It’s been a few days, but my two typing fingers apparently still had a few stories to tell. So, for what it’s worth...
San Francisco is known for its alternative lifestyles. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) San Francisco will now be known to me as the start of my NorthToAlaskaTrip alternative route. One regret for me of the original route Mark had designed was that we weren’t to travel to the Grand Canyon. However, I understood why (at least partially) it was omitted. My sister Karen wants to someday tour the Grand Canyon area, and for Mark to go there without her would have been one of those decisions you might never get over (if you know what I mean). For me, though, the Grand Canyon was the last place left on the planet I wanted to see before I’m worm dirt and being this close could not be ignored. Thus, on the morning of Day 23, when Ed, Mark, and Tom headed northeast to Sacramento and beyond, I headed east toward Yosemite National Park, then southeast to Las Vegas and beyond.
Yosemite National Park was yet another experience I will savor. To be able to ride through and around the park’s mountains and huge boulders, with their unusual light gray/white hues, made this episode of my journey as memorable as any other.
After leaving Yosemite National Park, I travel along Highway 120 by Mono Lake, then along Highway 6 to Benton, California, Coaldale, Nevada, and Tonopah, Nevada. Along Highway 6, there were several times when I could look in all directions as far as I could see and see no indication of human activity – no people, cars, or houses. The desolation was agreeable, though unsettling at the same time. From Tonopah, I traveled south along Highway 95 to Las Vegas. I stopped for gas and a water break at Nevada Joe’s in Amargosa Valley, a little bump in the road about 20 miles from Death Valley National Park and 80 miles from Las Vegas. The place was memorable for two reasons. Inside, there were dozens of “Area 51” t-shirts. Outside, there was a thermometer that read 98 degrees – it was 10:15 p.m.
I spent a little time riding around downtown Las Vegas and the Strip, then headed to Hoover Dam. I was determined to get to Arizona prior to calling it a day. Hoover Dam was an interesting place, though admittedly, the sights (and pictures) would have been a tad better if the sun had been up. I finally got to Kingman, Arizona, and checked into a hotel about 2:30 a.m. Driving after dark in Nevada didn’t bother me too much, as I figured it was too dang hot for any animals to be out, especially close to that black, asphalt highway that was still smoldering hours after the sun had gone down. Along the highway in Arizona was a little different though. It was quite cooler and I did see several deer alongside the highway. Two rabbits also crossed the highway in front of me, and I missed one by only a hair. (I had to do it)
The Grand Canyon. It’s not just another hole in the ground. By now, you’ve seen the pictures I uploaded, and have shared the beauty in which I was so fortunate to see. I spent over an hour at different locations on the south rim, and later stopped at several locations/vistas on the eastern side of the canyon. I could have spent hours more in the area as it is a place of exceptional splendor, but as I mentioned above, my sister Karen and brother-in-law and good friend Mark have plans to ride/travel out to the area in the next year or two, and I plan to ride with them.
When I saw Mark’s original draft of the trip’s route, my only request of him for routing and scheduling purposes was to overnight in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. One of my good friends – of 24 years – has lived there for the past 16 years. After learning the other guys would not be going through Glenwood Springs as planned, and thus that would not be a place where I could rejoin them, I was still determined to make a stop there. I got to the area around noon on Thursday, and was able to have lunch and spend a few hours with my friend. Michelle is the most charming, intelligent, and attractive woman I have had the pleasure to know my entire life. As I have detailed with pictures and words, this entire trip has been full of beautiful scenery, and getting to see Michelle again after a number of years – well, that was just some good gravy. When we were talking about where I was heading after leaving her area, she suggested I go to Independence Pass. As you can tell from the pictures, that area was awesome, so Michelle turned out to be a pretty good tour guide too.
After going up to and through Independence Pass, I continued on to Pueblo, Colorado. Along this route, there were some magnificent views. I also rode close to the headwaters of the Arkansas River. (In the next two days, I would cross the Arkansas River several times, though as you might imagine, it wasn’t near the size it is as it passes through my home state.) I overnighted in Pueblo, and prior to leaving the area, I ventured over (back west) to Lake Pueblo State Park. The concrete portion of the dam has an unusual design and you can tell by the color of the rocks, the dam’s other materials came from close by. The lake wasn’t very busy for a Friday, but had a few people out skiing and otherwise enjoying the area.
I planned to overnight Friday in Wichita, Kansas, and my only planned stop or en route destination was Dodge City. I thought I might locate the old Long Branch Saloon and, if Matt wasn’t around, see about having a cup of coffee with Miss Kitty. (I always liked Miss Kitty.) The only bad part of choosing this route was the numerous feed lots lining the highway. Feed lots (or farms) are those picturesque locations where they bring cows to put on those few extra pounds prior to heading to you-know-where. (And it’s not Aunt Sally’s, where they will spend a long, comfortable life eating the greenest grass you could picture.)
After spending the night in Wichita, and absent some unforeseen event, I plan to rejoin Ed and Mark in Nevada, Missouri, on Saturday morning and ride the rest of the way back to Paris/Scranton with them. It will be good to ride with my fellow Arkansans again.