Tuesday - Cedar City, UT to San Jose, CA - 690 miles - no pictures today. I was RIDING!!!!!!

I made a big mistake this morning. I got caught up in my book. It happens all too often at home. I'll get engrossed in the adventures of the characters and completely lose track of time, often resulting in a late night at work (to make up a little time). Today it meant that I didn't get down to my bike until 11am Utah Time!!!!! Big mistake on a day with almost 700 miles planned. I knew I'd be regretting it later, but the book was soo good!

After filling up my camelbak and my stomach at a Sonic Diner near the motel, I got going. It had been hot the past few days, but nothing beat the temperatures I was seeing. I crossed out of Utah on SR26 to connect with US95. I got gas in Caliente, NV and headed for 375, the Extraterrestrial Highway.

I was running my cruise control at speed limit so I had plenty of time to watch the eroded cliffs, Joshua trees, and my ambient temperature gauge creeping between 104F and 112F depending on elevation. Interestingly, my interpretation of the desert rock formations had completely changed after the parks I'd traveled through. Everywhere I looked I saw the remains of ancient cliffs uplifted from the desert and then slowly ground down by the passing millennia.

I passed Rachel, NV around lunch time and considered stopping. I needed a break and food, but the parking lot looked suspiciously gravelly. A mile past I thought, "screw it, I need to stop and rehydrate." I knew it would be dangerous to try to make the additional 100 miles to Tonopah without stopping for food and an influx of ice water.

I did a three point turn on the empty highway and headed back to the A'Le'Inn. A typical tourist trap, this UFO themed cafe was full of neat merchandise and, more importantly, a proprietor used to motorcyclists.

I sat down and the woman behind the counter said, "How bout a nice big ice water." I gulped it down and ordered a sandwich. While I was waiting for my food, some GS riders in the corner finished up and stood to leave. One asked for a bottle of water and cup of ice to fill his Camelbak. The woman immediately said to hand it over. She pulled a big container of ice out of the freezer and started shoveling ice into the bladder.

"I'm used to this. We keep lots of ice around and our water is excellent."

I took advantage of her ice bucket just before leaving. She wished me luck and reminded me to keep drinking my water.

Very much refreshed, I continued on 375 to US6. I tried to get ice cream at the McDonalds in Tonopah. I was dismayed to find that the ice cream/milkshake machine was out of commission. Instead I bought a small drink and used the cup to refill my camelbak (yes, I was drinking that much water).

Not long after I crossed the border into California, I was forced to stop at a construction site. While waiting for the pilot car, I got into a conversation with the flag(wo)man. She talked about the paving project and the difficulty of beating the heat on a day like this. The pilot car finally came, with about 5 cars following it. The driver pulled up next to me.

"Just you?"

I nodded.

"Sorry, I gotta wait for three more cars to make it worth the trip back."

Dismayed, I agreed that was fair.

He laughed, "Just kidding!" and turned his pickup around.

As we got under way, another motorcyclist came up behind me and followed us through the construction project. After the pilot car pulled to the side, I waved the rider past me, assuming he'd quickly take off into the distance. I soon found myself chugging along below speed limit. Amazed, I passed him and he followed me along US6 toward Benton. Going speed limit (running cruise control actually) I even started to lose him going through some of the wide sweepers of the border hills. I pulled over in Benton hoping he'd be up for a chat. We exchanged greetings. He was headed for Lee Vining to spend the night. Jealous, I suggested the Tioga Gas Mart for dinner. I let him take off on route 120 and followed at an easy speed.

I got gas at Lee Vining (Deeter, the Tioga Gas Mart has Camelbaks. Big display by the door) and started up the pass, forgoing dinner to make progress through the Sierras before dark. My friend Sean once said that he heard the Tioga Pass was especially spectacular at sunset. Yes, Sean, it's beautiful, but the glory of the peaks backlit by the colorful sky was overshadowed by my fear of "deer hunting" and unfamiliar curves at night. I didn't stop at all through Yosemite, and only rested at the Crane Flat gas station to clean off my face shield (which had acquired one really vision-blocking bug splat).

When I got to the entrance to Old Priest Grade I hesitated. I have a fear of heights often triggered by steep roads. It's ok in the daylight, but I was not feeling very good about OPG in the dark. I decided to go with the safety of continuing on Hwy 120.

After pulling over several times to let cars pass (don't like having their headlights in my mirrors) and slowly navigating the foothill curves, I arrived in Oakdale at the base of the Sierras. I stopped at the Dennys for a quick meal before crossing the central valley. Just as I sat down, a nosebleed started (from the hot dry air and pressure/elevation changes over the last few days?)

The valley crossing was one of the hardest I've ever done. I had already ridden over 550 miles that day and had a few hours to go. My back was sore for the first time on the trip and I was feeling very tired. Many times I thought of pulling over to take a nap, but I wanted to get home and sleep in my own bed. Plus, I *really* needed to be at work in the morning.

My freeway exit was never so welcoming and I began peeling off my riding suit as I walked through the door (which Tony had left unlocked for me). I fell into bed and immediately fell asleep, feeling as though the bed was moving slowly like a roller coaster.

A trip to remember. Gotta get Tony out there. Oh, I checked in the morning..my 03 Yzf rolled over 30,000 miles somewhere on 680.