This trip included the Winamucca Rally, Volusia Western Rally and 7 days of riding in the Western states. I don’t currently have my pictures but will post them with I return them from Nevada.

I’ve been thinking of this trip for months. Everything was ready, new bike, tent, cot, routes planned…I was ready. The night before a trip like this means one doesn’t get very much sleep. This time it was a little different. I was planning on leaving after work. That meant packing the night before, then strapping everything to the bike when I got home. The whole previous week had been coming at me 90 miles per hours. Big report at work needed to be completed and the house needed some winter clean up before I left.

Well the time finally came and I tied everything down. Tried to think of anything I was forgetting, jumped on the bike and realized I couldn’t find my key. I couldn’t find it anywhere and had to use my spear key. Not a good way to start a trip.

The temperature outside was 90 degrees when I hit Hwy 80 going east to Reno. 1 ½ hours later I was putting my jacket on because of the 45 degree temperature in Truckee, CA. Quite a temputure change.

Upon driving through Reno the wind picked up. I stopped to call Ronnie in Winamucca, NV. When I asked how the wind was and he said not good, high crosswinds all the way. Once outside of Reno, the wind got worst. At it’s worst point I was facing a 50 mph crosswinds. This should have been my first sign of the windy season.

Winamucca pictures will be posted later.

The second day at Ronnie’s I decided to shave my head. My hair had been a bit long and unruly so it had to go. After shaving I spend a good half hour in front of the mirror just rubbing my head. Weird!

The next morning we awoke at Ronnie’s place about 7am. The weather was already getting warm and Ronnie and I were ready to go. We took about an hour to fully pack the bikes and after saying goodbye to Claudine we were off. The new hair do felt weird.

We headed north to Ferney the east on Hwy 80. Our goal was to make it to Salt Lake City, UT by sunset. First stop was a rest stop on Hwy 80.

Of course it wouldn’t be Ronnie unless he whipped out the cell and call someone.