Mike and I both got our oil changed, actually the oil in the bikes
changed, so we left shortly before noon. The service manager was from
Messina, NY, so he could not have been more helpful to fellow New
Englanders. When we left town the ominous sign announced, "Last gas
for 168 miles". We drove and drove, and drove and drove...... It was
beautiful and sunny and long. No towns, hardly any houses, and miles
and miles of miles and miles. It was high desert and mountains as it
has been for two days. We passed lunar craters, missile testing
sites and the estra-terrestial highway. We made it to the gas in 168
miles and then on to Benton, CA.
The first picture is Border Peak, sitting right on the NV/CA line.
It is at 13,000 feet. The second two are ones Mike wanted me to show
you. We are staying at the Inn at Benton Hot Springs. It was the
only lodging within the desired number of miles for the day. We
looked on the GPS and internet, and this B&B was our only choice.
Turns out to be a great one. Once we passed into CA, the mountains
softened and the desert became beautiful grassy plains. We made a
turn up a country road, and 4 miles later arrived here. It is old
and charming, managed by a woman named Chastity (we are in CA you
know). The only place to eat was at the turn, a gas station and
cafe. We went back to get dinner with a heavy heart, thinking our
last road meal would be at a combo diner/filling station. To our
surprise, it is that, but run by the Economic Council of the Payute
Indians. (It said Indians on the menu, so no comments about the
incorrectness of the wording.) Great people, homemade blackberry pie,
and once again our worst fears became a true experience.
We returned to the B&B whose greatest claim to fame is their outdoor
hot tubs with natural hot spring water. We went to the Japanese
soaking tub, outside under 10 million stars, and the water was so hot
we could not stay long. However, we decided if we had simply worn
all our clothes, our laundry problems would have been solved. Hot,
hot, hot!
I am having scooter issues. I hope to finish the trip, but I am in
CA nonetheless. I will report tomorrow on our progress or lack thereof.
4 comments:
Scooter issues! Oh no! Well, at least you are out of god awful Nevada (didn't I tell you?) and comparatively close to services where you might be able to get help. Or you can dump the scooter and Mike can ride you to SF! (I want that picture.! So do you think you'll just throw out these clothes when you get home (or before)?
By the way - CONGRATULATIONS on making it to California - I know the trip is not over, but no matter what happens now, you rode from New York to California on your scooter in your 65th year!!!!!
Jody:
I see you are not letting down your readers - posting updates at 2pm in the morning while I assume MAM is fast asleep. That's dedication. Again, beautiful photos.
Let us know where to corral and meet for dinner before you return back. Kathleen is trying to coordinate this without input, so we're getting nowhere. Friday? Saturday? Mike & Kathleen's in Palo Alto on Friday? I have no idea where you two are going to end up. But it sounds like you have largely come thru unscathed, for the most part. You surely put a young whippersnapper like myself to shame with this trek.
Ditto what Sue says, Jody: Congratulations!! You've achieved what you set out to do 10 years ago -- quite an accomplishment. I've so enjoyed your and Mike's blogs and am already anticipating missing them. I'm just glad CA is a big state and will enjoy the rest of your travels. Good luck with the scooter.
Love, Bonnie
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