Final Leg Sacramento

On Sunday morning I rode a short distance into Sacramento on Highway 50 now an eight lane freeway.  Quite a change from the past two weeks of riding across America.  Dropped the Low Rider off at Sacramento Harley-Davidson.  Handing the keys over and unpacking the bike was not an easy task.  A close bond between man and machine had been established.

Two flights and a layover created a long day on Sunday.  Waiting for my flight at the airport I dozed off for a moment.  I was riding again through the open country of the American West.  Turning in my dream to look over my shoulder for traffic my head fell to the left.  Awaking suddenly, the realization of where I was came to me...sitting in an airport...my mind and spirit still on the open road.

Back in the studio.  Working on the story for HOG.  Planning the next trip.  Freedom of the road.

live free, ride free, Carlan

Highway 50 into the Sierra

Fires in the Sierra Mountains filling the sky with smoke this morning.  Checked with Caltrans Hwy 50 was reopened.  King fire now over 76,000 acres and threatening 12,000 homes.

Short stop at Lake Tahoe.  Currently not in the direct path of the fires.  What an incredible deep blue body of water.

Around a sweeping turn in the road the small town of Twin Bridges comes into view.  Knew I was in California...a beautiful VW bus.  Met Squirrel and Jenifer owners of the Strawberry Station Market.  19 years ago Squirrel proposed to Jenifer...the engagement ring... the bus.  License plate reads "Marry Me".  Thanks Squirrel and Jenifer for the great coffee and homemade cinnamon roll!  You two are the best!  Excellent break from all the smoke.

30 miles from the end of Highway 50 tonight.  Into Sacramento tomorrow morning, drop off the bike at Sacramento Harley-Davidson, catch Southwest to ABQ.  14 days on the road.  Seems like a few minutes.  Mile after mile, thought after thought, cold and hot, fog and sun, clouds and smoke,  stop for gas, look for a place to eat and sleep, meeting so many wonderful people along the BackBone of America.  No words can express it.

live free, ride free, Carlan

Riding with the Pony Express

Highway 50 out of  Austin, NV follows the Pony Express route.  Big fires in the Sierra filled the sky with smoke this morning.  Hard to see the mountain ranges ahead.  Why would someone set the forests on fire?

 

Old ruins from the Butterfield Stage Station and Pony Express stop, New Pass Station 1861.  They built using local stones.  The Pony Express only lasted for a short time.  Riding they made over 100 miles a day.  Replaced with the telegraph, and then the railroads.  Hard to believe how fast the west was developed.

 

Gas stop at Middlegate Station.  Met  Jerry, Misty, and so may others there.  Real people, real Nevada.

Grimes Point.  Sacred hunting and gathering location dating back 7,000 years.  To walk on the earth where our ancestors  hunted and gathered so may years ago helps to bring perspective to our lives today.  Caves here were used to preserve food during the summer months.  At one time this location was used as a  trash dump for our society until the importance of this site was realized.

East of Caron City the billboards were advertising...."The Bunny Ranch"...wonder what this might be...are they raising rabbits here .... should I stop....what could this be...just another interesting part of Nevada....?

Carson City tonight...into the fires of the Sierra tomorrow.....

live free, ride free, Carlan

Riding with the clouds

West from Ely this morning Highway 50 becomes the "Lonest Highway in America".  The road leads straight into the clouds.

 Clouds leave small openings for pieces of light to touch the earth.

Clouds fill my frame from horizon to high over head.

Mountains create a graphic line against the cloud filled sky.

 Road side rest along the Lonest Highway, clouds are my company.

Smoke from fires mixes with clouds.

Cozy Mountain Motel.  My home away from home tonight in Austin, NV.  Ridin' with the clouds...what a beautiful day.

live free, ride free, Carlan

Riding and Thinking...

Excellent breakfast at Mom's Cafe in Salina UT this morning.  Willie Nelson had a "great steak dinner" there in 2004.  Sat in the same booth where he enjoyed his steak.  Felt his good energy.  Think I need to start everyday like this.

Highway 50 due west across Utah toward Nevada. Think I have never seen a straighter road for 98 miles.

Think it is a good idea to stop at a gas station when you see one.  You never know how far down the road the next one might be.

Shoe tree  Delta, UT.  Think this is a creative use of old shoes and a dead tree.

Think I am in the Great Basin now.

Think these thunderstorms may get me wet.

Think...this is some of the most stunning light and landscape I have ever ridden into and  across.  And to think...it all started today sitting in a booth in a small cafe where Willie enjoyed a meal as much as I did.  Think it has been a really good day.
Ely, NV tonight.  Room at the historic Nevada Hotel.

live free, ride free, Carlan

HWY 50 West - Pavement - Broken Pavement - Gravel - Dirt - Slab

West out of Fruita CO this morning HWY 50 was like the road we all dream of traveling.  Smooth, not another car in sight, prong horn grazing in the hills, soft morning light, cool breeze on my face.

Crossing into Utah things change quickly.  Pavement broken, potholes big enough to get lost in, down to 10 mph just to prevent my teeth from banging together.  Up over a rise in the road...no road...before I can stop...I am committed.  Into a deep washout.  End of road. Finally get turned around.  So much for Google maps.  Back track several miles to I-70.  

At Crescent Junction short detour south to Arches National Park.  Stop at Papa Joe's for an ice cream.

 Arches National Park.  Red rock reaches to meet  blue sky.

 Red rock landscape.  Millions of years old.  Carved by water and wind.

Passing through "The Reef".  A day of moving through a timeless landscape.  We are so young compared to the ancient land we walk upon.  Salina, UT tonight.

live free, ride free, Carlan

Landscapes - Turns - Curves

Day began in Gunnison CO at the W Cafe with their famous breakfast burrito.  Lasted all day...and into tonight.

 First stop Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

A friendly reminder not to feed the bears along the way.

Short stop in Delta to check out the "used" cars for sale.

The sky and earth come together as one.  Clouds as if painted on a blue background.

Along the rim of the canyons in Colorado National Monument.  Beams of light peaking through the clouds.  Sweeping turns in the road.  Riding along the edge.  Bike and I are one.  Leaning into the turns checking to make sure I am not scrapping the chrome off the foot pegs.

Forms of Mother Earth unmatched by human hands.

There are times when photography and riding a motorcycle are one.  All the senses are connected.  A machine made from many parts now filled with life.  It carry's me across the country.  Landscape connected with the sky.  Wind on my face.  Sun warming my back.  A good day to be alive.

live free, ride free, Carlan