Sage Brush Bar

OK, OK, OK.....I know it time to update when even my brother says something about my blog!

5th, Wednesday:

Spent the night in Virginia City so I could go to the Bucket of Blood bar and buy a tee shirt. They closed at 7PM. =-(

6th, Thursday:

Got up and we headed out of town on Hwy 50 across Nevada. It's know as the Loneliest Road in America:

U.S. Route 50 (US 50) is a transcontinental highway in the United States, stretching from Sacramento, California in the west to Ocean City, Maryland on the east coast. The Nevada portion crosses the center of state and was named The Loneliest Road in America by Life magazine in July 1986. The name was intended as a pejorative, but instead, Nevada officials seized it as a marketing slogan. The name originates from large desolate areas traversed by the route, with few or no signs of civilization. The highway crosses several large desert valleys separated by numerous mountain ranges towering over the valley floors, in what is known as the Basin and Range province of the Great Basin.

US 50 has a diverse route through the state, traversing the resort communities of Lake Tahoe, the state capitol in Carson City, historical sites such as Fort Churchill State Historic Park, petroglyphs, alpine forests, desert valleys, ghost towns and Nevada's only national park, Great Basin National Park.

The route was constructed over a historic corridor, first used for the Pony Express and later for the Central Overland Route and Lincoln Highway.

I will have to admit I was very hesitant about adding this road to the trip. It was through the desert and the heat was a concern. But, according to Don Tilley it was a "must ride" road.

I will just say this......IT'S A MUST RIDE ROAD!



(CLICK ON ALL PICTURES TO ENLARGE)

I don't know how to really try and write about it and give it the full credit it deserves. There are stretches that literally go for 25+ miles just straight as an arrow. No billboards, no traffic, NOTHING! You ask yourself how can that be enjoyable? It is almost hypnotic as you ride.

The first part of the ride takes you by Fallon Naval Air Station. That is where a lot of Top Gun was filmed. Just as we passed a four ship of F-18's entered the overhead pattern and was breaking off the perch to do a landing. I felt like "Maverick" riding by the approach lights in the movies as the F-18's were landing in the movie. The reality hit me! I flew a heavy jet. =-( And chicks didn't dig us like fighter pilots! That kind of took the wind out of my sail pretty quick!

On down the road we rolled. 80-85 MPH. It was fun! Dust devils were everywhere. At one time there must have been twenty going on at one time. There were four in unison. They looked like puppets on strings. All moving to such synchronization. And then all of a sudden...POOF! and they were gone!

I have to add the wind....40+ knots of cross wind. My front faring was acting like a spinker on a sail boat. (Jeff you feeling some love...using the one sailing term I know) The wind would catch it and blow you the full width of your lane. (prepare to come about!...OK, I know two)

We stopped in the little town of Austin, NV. Big government could learn something. The Welcome Center, County Tax Collector, Deeds, Court, Public Rest Rooms and .....brochures were all in one building! I loved it!

On up the road we went. At one point I witness my first ever no poop mirage! I guess you had to be there to really enjoy it.

Later on down the road....We crested a high place in the road and off to the right was what we both thought were salt flats. It looked very white. The closer you rode, the ground turned almost "ashy" looking. More to come on that later!

We ended up in Richfield, UT that night.

Steve developed a case of "LISAITAS." His wife Lisa was due to fly into the San Antonio area on Saturday. Our original plan was to ride down to the Grand Canyon, spend the night. Then down to Flagstaff, Winslow, AZ back up through the Painted Desert, and Monument Valley. Then down through Ouray, Co, Durango, CO and Big Bend National Park, TX and into the SAT area. That would have put us in SAT around Tuesday. Steve wanted to get there earlier (and I don't blame him...hot wife) so we decided he would go on straight to SAT and I would just do my thing.

As Brenda, Jud, Kennie & Jeff know...when I break away...I just roll! Unless you are my brother, you are not getting a hug. I throttled down toward Ouray, CO and changed my POA (plan of attack) and Steve headed for SAT.





