Early in December we decided to bug out from the dreary, cold mid-Atlantic region and spend the holidays someplace warm.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your POV) our decision was made a little late in the season to find much of anything down in Key West, our usual winter haunt.  After some discussion we elected instead to snag a cheap flight to Vegas, rent some motorcycles, and make it a proper road trip. 

I'd had an excellent rental experience with BMW of Las Vegas in 2010, so after looking over the various Eagle Rider options (Harley, Honda & BMW) we defaulted to them.  Owing to our current GSA affinity Tammy & I both chose 'regular' R1200GS'.  We packed up our aftermarket Russell and Sargent seats in a large suitcase and took them along  - had we to do it over again we would've taken our windshields as well.  Rue being height challenged, she settled on an F700GS with low seat option.

We flew out from BWI the morning after Christmas day on Spirit Airlines. 

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I got a pretty good deal on a room at the Bellagio.  While we'd been in Vegas several times on past x-country rides and usually stayed at HIE or the equivalent, I was curious about the Bellagio and wanted to experience it.  The Bellagio experience over holiday weekend turned out to be like rush hour on the New York subway, with gambling and liquor.  Mobs of foreign tourists barging in the queues, forming human pyramids and scaring the children. 

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To get around town for the two days before picking up our bikes I rented an FJ Cruiser.  Very submarine-like; not a favorite.  We hit on the Black Bear Diner as our 'go to' breakfast place.

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We visited various attractions like the Clark County Museum (the best $2 tour you'll find in the area),

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http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/depts/parks/pages/clark-county-museum.aspx

the Pinball Hall of Fame (row upon row of working vintage pinball machines - a real labor of love), http://www.pinballmuseum.org/

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and the National Atomic Testing Museum (if you visit, skip the hokey 'Area 51' exhibit).   

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We ventured past the 'Pawn Stars' shop located in lovely north Vegas and kept right on driving after seeing the line around the block. 

More to follow...

One of my favorite areas in the country to ride! Looking forward to more. 

Was the pinball museum worth a visit?  I'm always looking for off-strip stuff to see when we're in town for hockey tournaments.  We did the atomic museum last year and liked it.

Absolutely love that country and can't wait for more!!

  I'm liking this. I wish I would have thought of that.

Tuesday, January 31st

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After an all-too-brief reunion dinner with our old riding buddy 'Pix'; a San Diego native and owner of the aforementioned Cagiva Gran Canyon, we left SD the next morning and slabbed it up I-15 as far as Fallbrook.  From there we took some preliminary curvey backroads further north to Lake Elsinore, before turning westward again on the Ortega Highway.  Traffic was very light and we were able to enjoy the twisties at a brisk pace with a minimum of police presence.   I had wanted to incorporate the Angeles Crest Highway on this leg, but reports I got from the local riders were that parts of it at higher altitudes were dicey.  Next time out.

After the 'good' riding was done we still had to get through LA, so at San Juan Capistrano it was back to the slab (79 and 405) as far as Santa Monica.  We stopped for a late lunch, then followed the 1 a brief distance north to Topanga Canyon Road.  Traffic was a little heavier and we sorta slow chugged to its connection with Mulholland Highway - next time we'll explore Old Topanga Canyon Road as a shortcut.  Once on Mulholland though it was smooth riding again.  Along the way we did the expected motorcyclist stop - unexpectedly they were closed for New Year's Eve. 

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In Santa Barbara we stayed at the Best Western Beachside; dinner that night was an easy walk to Chuck's Waterfront Grill overlooking the marina.  We were back and snoozing before the new year was rung in. 


More to follow...

What an excellent diversion from Baltimore weather! 

 

Friday, January 3rd

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Bleech.  That day we had to make time from San Francisco to Ridgecrest (just outside Death Valley).  385 miles; spent it pretty much hammer down on I-5 most of the way, with little quality riding except the final 100-mile stretch on Highway 178 between Bakersfield and Ridgecrest.  That was nice, the route took us through the extreme lower part of the Sequoia National Forest and Kern River Preserve; and for once we weren't riding off into the sunset.    In Ridgecrest I can highly recommend Casey's Steaks & BBQ - great service, good beers and fall-off-the-bone ribs.

More to follow...

 

 

Great ride report!  Great trip planning as well.  Much of your trip was conducted on the roads I choose to travel when leaving or returning from my home here in the desert, well done.  I was surprised to see that the Trona-Wildrose/Panamint Valley Road are still closed. They were closed when I was in DV back in Oct.

Thanks.    Next time we won't stay in Vegas as long, to give us more road time and less boring slab time.

Last I read on FB was that the road through Trona to Panamint Valley was expected to open 'sometime' this spring. https://www.facebook.com/DeathValleyRoadConditions

At that time of the year all of the good mountain passes were closed.  http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/clsdlst.htm

Great report Scratch,

I totally agree with Mrs. Cable --- 

Retired people suck. 

better late than never right?

Between work and Holiday travel and I haven't had a ton of surfing time.  I was checking-in  over at .net periodically and noticed that things were getting really quiet over there.  Just didn't know where ya'll went.