towards historic Route 66…I ride over the beautiful new Hoover Dam bridge...last time I was here there was only about a quarter of it sticking out during construction…

The ride from Vegas to Kingman is open road with few curves so I completely got in the zone that people here in Arizona must love riding for…

I ride Route 66 from Kingman to Williams, stopping in Seligman for lunch…it was a nice open road, well-paved and pretty views…Seligman was a very touristy area with lots of kitsch for everyone!  And yes of course I bought a few souvenirs…

Williams. AZ, was a very adorable town as well…it was lively with lots of people out on its main street…live music and lots of motorcycles…historic and charming…

After Williams I connected to the 180 N heading to the Grand Canyon…my hotel is actually in the park called the Maswik Lodge, part of the NPS…after getting checked in and resting for a but I put on some walking shoes and head to see the Grand Canyon!! It really is a 5-minute walk from my front door…

Wow!  Pretty much the next 3-4 hours I spent walking around and taking pics…I hiked down the canyon a but and that is where I really enjoyed the views.  Watching the amazing Condors in all their majestic glory!!   I have now added new item to my adventure list…hike or burro down and over to North Rim…and I recall that this was the original reason I was inspired to quit smoking ciggies over 3 years ago!  (thanks Eric L.)

After sunset, back to my room for some shut eye!! Sleeping with the Condors tonight!!

Lone Pine to Vegas!

My morning started out very early as I was heeding all of the Death Valley warnings about the heat…and danger of riding…so I left my hotel in Lone Pine at 5:30 am…

It was actually cold…so after I pulled over and put on another layer of clothing. I was on my way…not a soul on the road for at least 45 minutes…just a coyote that ran across the road…the peace and serenity and the perfect road that I love!

After a little while I came to the Death Valley Park entrance…stopped for my lil photo op of course and carried on…the winding and twisties were all the way down to the bottom…passing the occasional car and motorcycles…but other than that I truly felt like the only soul on earth….Me and my Machine!

Down at the first base is the cracked earth that I had been longing to see…turn off the engine and hear…Silence!!  J

Back up some more valleys, climbing up, more twisties…. then down into the next base…which is Stovepipe ….the lowest point…now here is where it got REALLY hot!! 

Flatness and super desert for miles….sand dunes and a very surreal beauty…

Winding back out past the Borax plant and out of the park…

The Beauty of this area is wonderful and absolutely a MUST for all motorcyclists…

After crossing into Nevada…I stopped for brekkie and then talked with a few locals…whom suggested I take Red Rock Canyon into Vegas…which I did…more wonderful beauty up and down through the mountains…the red rock scenic tour was cool…

Then into the Sin City!!  No serenity here…but I booked a room at the Historic Golden Nugget on Fremont St…after a bit of a rest…I wandered out into the Fremont Experience…which it definitely was!!  ANYTHING goes…and all is GOING ON!  Hahaa

But walking around and taking pics, I heard a screaming above me and see people zipling above me!  So I made a b-line for that and after quite a wait, which was totally worth it, I was flying through the air above all the people…the super cool part was that when you were flying above everyone stopped and looked up and cheered!! It was really awesome and probably the “coolest” spot in Vegas…even at night…

A nice trip back to my room and nighty night…

What a great day!  Death Valley is definitely a highlight!

Yosemite and Lone Pine.....

Well i didn't get too far on the map...but i did do the usual daily miles that i have been going....woke up and it was super chilly so i waited until about 9:30 to take off....dropped off  my hotel key and headed up to Yosemite...winding up to the entrance was super windy with cliffs and wonderful views...then after a short wait in line to get in....i was in and the traffic was really light..Tioga Pass had just recently opened...and that is what i was on Hwy 120....
I had never read much about Yosemite and was very surprised by how the mountains were formed with flowing "lava rock" and huge boulders...with the scraggly trees, that were so healthy and bright greens and browns..and of course everything smelled wonderful too...i saw no wildlife ...i love being fascinated by nature...and the mountains make me feel so small and happy...all is right in the world...
i rode to Crane Flat then turned around and headed back as my final destination for the night was Lone Pine....
from here it was back on 395 south...pretty good speeds on this road...made a detour to ride and see the June Lake Loop...Grant Lake was such a gorgeous blue....then back to 395....all the way..making a pit stop at Tom's Place to change out of some "winter" gear...the day was warming up quite quickly...
after winding my way out of the mountains and into the valley...it was actually hot!!
Made it to my lil town with BIG charm, checked into my adorable room at the Dow Villa Motel...the lobby is really cozy..with lots of photos from all sorts of visitors and important people to this area...
Then the heat was getting to me so i went to the pool...met some nice folk there....now off to sleep for my very early morning wake up call to get out of here and conquer Death Valley!!  Next stop Vegas Baby!!  hahahaa

Total Mileage so far = 1658.1

Northern Sierras! what a ride!!

Another Breathtaking day!  got loaded up and headed out ...the first part of my ride was pretty much hwy 80 until i got onto hwy 50 headed to Placerville where i met my Mum's long time friend for lunch at the Cosminc Cafe...along was her little grandson too...fun visit and great food!
then ride started to get real cool continued on hwy 50 in through the northern Sierras...then on to hwy 89 up over Monitor Pass...hardly any traffic and a gorgeous sunny day!! Up at the top of Monitor Pass a HUGE deer jumped across the road about 20 feet in front of me! it was bigger than my motorcycle!  Luckily i was taking my sweet time and enjoying the ride so it didn't even startle me...it was just amazingly cool!!
Winding curves and steep up and downs...with vistas and smells to make you feel part of our universe!  :)
After that i connected to 395...where at about 7000ft elevation winds through canyons and along the river...
A very different beauty...
Now all cozy and checked in Murphy's Motel in Lee Vining, CA...had a nice fish tacos dinner at Whoa Nellies deli at the entrance to Yosemite...and met a solo lady rider...
I love riding in the mountains...but it sure wipes you out...good nite all!!

Motoring around the San Francisco area ....enjoying the sun!

well yes it was another amazing day!!  First off another Kick-Bum cup of coffee...these west coasters do not mess around when it comes to Java!!
then off Mike and I rode on our motos (all the extra weight left here to boogie) to go visit one of my female motorcyclist role models, idols, inspirations...and all around instigator of adventure the Lovely Miss Carla King...
had a nice chat among the motos...and the cross bay view of the Golden Gate bridge...
I am so happy and lucky to have gotten to meet her!  Yippeee!!  got some great pics too...

Then we rode over to the Golden Gate Bridge...WOW!  in person it is so spectacular...we stopped and viewed from the North side and then looped around the roads up, up, up the hillside..then DOWN  a windy 18% grade "one way" rode that had breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean...fresh air, exhilarating...
Then we rode across the bridge, stopped for a bit to view the other side, little different perspective looking up at it...then back across and home to Mike's for some grub...
Had a couple hours washing and waxing my Aichi, checking tires, chain and oil ....ready for the next 1000 miles!  :)
and now after a very relaxing night, enjoyed very much staying here with Mike and Max...made me feel very welcome and comfy...
i am a happy girl!!  sweet dreams...