Beat the Heat....Beat the Heat.

Sorry big brother Mike, but I couldn't stop and smell all the roses.  I had the need to beat the heat.  I knew it was going to be over 100 degrees in "the valley" (us locals call Death Valley "the valley") and it was suppose to be warm all the way to Laughlin, Nevada.  Not only did I want to prevent myself from over heating, but my bike as well (it's air cooled)....So I pulled out of Panamint Springs around 7:30.

But the high lights were many.  I made it about .9 of a mile before I had to stop and take a picture.  This is the road I was on and the surrounding landscape.

I had to bypass the Mosaic Canyon.  It was a 3 mile ride down a dirt hill and I was unsure of the quality of the road.  My first stop was the Death Valley Visitors Center ("the valley").  I walked around for a few minutes.

From there I rode down to an 8 mile one way road called "Artists Drive"  Every corner was a photo op and I stopped many times.  It was an amazing 8 mile ride.

Now for some golf...

And finally

Stop for gas and a soda

and for a new putter and lunch in Baker

and finished up in Laughlin Nevada at the River Palms hotel.  Laughlin on the Colorado River and sits on the Nevada/Arizona border.  The River Palms is a casino and has weekday rooms for $19.99 and I put $5.00 into a video poker machine and cashed out $20.00. 

Tomorrow is on to Flagstaff.  I'm hoping to ride most of the way on the old Route 66.....