Stopped in Grand Junction HD for another oil change. $103 frigging dollars for an oil change! What a rip off! Avoid them if you are ever in the area. $3.95 for an O-ring!

Got the oil changed and wash and headed south toward Ouray. The "Little Switzerland" of CO. 45 mins into the ride down...my fresh wash job was history! Down pour! Rode on into Ouray and spent the night. Cool little town. Very romantic. In fact..I started hitting on myself! Very expensive rooms for what you get. I would avoid it if in the area next time.

The only good thing about Ouray...there were seven of us from NC in the same hotel. A couple from RDU and three other bikers from Asheville/Hickory area.

I got on the horn and called an old buddy from the airlines. Bob Sugg who has since retired and lives in Evergreen, CO. I use to fly co-pilot for him. He is responsible for getting me hooked on fly fishing. (get it..hooked/fishing?...remember, there are some blondes reading this...some things need to be explained)

He and his lovely wife Kathy invited me up on Friday night. I cut across on Hwy 50 at Gunnison, CO and headed up. Actually a pretty boring ride as far as the rest of the trip goes. But, the hospitality more than made up for it.

Bob was waiting in the driveway with an ice cold beer when I drove in! That was followed by another, and another and another.....you get the picture. Bob, now may be a good time to tell you I think we floated the keg!

Words do not do their house justice. Sits on 10 acres overlooking the mountains. When I first visited Bob & Kathy over 15 years ago...Bob said, "let's go to the game room." I was like, "cool," I can play pool. Well, the game room is a 1,500' addition just for Bob's mounts. Everything from a Rangatang to Buffalo. PETA would be proud of Bob!

Kathy fixed some beef dish that was outstanding for dinner. Two great kids. The oldest is applying for the Naval Academy. Very good kids!

Saturday:

Got up and had to make the decision on North, South, West or East. I had planned on seeing a friend in Amarillo, they were busy. Had another friend in Oklahoma City, they were out of town too. So, I just headed East. Rode from western Co to eastern MO today. Almost 800 miles.

Was checking into the hotel and met four guys from the Atlanta area. One is the preacher, one is the associate preacher, I think one was the choir director and the forth was a member of the church. (Note to self...get to know someone a little better before you offer them a beer!) =-( Great guys! Sat down with them while they had pizza and we talked riding for about an hour.

It was bumping 100+ today rolling across I-70 east bound. I stopped to get gas. Sweating like a pig, just downed a quart of gatoraid and this woman says to me: "I betcha it's hot riding today." I looked at her and said.."actually I am a little chilly, I was looking for a jacket and gloves." She gave me this puzzled look.....HERE'S YOUR SIGN!

Tomorrow I may roll down to the Ozarks or go over to Nashville. I was going to see a friend there but, they have to work too. LOL...I am seeing a pattern here. Steve cuts out early, my friends in Amarillo, Oklahoma City and now Nashville are all busy. Ummmmm?

Bumper Sticker of the Day: Again...as the editor of the blog...I am using my "editorial freedom" and inserting a YouTube video my friend sent me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD_YOlUBoIk

(copy and paste into your tool bar)

Sage Brush Bar:

More too follow.....Steve and I pulled off at what we thought were the "salt flats" on Hwy 50. The ground was white ashy looking. The wind was hollowing. Even with the wind....it was a different quite. We both looked at each other and said almost in unison....."this is my favorite road so far." You just wanted a chair, no talking, no traffic. You just gazed out and enjoyed what God had given us to enjoy.

I have to add that the wind had been blowing right to left at about an average of forty plus knots all day. We crabbed all the way over on Hwy 50 with about a 5 degree crab to keep the bike in our lane.

I just looked at Steve and said..."an ice cold beer would make this perfect, too bad there is not a bar." And wouldn't you know...that mirage I earlier had talked about...VABOOM! Out of no where came two ice cold beers. (actually four, two a piece) and hence..."The Sage Brush Bar" was born!





Until next time my friends...Ride Safe, Ride Hard and Ride to Enjoy!



Rick (MDD)