Edit: I've decided to go as far as Stovepipe Wells the first day and stay there Friday night. This scenario splits the days into almost equal lengths of just over 300 miles each. Plus it would be cool to stay in Death Valley overnight.
OK, I've decided where I want to go. I've never been to Death Valley and the weather reports say it's going to be in the high 70's and low 80's (and sunny) along my whole route. My plan is to leave Huntington Beach EARLY Friday (11/7) morning (and I'm not a morning person either). I'll start out going up the 55 frwy to the 91 east to the 15 north. I'm just on the 15 for a few miles before I turn onto the 395. My goal is to take the 395 all the way up to a little town called Lone Pine that is just north of Owens Lake (dry). The first day is about 250 miles to Lone Pine. I decided to stay in Lone Pine because they seem to have a few motels and I want to get some rest and be bright-eyed for the trip through Death Valley. Saturday morning I would like to take Hwy 136 out of Lone Pine, then Hwy 190 east, and catch Hwy 178 at Indian Village that will take me down through the valley and over to Shoshone. From Shoshone south on Hwy 127 all the way down to a little town called Baker. This is where you catch Interstate 15 down to Barstow, Apple Valley, and then back home. The second day is a little longer but I wanted to make sure I start the Death Valley tour in the morning so I'm not too tired to enjoy it. I thought about riding all the way to Beatty or Pahrump the first day but I didn't want to have the Death Valley part of the trip at the end of the first day and be too tired to care about what I'm looking at.
Since I've never been on this route everything I've figured out so far was courtesy of Google Maps. If you have ridden this area before let me know if there is anything I should know or change about the route. I hope that someone can go with me. I've already talked to one of my local riding buddies and am waiting to hear back from him. I'd rather not go alone but I will in any case. I've ridden clear across the country before all by myself and had a great time anyway. Just thought I'd update everyone on my plans. Any takers? Should be fun!
P.S. Bev, I'm not sure if any of this works for you but I would be glad to stop somewhere to meetup with you. Maybe Victorville, or Adelanto, or Boron where the 395 meets the 58. Or... maybe I could change the first part of the route a little and take the 14 up to Mojave and the 58 east to the 395. This way I could meet you (and anyone else) around Santa Clarita somewhere. Just an idea. Love to have you and the guy on the GoldWing there.
