Been out to the Panamints a few times and going again soon. That perfect weather is just about upon us and that is pleasant temps and NO WIND! This is a rare event and you can count on only a few times a year, in the Spring and Fall, when you get these conditions. In the car, it doesn't make much of a difference, but on a motorcycle, it makes the difference between a great trip and fighting the hard winds in the afternoon, all afternoon long.
Hopefully a couple of my coworkers will accompany me, from Palmdale, up to Randsburg and then cruise by the Fish Rocks, then over to Trona, via the old road, then up and over the Slate Range until we hit the twisty summit crossing over into the Panamint Valley. The summit has to be one of my favorite parts and I love bringing new friends, who've never seen it. You round the corner and suddenly the whole panorama of the valley just opens up like an infinitely huge big theater screen and you are just blown away by the awesomeness of it!
My third-ex (sheesh!) have mountain biked the Panamints, up Pleasant Canyon (that is one tough climb!) up to Clair's camp a couple of times and that's one I want to do soon too. I'd like to know if Rocky and George are still doing OK at Ballarat? It was fun hanging out and sitting in the old chairs on the porch, while the gentle warm breeze and the incredible view just added to the experience.
We're just waiting for that ONE special Spring day of no wind and nice temps and then, we're going to get 'sick' and not feel well and have to leave work early, like by 9 am, if at all. Then we'll be rolling the empty highways at a moderate speed, cause we're not in a hurry and just soak it up.
