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I rolled out of the house a bit late – 9:15am.

There was a bit of apprehension present as I prepared for this trip. I’ve done a couple of 1,000 mile four day trips, and one 1,500 mile 6 day trip two years ago, but I really hadn’t attempted anything quite like this, and probably won’t again unless I make to Alaska someday.

It took longer then usual to get comfortable on the bike, as the desert heat had only allowed me to put 500 miles on this bike since I purchased it, and now I was adding 50 pounds of dead weight to it.

Man did it handle differently!

My first stop of the day was in Searchlight, NV for my initial gas fill up.

Also, allow me to introduce my sidekick and companion for this journey. Ladies and gentleman, meet Stomper!!

Turning away from the near Interstate of US 95, I headed west toward Nipton and Mojave National Preserve. I’ve been out this way many times on day trips, and always blew right by the sign, so I made it a point to stop and take of that…

You’ll have to forgive Stomper, he’s a bit of a camera hog. Which is a good thing I suppose, as the rider is a bit camera-shy (and doesn’t know how to work the timer on his camera!)!!

First extended break of the day was at Kelso. This is the site of a historic railroad depot that has been carefully restored in recent years, and just re-opened to the public last year I believe. It’s a beautiful facility, and gives a thoughtful glimpse into a simple, yet possibly more adventurous period of history.

After an uneventful (read: boring) ride out the other side of the preserve, I came across the little “town” of Amboy. Once an early stop in the desert on Route 66, it fell on hard times after it was bypassed by I-40.

The whole town was purchased a few years ago, on the condition that it be fully restored as money allowed. The process is a very slow on, but they have managed to get the gas station open on a fairly regular basis, and plans are in place to renovate and re-open the motel and cafe.

Exactly when that will happen is hard to know, as the site has been completely shut down for many years, and numerous regulations must be met at exhorbinant costs in order to get everything off the ground.

From there, it was on to Twentynine Palms. I have no photos, there is a reason for that. Also no food photos. I assume everyone has seen a McDonalds Double Quarter-Pounder with cheese before.

Next up, Joshua Tree National Park. I wasn’t sure what to expect here, but was pleasantly surprised by a very nice loop that was almost made for a motorcycle.

Not much to tell from here. This first day out of the desert included two stretches that just weren’t much fun, and this was the second one. I slogged 50 miles from Joshua Tree to Lucerne Valley, where I climbed the mountain to get to big Bear Lake.

For a flatlander with very little twisty road experience, this one really kept me on my toes throughout – especially with muscle soreness and fatigue setting in after 7 hours and 300 miles.

But I kept the bike in my own lane, everyone else stayed in theirs, and I kept a quick enough pace to keep any cars behind me well in the distance.

I rolled into Big Bear, unpacked, walked about 3/4 of a mile to dinner, came back to my hotel room, and wrote this. Good night.