Cailfornia, Nevada, and Oregon - 4 days, 1600 miles

Northern California, Nevada, and Oregon are blessed with some of the best motorcycling highways in the world. I have been lucky to have ridden on many of them. Here are some pics from a 4 day ride starting from the San Francisco peninsula and going east into Nevada, north through central Nevada to southeastern Oregon, and then south through the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and Nevada before returning home to the San Francisco peninsula. Some of the highways described included Highway 120 through Yosemite National Park and Nevada, highways 376 and 305 going north through central Nevada, highway 140 through northwest Nevada and southeast Oregon, and highways 139, 299, 44, 359, and 88 thought the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The map

Day 1

I left my home on the San Francisco Peninsula on June 13, 2007 at about 7:15 in the morning and headed east. Luckily there was little traffic as I rode out of the Bay Area. After a couple of hours of riding, I reached the Sierra Nevada foothills and Highway 120 leading to Yosemite National Park. The weather was sunny and cool riding through the foothills early in the morning, but lower elevations were expected to be quite hot later that day.

Highway 120, west of Yosemite

When I arrive at the entrance to Yosmite, at about 10am, I paid the $10 entrance fee for motorcycles. There was a sign at the entrance that said the temperature in the valley would be 95F (36C) later that day. I was not plannig to go down to the valley, but I was knew it would get hot later in the day as I rode down into Nevada.

The scenery in Yosemite is just spectacular, and there was little of no traffice as I rode through the park. I enjoyed the cool temperatures and followed the winding road as it passed through the high mountains.

Tenaya Lake, Yosemite

Tioga Pass

Just east of Yosemite and Tioga Pass, before highway 120 descends towards the Nevada high desert, are several lakes, campsites, and the Tioga Pass Resort. I almost always stop for lunch or dinner when crossing Tioga Pass. This time was no different, and I stopped for lunch before the ride down the mountain.

Ellery Lake, east of Tioga Pass

Highway 120, east of Tioga Pass, as it descends to Nevada

After leaving Yosemite and Tioga Pass, Highway 120 quickily descends to the Mono Lake basin, where it meets Highway 395. After a short drive south on 395, Highway 120 continues east into Nevada. Near the intersection of 395 and 120, Mono Lake is just to the northeast, and the terrain is desert and scrubland. A few miles to the east of the intersection, Highway 120 winds through pine forest. The road follows the terrain very closely, with many dips and rises, almost like a roller coaster.

Highway 120 near the intersection with 395

Highway 120, about 10 miles east of 395

Highway 120, about 20 miles east of 395

Highway 120, east of 395

The rolling hills and twisty roads of Highway 120, eventually give way to flatter, straighter highways. By the time you get to Highway 6 on the way to Tonopah, the terrain is flat and the temperature was hot. I arrived in Tonopah, NV about 3 in the afternoon.

On Highway 6, headed east to Tonopah, NV

When approaching from the west, on your arrival in Tonopah, the Clown Motel welcomes you like a bad
dream. But then again, maybe the Clown Motel should be a historic landmark, the Clown Motel is easy to
remember, or is it that it is just hard to forget? Anyway, I filled up with gas in Tonopah, had a cold
drink, and tried to forget the Clown Motel.

From Tonopah, I turned north on Highway 376. My final destination for the day was going to be Austin, NV, about 100 miles north of Tonopah. Highway 276 passes though a desert valley with low mountains to the east and west. Highway 376 is listed as a scenic highway. I have to admit than once you a north of Tonoaph the scenery is much nicer, but the highway is relatively straight and uninteresting until yuo nearly reach Highway 50.

Highway 376 headed north out of Tonopah, NV

Highway 376 headed north

Highway 376, near the intersection with Highway 50

Highway 376 eventually intersects Highwway 50, and there is a short, but fun ride to the west to reach the town of Austin. To the east of Austing, the scenery is rolling hills with pine forest and twisty roads. A very nice way to end the day.

Highway 50, near Austin, NV

I arrived in Austin about 6pm. I rode up and down the town looking for a place to stay. I chose the Lincoln Motel - a single room was $36 for the night, it even had TV, but only 1 channel to watch. I met a guy riding a Harley while I was staying at the motel. He and his wife had just ridden in from Ely, NV (about 180 miles) and they were all worn out after the long ride. His wife was in sleeping when we met at about 7pm. He commented about the hot weather when they were riding out of Ely and while riding they only wore vests because of the heat. His wife also had sunburned hands from not wearing gloves!!! I guess it's a different way to travel from what I am used to.

Lincoln Motel, Austin, NV

Downtown Austin, NV - not much happening here!

Watering hole and cafe in Austin, NV

Day 2

I had breakfast and left Austin about 8:30 in the morning. I headed north out of Austin on Highway 305. This is another scenic highway. But it looked a lot like highway 376 I had ridden the day before. Mostly straight highway running between low mountains to the east and west. Just north of Austin, there is a sign saying Pony Express Trail 1860-61. That would have been a hard job riding Pony Express across Nevada on horseback.

Looking south back towards Austin, NV

Pony Express Trail! crossing 305 just a few miles north of Austin, NV

Highway 305 north of Austin, NV

I has a short delay on 305 going north. They were doing some road construction on 305 and we had to wait about 20 minutes for the pilot car to come back. I had a nice conversation with some truckers and the flagman. I was finally allowed to continue my ride north and Highway 305 joined up with Highway 80 in Battle Mountain, NV. I took Highway 80 west to Winnemucca, where I stopped to fuel the bike, and get something to eat and drink before continuing north on Highway 95 and continuing on towards the northwest on Highway 140. I had been warned by several people to get gas before leaving Winnemucca, it's a long way to the next gas station when riding north.

