Los Angeles to Lake Mead, Nevada
The total distance is 850 miles. Again, it's that time that 4 of us at work, Vu, Nu, Veronica and myself, felt that we need a long road trip with just the open roads and our motorcycles. It will help to put things back in perspective. Time to get away from the daily routines: works, family, commitments and an environment that's becoming too familiar and boring...
Motorcycling is magic. It always brings us inner peace, strength, excitement, independence and the most important, solitude.
Day before departure - May 29, 2008
Last night, I tried to pack as much as possible so that I will be able to sleep early tonight to prepare for the big trip tomorrow. Since the last motorcycle camping trip at Morro Bay last month, I now know what to pack and where everything goes on my bike, instead of having to figure out what goes where.
Originally, there were 5 signed up: Vu, Nu, Eugene, V and me. Then as of yesterday, V couldn't make it due to work schedule and Eugene bailed since he didn't feel well. So only 3 of us are still on.
I really can't wait. The excitement of seeing new roads from the seat of a motorcycle got to all of us as the departure is getting closer. Vu even got a private forum set up on his own web server for trip planning, pictures, reports etc...
Time to leave everything behind again. Ride, eat, sleep, repeat! Life is good.
30-MAY-2008
Odometer on departure day
Departure day! The odometer was 42853 miles. Full of excitement...
Motorcycling is truly magic. As soon as the bike starts rolling, my mind was cleared, cleared of all worries in the real world, be it works, family and everyday chores. I always find inner peace when it'll be just me and the roads. I feel excited, at the same time calmed.
Riding motorcycle is that brief time when nothing else matters but me.
That is the time when my soul heals, and my stresses organize.
It is that time that no one has the right to invade.
30-MAY-2008
Denny's Restaurant at Irwindale, CA
We all met at Denny's to get breakfast at Irwindale at 8:30am. I arrived at 8:20am, waited in the parking lot for Vu and Nu. 8:30am came and nobody shown up. I checked my cell phone to make sure that I didn't get a voice message saying that they bailed. Nope. They all pulled up around 8:40am. A little late but good to go.
30-MAY-2008
Road side break on highway 18...
It was getting really warm as we were heading towards the desert. We took freeway 15 North, then highway 18 East, also called "Happy Trails Highway" on most maps.
30-MAY-2008
Shades...
Everybody found a shade to park and took a short break in the heat.
30-MAY-2008
Mexican restaurant
We had lunch at this Mexican restaurant on highway 62, North of Joshua National Park. The foods were great and authentic.
30-MAY-2008
Salt Lake
On our way to Amboy following Amboy road, saw this big salt lake on the side of the road. The surface was hard as concrete.
30-MAY-2008
Salt lake - close up
The surface may seem soft but it was as hard as concrete. Walking on it didn't leave any foot prints.
30-MAY-2008
My Honda CBR-1100XX
With all my camping gears and supplies.
This is an excellent sport(-touring) motorcycle that Honda ever made, starting with the 1997 model year in US. It was way ahead of its time and was 'the fastest production motorcycle' in the world, with a top speed of 180 mph (288 km/h.)
30-MAY-2008
Amboy road
The road was deserted and gave us a great sense of solitude that we all looked for.
