Story: 21 Days in June
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Via US 395, US 80, US 50, Alt 50, SR 341
| Terrain: Mountain and Valley Date: June 2014 Roads: Interstate, Twisty, Scenic Technical: Easy to Intermediate Elevation: 3,895 ft. to 7,156 ft  |
The Best Western in Susanville includes a nice breakfast voucher deal at the restaurant across the parking lot. So it was coffee, oatmeal, sausage and a waffle, and I’m off. Breakfast was free, so Linda would approve. I head for Reno and am anxious to ride the Geiger Grade Road to Virginia City. That’s Hwy 341 off 395 South just south of Reno. It’s the fun way to Carson City. While riding through Virginia City, I saw a cool vintage Harley hard tail that was loaded with travel gear. Sweet. It’s very touristy here so I didn’t stop. I continued right on to Carson City then to Lake Tahoe. Tahoe is only 25 minutes from Carson, and the cool air will be welcoming me right at the heat of the day. Lunch is at Sam’s Place, search google for it. The food is amazing and the people are great too. They say it’s the oldest bar and grill in Tahoe. Sounds kind of familiar doesn’t it?
One feels and hears everything while riding. Bikers are a strange breed, indeed. I am hearing my fuel pump make its Harley sounds. Before I bought my Harley, I looked and rode many different ones. When really listening (as if buying one, not just hearing), I was sure that I was hearing some strange noises! First time Harley owners know what I’m talking about. The dealer said that I’ll get used to it… the dirty truth… Harleys make LOTS OF NOISES! Not just loud exhaust notes, but rattle, whine, shake, rattle… it sometimes sounds like its falling apart noises! It isn’t really failing apart, it is just trying to pound 2-55 inch pistons very quickly with twin cams, push rods, gears, chain, belt drives, transferring to separate transmission and assorted clutch, assemblies, pumps, and anything else that you might need. All this while using retro technology, air-cooled big cylinders, rocker arms, push rods, big clutches and transmission. Fuel injection helps for sure, but it is a 2-edged sword. I won’t start now with that one.
I think about how much I enjoy riding and relishing in the act. Leaning into the turn, minimizing all effort…
I try to minimize all effort while riding. Keeping loose arms, just the right amount of pressure on the bars to lay into the turn just so… It’s kind of odd, you try to use as little energy as possible, but you stay 100% alert and wide awake. Some people call it flow. I call it one with the bike. Every bike will tell you how to ride it and the Harley Road King, with it’s wide tires, extreme weight, the massive power and smooth handling, the Road King is letting me know that it’s happy. I’m scooting right along, but with every tap from my right thumb, I save minutes on my time to destination. J Cruise control, baby!
From Tahoe, I begin my leg on Hwy 50 through Nevada. They bill it as the Loneliest Highway in America. It’s hot, dusty, and I hear fun to ride over the high mountain passes. This was the original Pony Express Route in 1860, so there’s lots of history and things to see. Remember Bronco Charlie and the Pony Express. It’s a fictional western story that I read as a kid. Kind of glamourizes the trip for me. I start that leg tomorrow.
My view while riding. One the left is my button to take pictures, GPS under the windshield tells me everything. How fast I’m going, the current speed limit, time to distance, next turn (if I so choose to take it!), and warns me when I get going too fast.
Leaving Susanville there are some helicopters and a fighter sitting there. Kind of a tribute to the nearby Top Gun (actually on Hwy 50 in Fernley, NV)
I actually saw LOTS of people out riding horses! Pretty cool.
Heading into Geiger Grade Road. A word of warning…
Love the wave from Bikers. As you get further from towns, the waves are more frequent.
Bikers in Virginia City!
Yeah! Lake Tahoe!
You HAVE to try Sam’s Place. Good Food.
The rear patio is pretty nice.
I saw this on Hwy 50 coming back from Tahoe. Very nice. People go out of their way to show support.
The lonely tree… for Sam.
The loneliest tree that I could find. High desert is difficult for trees.
The drought is really bad out here. Notice the boat launch, you need to be pretty good at backing up with a trailer to get your boat actually in the water!