A few years ago I gave up eating at fast food places, like McDonald's, when I was out riding. I watched the Food Network show 'Feasting on Asphalt" and since then I decided tha when touring, I'd only eat at little cafes and restaurants. Now this is embarassing, but I am going to admit it. When I was riding though Winnemucca, NV, I stopped at about 11:30 in the morning to fill up with gas and get a cold drink before riding north into the hot desert. It's important to stay hydrated when riding through the desert. As I was carrying my drink up to the counter, I passed the hot food display. There looking at me was this polish sausage just rolling on the rotisserie, and I could hear it saying, 'Take me...eat me'. I looked at it pretty hard and was trying to resist. But I was thinking with my mouth. I started to lick my chops at the thought of that polish sausage, and "Heck, it's a couple of hours till I'll be stopping for lunch and I'd only had a banana and some milk for breakfast." So I grabbed it and dropped it on a bun. There was also this chili dispenser right next to the rotisserie, so I dumped a shot of chili on the bun also. When I got up to the counter, the polish dog with chili only cost me 99 cents. I took the dog and my drink outside and had myself a little feast. Man that polish dog with chili tasted pretty damn good. Just thinking about it makes me hungry. I'm disgusted with myself.

Anyway, back to the ride report. After riding north on Highway 95 for about 100 miles, I turned on to Highway 140, looking at the picture below it is easy to see why people warned me to get gas before leaving Winnemucca..

Highway 140 near the intersection with Highway 95

Denio Junstion at the intersection of Highways 205 and 140 near the Nevada Oregon border

From Winnemucca to Denio Juntion the 110 mile ride via Highways 95 and 140 is quite desolate. As I traveled the the last 66 miles from Highway 95 to Denio Jubction, I only passed about a dozen cars and 2 motorcycles. Deion Junction consists of a gas station, cafe, and small motel. The next nearest gas station is 81 miles to the west in the town of Adel on Highway 140. I bought $6 worth of gas in Denio Junction - I could have made it to Adel, but I like having plenty of gas when out in the middle of nowhere. Leaving Denio Jucntion, I headed west into the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. I took a short detour into the Refuge to take a quick look around. There are campsites and hot springs in the Refuge, but when I passed through it was pretty hot and the thought of camping in that God forsaken place didn't interest me. Plus it was way to hot to take a dip in the hot springs. After leaving the Refuge, the road goes up in elevation and the terrain begins to change. Twisty roads, pine forests, grazing lands, and low mountains offer a wonderful ride though beatiful scenery.

Highway 140

I arrived in Lakeview, OR about 5:30pm and went looking for a motel. The first motel I stopped in had 2 other riders waiting to check in. I commented to one of them, "I hope you're not getting the last room." I should not have said that, he got the last room. No problem though, the receptionist called another motel and got me a nice room at the Lakeview Lodge for $55. Unlike the motel in Austin, this place had TV with a good selection stations to watch.

It turned out there was a BMW motorcycle meet starting the next day up at John Day on the Columbia River. There were quite a few BMW riders staying the night in Lakeview. I had a nice discussion with one of the riders, a guy named Ozzie from Ozzie's BMW service in Chico, CA. He's a former sidecar racer and had a few interesting stories to tell. Ozzie was riding a R100GS Dakar fitted with a side car.

The next morning I grabbed a milk and a couple of banabas for breakfast before leaving Lakeview about 8:30 in the morning. The morning was cool and I continued east on Highway 140 towards Klamath Falls. The ride and scenery were fantastic. More twisty roads, pine forests, grazing lands, and low mountains gave me a wonderful ride.

Highway 140

Highway 140 - Cowboys working the heard early in the morning

Highway 140

From Klamath Falls, I turned south on Highway 39. I stopped for breakfast in the town of Merril before crossing the Border back into California. Crossing the border the highway changes to Highway 139. The highway starts out straight as a rifle shot, running through pine forests. Not an especially fun ride. But after a while the road starts to twist and turn as it begins to pass through low mountains.

Highway 139 Just south of the Oregon-California border

Highway 139

Eventually the highway joins up with Highway 299. I turned west on 299 and headed towards Highway 44 and Mt. Lassen National Park.

Highway 299

Highway 44 approaching Mt. Lassen

Highway 44 at bottom with Mt Shasta in the background

Highway 44

From Highway 44 I turned east on Highway 36 to Susanville, then south on Highway 395 to Reno, where I met up with endo. From Reno we took the wonderfully twisty road through Virginia City on the way to endo's house in Carson City. Endo was a great host and cooked up some steaks on the BBQ, we had some beers and relaxed in his hot tub. Fantastic!!!

The next mornig it was time to ride home. Endo had to leave for work early, so we were both out of the house before 8. From just south of Carson City, I took Highway 88 across the Sierra Nevada Mountains and on to Stockton, then it was Highway 4 and Vasco Road across the Sacramento Delta goming out in Pleasanton to finsh the ride home.

Highway 88

Highway 4 going through the Sacrament Delta

Vasco Road

The wind was blowing quite hard as I traveled across the delta and Vasco road. When I reached Pleasanton and Highway 580, I found stop and go traffic. It was terrible. That was exactly why I was off riding on roads out in the middle of nowhere. I don't like traffic. Despite the traffic at the end of the ride, it was still a wonderful, relaxing trip.