Mariposa BMW rally

Ever since I discovered this rally last year . I have made it a new destination when bringing the F650GS back. It is fun and lots of friendships forged here.

These are the Harkov brothers and later on in the rally we went uptown on the trolley to Mariposa to the Hideout Bar. It is off main street and around back and I know I would never have found it on my own. Very interesting place. I never did make it to the winery where they purchased frog balls (pickled brussel sprouts). Maybe next year. I camped in much the same place as last year with friends Turk, Tim, Dennis, Greg and Jack. Fred Neely was there but he camped down in the field. Lots of folk from Agua Caliente campout were there as well. I went on the poker run and learned more things about the area.

That is my tent in the foreground.

Tim demonstrating his new gloves.

Turk's new bike looking like an angry owl. We were listening to the Nascar race and his lights stay on. We ended up demonstrating that my microstart really works. Then Turk had to show me his new gloves also.

Jerks! All because I commented on a guy who rode in on his spotless new 1600 with all the latest BMW gear. One of those! Anyway I bought a new Xped air mattresses from Gregg and then I told him I wanted my money back. Why? None of the guys would go in my tent and try it out. He said I was on my own it was not guaranteed for that. Story of my life.

I went for a ride one day and stopped at this lookout.

Later I rode down and across that bridge.

On the other side of the road was this rock.

 

 

Many bikes come to the rally not all BMW's. These were parked just outside the beer gardens.

Not sure of the vintage of these BMW's

This was at the English trials. They had a pile of dirt they had to go up and over and then these humps and bumps in front of the grandstand, a teeter totter and then rush down to the end and shoot. Very entertaining but I certainly would not risk my bike doing this.

They did have a couple of little guys and gals on electric bikes doing this. They were great. The following picture is their little sister not quite 2 and she raced up and down the hill on this scooter.

Well more down than up. I hesitated about staying Sunday as I had a meeting Wednesday evening in Calgary at 7 but decided to stay for dinner and the trials and then boot it for the Interstate to get home in time. I went 678 miles the first day and texted home only to find out they had postponed the meeting til the following week. I will highlight the journey home in the next episode.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Palm Springs to Mariposa California

May 19 I flew to Palm Springs. Beautiful weather on arrival.

 

And there was Ken like clockwork to pick me up. Note the beautiful day. I got the bike running and out right away and only stayed overnight and headed out to Ridgecrest and Mariposa. On the way through Riverside California, I finally stopped at the Sketchers warehouse. That is like a whole tourist stop in and of itself. I bought 2 pair of shoes. 1 for me and 1 for Phyl. I just love them.

 

 

Even the parking lot was beautiful. This warehouse is about 1/4 mile long and is the distribution place for Sketchers in California. Then continuing my journey I headed for Ridgecrest and my friends Jimmy and DeeDee. Jimmy has restored this beautiful bike and is working on another as well. They have so much great stuff. It is like visiting a museum when I stay there. So much fun. I just love these guys.

The following photos are just some of their neat STUFF.

 

 

 

I was able to stay only the one night as they were off to a wedding in southern California and I was off to Mariposa. I went up over Walker Pass and through the giant sequoias. At the top of Walker pass I was stopped as there was an accident down below. It gave me an opportunity to take a few pictures and to learn something about the area.

 

This motorcyclist was pulled off to the side waiting for the accident to be cleared. He was complaining of the cold. Said it was old age. He was 2 years younger than me?????

 

On HWY 190 lots of twisties. My center stand kept dragging in the turns so I am going to take it off. As I got closer to the sequoias it started to get foggy and was very damp with beads of moisture forming on my visor but once I went down in elevation it got warm again. It is amazing how many great motorcycle roads there are in California. Not only are the trees giants but so are the yucca plants.

 

 

Stopped at this lovely waterfall. I should get at this blog in a more timely matter as I cannot remember the name of it. Either that or write it down somewhere. Duh?

 

There are people walking down there. Did I? NO!

 

 

Stopped at this little place on the Interstate for fuel and lunch. Great cheese here .

I had scooted over to the Interstate so I could make some time. Mariposa next stop and I will continue there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helena Montana

The last time I posted was of my trip to Palm Springs, Ridgecrest, Death Valley, Las Vegas and Joshua Tree Dec 14 to Jan 15 after which I flew home and had major surgery March 19. I call it throw away cancer as some of us lucky women do just that. I could not make too many plans as I was uncertain of the recovery and when I could ride again. Needless to say I was on the bike 6 weeks later. I went with Karl, Bruce, John and Doug up to Clive where we picked up Gerry and Annie and rode to Bentley and joined the Northern Stars for lunch at the Top Monkey. It was very good and I was especially happy when we stopped in Red Deer at Turple Bros and I got to say hello to my good friend Glen.

