If you're going to the mojave desert

I've become a bigger and bigger fan of the desert the past few years. A few years ago, I took a solo motorcycle trip to Joshua Tree from SF. It was my first long trip on my bike - a new bike (the nighthawk you see in the picture) and it was amazing. I rode through a lot of 100+ degree heat. But that was ok. I saw amazing scenery.

In the few years since then I have returned to the desert. Some of my favorites include

Amboy Crater
It's off the old Route 66. It's an old crater with cool lava flows and rock. It was used as a location shoot for many early Hollywood Sci Fi movies. Don't each lunch in the Amboy Diner though, go down the road to

Ludlow Coffee Shop
When I motorcycling it alone, I stopped here for lunch. I love the place. The waitresses feel like my grandmother, with home made pies, cookies, good sandwiches. Standard Farmers Brothers Coffee. I love remembering this conversation:
The waitress: Are you on that bike alone?
Me: Yeah
Waitress: Isn't that scary?
Me: Not really. It's great being out in the air.
Waitress: Do you know martial arts.
Me: Actually I do.
Waitress: Well the cooks in the kitchen thought you did.
Me: Chuckling.

Needles - the wagon wheel
When I'm hung over and dehydrated from spending too much time in the desert (and unsoberly drinking way too much whisky) I eat at the wagon wheel, just inside California and the Nevada border. They have an amazing breakfast special. Pancakes, bacon/sausage and 2 eggs for something like 2.99 or 3.99. A truckers heaven. (And I think they even have a smoking section???)

Lone Pine
It's up north on 395. A very cool frontier town. I think it was used in Hollywood films too. There is an old time classic photoshop (where you get black and white photos in old time clothes) there. I've always wanted to do this, but I've never passed through when it's been open and I've been clean.

Kramers Corner or Junction
There's a cafe at this junction, which leads north into the Death Valley, east into Baker, south into the desert communities past LA and west to Mojave and Tehachapi. It's a cross roads of sorts. A dusty intersection of two two lane highways meeting. There's adventure in any direction.

OK. that's it for now. I'm going to spend the morning getting my bike started and see about spinning it around the bay. I've gots to be saying goodbye to all these roads my tires have kissed.

Comments

[Foozleface J McGraw]

Tip for desert riding: Carry one of those sports bottles full of water. Every ten minutes or so, douse yourself under your jacket/down your sleeves. keep sleeves unzipped and open the jacket at the top just enough to funnel air down your front. I've made it through 110 degrees comfortably this way.