Cruising through Death Valley on a rented HD
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After a quick google search on "Best Motorcycle Rides Vegas", I was headed out of town towards Death Valley - the largest, hottest, driest, and lowest National Park in the US. I swung by a store along the way - to top off the gas tank, pick up a gallon of water, sunscreen, and an umbrella.. just in case my air cooled bike didn't appreciate, nor tolerate, Death Valley. I wanted to at least be stranded in the shade...of my umbrella lol.
Another 15 miles and I see the "Next Services 72 miles" sign. Good choice, me!
The road to Death Valley seems endless... I could see for miles and miles. Desert, tar snakes, and valleys, repeat.
Fun fact: On average, 192 days per year in Death Valley have temperatures that reach 90 °F or higher. Death Valley's lowest point (also the country's lowest point) is Badwater Basin, which lies at 282 feet below sea level.
Death Valley has over 1,000 miles of roads and I didn't even skim the surface. I read that they have over 40 species of birds in DV, the only sign of life I saw, aside from a few tourists, were roadrunners. And they were running everywhere.
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Death Valley is only 76 miles from Mt. Whitney, which is one of the highest elevations in the US at 14,505 feet. I didn't have enough time to make that jaunt, but I did have one more day with the rental, so I hit up Snow Mountain. I went from 90 degrees to 40 degrees in under 100 miles. It was a never ending change in scenery!
While the boys had their fun in Vegas, I had an unexpected GREAT time exploring outside of Vegas. Renting a Harley was enough gambling for this girl!! <-- LOL
*Sadly, the next time I went to Vegas (in 2016), the Enterprise off the Strip did not offer motorcycle rentals. And the time after that, the Enterprise was gone all together. SAD!!!!*
Thanks for the share on this trip, I've been across D V several times n its always been fun, exciting & enjoyable, thx again n ride safe
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