I set the alarm for Too Early O’Clock, because I wanted to watch the sun rise on Zabriskie Point. When the damn thing started ringing, Sniffling Beauty stirred, then announced she felt worse, and wanted to go back to sleep. It was cold, early, and cold. I couldn’t blame her.

The sunrise was nice, but certainly not the overwhelming display of Mother Nature at her finest I expected. Disappointed, I hurried back to the Ranch, because the Sloppy Jalopy club was preparing to make their annual run to Beatty.

Awesome!

We got a late start, which would affect the outcome of the trip, but for now, we decided to make the best of the day, and enjoy Artist’s Drive, Eureka Mine, the Charcoal Kilns and Father Crowley’s Point.

Artist’s Drive

The road to Eureka Mine was an exciting soft-core adventure gravel road. Though not on the right bikes for this kind of riding, Jessica was game for it, so down the dirt road we went.

The Eureka Mine was worth the ‘adventure ride’ to get there.

Eureka Mine – Aguereberry Camp and Rusted Jalopy

From Eureka Mine, it was some more soft-core adventure riding to the Charcoal Kilns, with some hardcore curves and bumps thrown in.

The Wildrose Charcoal Kilns are up a steep gravel road, at about 6500 feet. Snow lined the road as we made our way up there.

Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

From the kilns, it was time to start making tracks. Which we did. In the gravel. We hauled ass down the straight, flatness of Panamint Valley road, stopping for a snack in Panamint Springs.

I have found that on a motorcycle trip, I can eat whatever I want, without fear of those extra calories sticking to my thick middle section. I asked the waitress for my favorite motorcycle food – apple pie. She said all she had was pecan pie, but she could cut up an apple and put it on top.

Fiona, who had been suffering in silence the whole day, started to feel even worse. She is such a trooper, because if I felt as shitty as she did, I’d be whining more than I usually do. She just sat back there and suffered, without saying a word. But she was suffering, so it was time to leave Death Valley.

The ride home was dark and long, but at least it was cold. It was also totally worth it. Even Fiona, feeling as horrible as she did agreed it was a great trip.

Our Entire 940 Mile Trip

Up next? The Road to Wrestlemania. It starts in a few weeks. Finally, Dark Meat Snack will return to riding, as we head from California to Houston, with a few surprises thrown in for good measure.

Until then, Happy Riding!!

Author: frenchy