Reno Nevada to The OC

We woke up early but had to wait till the dealer opened up at 9, so it was nice to relax, although we would have rather been rolling in the morning to beat out any afternoon storms. As we had a 500 mile plus day if we wanted to be home.

We arrive at the dealership a little after 9 AM. we waited around the dealership, looking at bikes, eating popcorn and drinking coffee. We thought we would get rolling by about 10 -10:30. I could see clouds starting to accumulate.

Unfortunately, we did not get rolling till 12 pm when they finally got the bike ready. We quickly left town only to have a shower just hit us on the outskirts of Carson City 20 minutes after we left… oh well.

Once past the greater Carson area the road is fairly fast if it wasn’t for the construction areas and some trucks to pass. Our first gas stop is in Bridgeport, California in the high country of the Sierras. This small mountain town called Bridgeport used to be home of a fun motorcycle rally in every June during the summer solstice., but some rowdies ruined it one year.

The ride through the sierras was beautiful as they displayed their glory since we have had a wet and long winter here in California. Not any of the secondary passes were opened.

Once we pass, Mammoth Lakes, US 395 starts dropping in elevation for about 30 miles till you come to the town of Bishop California. It was 3pm and 90° . We gassed up and continue.

Two hours later and 112 miles later, we stopped outside of Ridgecrest, California to gas up. at this point it is only 150 miles to home and Ridgecrest seems like her backyard. We could have stopped, but the day was nice and we decided to continue for home.

We both arrived home around 8:30, 9 o’clock. In retrospect, it would have been nice to call it a day in Ridgecrest.

This ends phase 1 of our summer road trip. We will leave again in the middle of June for the rest of the 15 roads, the Cabot trail, and Sturgis.

As soon as I get my suitcase I left in Ely, Nevada, I’ll upload some pictures.