Tubbleweeds Down in Death Valley (wed)

Today is Wed, I know that, exactly 2 weeks today, I left Florida! I have to say I am totally feeling it today. I feel like I been working out for hours and my body is aching. Yesterday was rough, and I was sure today was going to be better.


I guess with a name like DEATH VALLEY, there is a reason for it! Holy Crap! And I thought Texas was bad!! We did have scenery to look at though.


We left the Casino in Vegas fairly early in the morning. Right in rush hour traffic. Not a great way to start the day with confidence after dropping the bike for the 4th time yesterday. I can't believe how I was feeling. Afraid of my bike. I already rode it 3500 miles by this time and should be getting easier. Trying to get over it, and not think about it. Now that rush hour is over, we pulled off to check the map.

Panzer says, this is going to be a nice relaxing day!! I believed him. It wasn't too hot, we were off to an early start. Headed for California by noon. Actually it got cold and we had to pull over and get some warmer clothes on. We got into some really nice little twisties to start. The wind started picking up a bit, but nothing to bad.

The scenery gorgeous again, the red rock mountains. I started seeing signs for Death Valley, and was really curious as to what it was going to be like. As soon as you got there, it was like out of an old movie. Deserted, dry, hot, tubbleweeds, emptiness. The heat started picking up and we made a couple stops here and there.

One nice place to buy a t-shirt and pin. Of course of a skeleton riding a motorcycle in the desert that says... RIDE HOT RIDE FAST with the tires on fire!! I was starting to feel just like that. I took everyone suggestion to leave a coat on so we would die in the heat! Burn to a crisp!!

The winds started picking up big time!! The roads were long and straight most of the time, but when a curv did come you couldn't smooth it out too good, because of the wind. It was so bad, we had to duck down behind the windshield and hang on for dear life!! I am so not exagerating at all. I thought to myself. 100 miles of this. I aint going to make it.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, the wind brought up sand. yup sand storm. Hitting you in the face like pebbles at first. Squinting my eyes so I could see enough to get through this oven of hell. Tumbleweeds blowing around. Just like that nasty weather you see in the old spaggetti western movies.

I was thinking to myself.. nice relaxing day alright. I hope it ends soon, but at the speed we had to go it was going to be a long one.

So Panzer pulls over kinda quickly I might add with not alot of room. He was worried about us. I am thinking holy shit!! But I pulled over and you guess it!!!

I went down again, on the right side this time..... Not to worry I am here to tell it.


I lost it.. started to cry like a baby... how bloody embarrasing is this. I have to tell the whole world and I am seriously wondering if I am going to make it home.

I thought about it some more and told myself I can't let it keep me down.. Or I wont make it home. I mean shit, that was a hard days work with sand wind and mascara in your eyes. With cross winds of at least 50 miles per hours.



A little pep talk from Panzer and Sandown, and I started to shake it off. If I didn't laugh I would not be able to get back on the road. I even let her take a video of me after.

I am not sure what is going on here tho, my bike was blessed, had a gremlin police bell, good luck feathers and pink balls hanging from it.. HELLS BELL IN DEATH VALLEY... Nothin is working. maybe if they weren't there it would be worse.

I did some damage this time, snapped off the end of my brake handle, my bell got all scraped off and came off, the Blessing sticker is curling up. The pink balls are turning black. There is a little scratch on the gas tank.

So just when I think it can't get any worse. After I get back in the saddle, along comes the DRAGON in the middle of DEATH VALLEY!! Yup, that road I slayed on the Dragon, it was worse down here, and longer.
Ask me if I felt like doing it then. I had no option. I hated every single second of it. I was so tense, I could feel me fighting back the tears again. Whenever I glance to the right, I would see no railing and a big honkin hole in the ground. I kept telling myself look where you want to go!! Look through the curv. one after another and another and another. Normally I would be lovin it!! I felt real bad for Sandowner as she was behind me and I thought maybe she would want to go faster. But with the wind I doubt it.

Nothing was feelin good, my front brake handle had slid down. The throttle was stuck. I was in constant cruise control. Crikey God help me to get through this. There is no pull off and I wouldn't want to take the chance any way. I am just hopin Panzer is reading my mind when I get down from the curvs.


I just had to roll the throttle back and be careful when I changed gears. I tell ya I am exausted writing about it as it all comes back. So we bring out the tools and dont have the right one. Adjusted the brake handle, but the throttle is still sticking. No problem... I made it this far, I will just have to deal with it until we get parked for the night. Hopefull this town has a harley dealership. I know it doesn't but possibly a mechanic who may know something about Harleys.

Off we go again and up come the winds more and the sand dunes. Thank gad it didn't last to long and the next town was only 15 miles.

Pulled into this nice little place. The winds are still howling like crazy so who knows what tomorrow will bring!! I was so tired I couldn't even park my bike.


I am not feeling like she is a Queen anymore. I feel a new name coming on. God I am so sad that we can't work things out!! I love her but she isn't lovin me. I am missing my Blinga these past few days.

I think I have a new knick... TumbleWeed!