May 14, 2005

The Boys Blow Into Bakersfield

Having survived the Nellis Home Security exercise last night we still had to gain access to the base for some shots of the bikes at the Squadron.  I had to leave my bike at the hotel so I could escort Don onto the base yesterday in my stickered truck  I'm still amazed at the protocol at the visitor center.  MacDill was even worse.  It's like a hip shot reaction instead of a reasoned, thought out process.  But then, they do have to deal with more than I ever thought we should have to deal with in this world.

So I drove to meet Jake at the squadron where we took some PR shots of the bikes out front  then motored to the motel for rendezvous with Don and the trip west.  It is interesting to note that yesterday we found signs on the doors that said only CURRENT T-Birds can access certain parts of the hanger.  I think that is good. And I agree with the rule!   But it made me feel old and distant.  When Jake and I were on the team there was no need for such caution in spite of the Viet Nam protestors. Such is the progress through life we all face and must live with and accept. 

We connected with IH 15 and drove along the west side of the Vegas Strip on IH 15 passed/past (have never figured out the proper way) the wonderful and stately casinos to our left.  It was a crystal clear and crisp morning and a biker's dream of a ride down the road.  We wandered at reasonable speeds along the highway and felt the coolness hit us as we climbed to altitude over the passes in the mountains.  I am and always will be fascinated with the sheer expanse of the Mojave desert.  In fact, of the entire Southwest USA desert from West Texas to California.  We rode on roads that we could see ahead at least 20 miles and then on roads you couldn't see more than 100 yards ahead. What a wonderful country we have!

The Mojave is interesting in its expansiveness as it gives you a sense of endlessness. You can go forever and end up very near where you started.  The mountains you see in front of you never get closer.  I was struck (as I am every time I cross this land) with the awe the pioneers must have experienced on their trips so many decades ago. And they did it on wooden wheels and with oxen, etc, and salt pork and such to survive the many weeks trip.  What great people they were!

At any rate, we left Vegas and headed for Bakersfield.  The road was mostly monotonous through the desert with unusually long and straight stretches until we hit the Sierra Nevada range in California.  It was like a painter had stopped here to change the scenery.  Desert gave way to trees and green things.  The browns and expanse of the desert surrendered to rolling hills and growing things.  It was an absolutely exhilarating experience to ride a motorcycle down the west slopes of the sierra nevada at 65-70 mph while trying to take in the scenery that is beautiful beyond my simple description in this journey.

Along the way we came upon a number of wind farms that collect wind energy and convert it to electricity.  The awesome technology intrigues me and I could not escape the thoughts, as I rode, that this could be a wonderful way to divorce us from oil dependency if only we could make it reliable and affordable.

I'm certain I've forgotten some of the highlights and will have to recover them when I sit alone at home in retrospect.  But we rolled down the road into town highly energized and feeling very good.  Yes...tired.  But a tired gained from good work which is the most refreshing tired you will ever know.

The pictures below are not in order.  I assume by now you can figure out how they belong (Full Album HERE):