The following weekend seeing as how I was good to go. I rode  to a campout in Helena in the pouring rain. I knew once I reached my destination I had a room not a tent to stay in. This is one of Kevin and Annie Huddy's cats. Very laid back. Alistair and Ron also arrived on their motorcycles from Lethbridge. They were going to come in a car but it seemed this crazy woman was coming from Calgary on her motorcycle and they didn't dare. The weekend remained cold and wet and windy and thus a lot of the Missoula crowd came for only a few hours and in cars. Sunday I was going to ride to Philipsburg to the Western Montana BMW meeting but chose to go home and good thing as Kevin and Annie ran into a fair amount of snow on the pass. It was 1C and raining hard through Wolf Creek Pass. But as I neared Calgary I stopped at Aspen Crossing, the sun was shining and I got to say hi to my friends Bill and Lynn from Las Vegas and Phyllis Laing and her family from church . It was a new train inauguration party and I crashed it and got fed as well.

Ron and Alistair. We sure had lots to eat as Annie had prepared for 25 and there were 5 of us there for dinner Friday and 10 on Saturday.

There is quite a story about these rail cars. They were not there a year ago and it appears the railway is stockpiling them in Silver City to the west and they are strung out for miles with all kinds of lovely graffiti on them and when asked will be there til August. What an eyesore. So I am delighted to be working on my Blog again and the next episode will be my trip to Palm Springs and the Mariposa BMW rally. I left 2 days after returning from Helena. Flew down May 19. So will keep that for my next story.

I have not posted for a long time. Busy Busy Busy. I will be traveling again for the next 3 weeks so not sure what will get posted again for awhile. Going to try and put a picture in here of my ride back from Palm Springs and the Mariposa BMW rally. If that does not work it may be awhile til you hear from me again.

Death Valley to Las Vegas and home

I reluctantly left my friends in Ridgecrest and Jimmy explained how to get to Death Valley going over the Panamints. I traveled through Trono. What a small, dirty little mining town this is. Sure glad I don't live there. Then through Death Valley from south to north. I stopped and took these pictures just south of Stovepipe Wells.

You can see the snowcapped peaks of the Sierra Nevadas way off in the distance.

 

 

 

Such a diverse environment and this is just in a 360 deg circle.

Went right through Stovepipe Wells, past the mesquite sand dunes, past the devil's corn field. I had been to all these spots previously. On to Beattie. This time there was no snow on the ground. I got to Vegas in good time but missed I knew where I wanted to go but getting there was a bit of an issue. But I finally arrived and Bill made dinner. The next day we had to go to a car dealership in Henderson and we had breakfast there . We met a few of Bill's musician friends. I stayed 2 nights in there lovely home and then headed back to Palm Springs.

 

You may remember pictures of their pool and the view looking over all of Las Vegas from when I was there before.

 

Looking east out their front door

The second day I helped make a stir fry for dinner and felt it was picture perfect

I headed south out of Vegas planning to go south far enough to miss the Interstate till I was out of the city but NOO I turned to soon and went right through downtown. Right pas the new ferris wheel. Yes it does move for 60.00 you go around once but it goes so slow that it takes 45 minutes.

Once I reached Baker I turned south through the Mojave. I was greeted by a badger crossing the road as I headed into the heart of the Mojave. Through Roy's place at Amboy and south again into 29 Palms. Then down into Palm Springs. Karen had dog coursing again that weekend in Chino. It rained for the most part but the dogs still ran and did very well. Here is Quiz under her new blanket having a well deserved rest.

On Monday I headed out to one of my favorite spots. Joshua tree National Park and it was my goal to get my National Park passport book stamped.

There are 5 stamps in Joshua tree and I went into this campground for the first time. I will go back. It is beautiful here. I did not get my stamp from Indian Cove though as the ranger was in the campground and the stamp was locked in the station. I will have to return.

There are so many nooks and crannies in this awesome place to explore and I always stop at a different place.

 

It is amazing what erosion can do over time.

 

I rode from the north end out the south end to I 10 to return to Palm Springs. The wind was really bad on the Interstate but I made it home Okay. The next day I wanted to go to Indian Canyons. In all the Palm Springs brochures they are listed as a thing to see and do when in Palm Springs but being directionall challenged by times I could not quite fathom where they were. It seems when I come out of Ken and Karen's mobile home park...instead of turning right and going into Palm Springs ...I needed but to turn left and go to the end of the road.

I found another treasure that day. Hiking several miles. Another place I will definitely go back to. An oasis where the local Indian tribes dwelled and hunted.

 

These hummingbirds greet you just outside the trading post and yes I walked down that path and back up it also.

This is one of the oasis hidden in the canyon.

A couple of Indian huts as they might have been back then.

They don't trim the Palm Trees here and you can get lost in these groves listening to the  myriads of birds .

This is a warm spring where the Indians used to bathe.

The trail or path passed through these 2 rocks.

Cool rock formations abound

This monument is at the beginning of the trail.

I then headed up another canyon in search of another waterfall.

 

I then got on the bike and road over to another canyon and did a 1 mile loop there.

 

Well my computer does not seem to want to load anymore pictures so I will finish for the evening. I had one with rocks towering over me and all I could think of was if there was going to be an earthquake just let me get out of here. The next morning I boarded an airplane and flew home. Now that I am here I am embarking on another journey. Dr's and hospitals and surgery. I do not know a lot at the moment but will try and keep you all updated. Hopefully I am back on the bike in May. I have places to go, people to see and adventures to live.