Idaho to Burning Man

     

    I'm back home as I write this and really can't believe the trip is over. I'm so happy I have a ton of photo ( over a 1000!) so I can use them as a way to remember everything that happened. 

    I left Boise somewhat early and had a planned camping spot just as I went from Oregon to Nevada.

 I was so close to Burning Man that I thought what the heck. I've got plenty of daylight and even if I don't it's not like the Playa sleeps at night! I also missed my wife very much and thought that by showing up a day early would be a great surprise for her. What a contrast this part of my trip was in comparison to what I'd been riding through for the last week or so. Always surrounded by mountains and trees had now given way to rolling hills and then desert. Just West of Boise there were onion fields and the smells were amazing. As I turned South and going through Oregon it wasn't the Oregon I had known. Nothing was super green or lush. Just rolling grassy hills with nothing around for miles. 

I grabbed a bite in Mc Dermitt as I crossed into Nevada. Strange little town. I felt bad for the local Indian tribe that really had nothing from what I could see. Many of them worked at the cafe/casino and seemed very unhappy. I tried talking with one or two of them while I ate but nothing came of it other than a short yes or no. I could see it was a hard life. It made me feel so grateful for everything I have. 

 

    Passing my planned camping place I knew that I wanted to press on to Winnemucca and then Burning Man. The wind kicked up as I got closer to Winnemucca and so I just relaxed and thought about the 100 mile stretch of dirt that was ahead of me. I gassed up and got extra water (as much as I could pack on the bike) and a few other things that I might need while out on the Playa. I asked the attendant at the gas station if he new Jungo Rd. He said yes and said it was right around the corner. I then asked if he'd taken it to Gerlack or at least part way out. In a strange stare he responded "No" with a little bit of a laugh like I was from Mars. Little did he know that I was very serious and going that way no matter what. Just as I walked out to my bike a very nice guy who had a loaded down Jeep was stoked on my style of packing. He was heading out North to go hunting. He and his wife knew Jungo to Gerlach very well and said I would have no troubles. Just to take it easy. It's a LONG road. Thanks for the info and I hope you had a good trip yourself. 

    I turned onto Jungo and it was paved for a few miles. Then became a huge dirt road. There is some sort of mining that is about half way to Gerlach so the road is in pretty good condition. There is nothing what so ever out there.

 Every now and then a truck or semi would come barreling down the road. I could only think of the moto guys having to deal with the big trucks in either Baja or Dakar. Best thing to do is stop. Grab some water and let everything pass and the dust clear. I didn't want to go down that day. Maybe I spoke to soon. Passing the mine area the road was  more of a double track. Rolled up on a guy who was changing a flat on his 4x4 truck. He was coming from BM and said this was normal. I'm glad I had the TKC 80 tires. They are brutes. He was fine and I rolled on. 

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I then came up on a dust cloud stirred up by a caravan heading to BM. They all let me pass and I was making good time. Getting tired the road also got worse. Not a good combo. I thought about taking a brake but I didn't want to get caught by the caravan. The road turned to a shale/ deep gravel and the bike started to get wobbly. I tried to get into the left track and then lost the front. The bike pitched back and forth as I tried to save it but there was no saving it. At about 20mph the we were down. I was fine and so was the bike and gear. I was a little pissed at myself but lesson learned. 

Turned out the caravan headed to the Playa and I never saw them again. Not sure how that worked out for them because the Playa looked a bit soft where they were going. BM was in sight and I had 10 miles to go to Gerlack. Then the left bag just came off tumbling and throwing all my gear everywhere. I laughed at the sight. I really needed to take a breather even though I was so close. Zip ties have become my new best friend. The bag still is nice and safe on the bike. A truck roared past heading for the Playa. Yes, I'm ok, just move on I thought as they sped by. 

When I hit pavement I was stoked. I'd made it. Got some gas and talked with a Ranger and Sheriff. Great guys. 

    As I cued up I was so happy to be there. So many smiles and hello's. People were stoked on my set up with the bicycle attached. 

The welcome was very warm and they asked if I wanted to do the initiation of rolling around in the dirt. I dropped instantly. People kept stopping me to take pictures and all I could think of was to be able to see my wife. I found Ashram Galactica and then a few Ashramers help me find her. Woo Hoo!

    Let the Burning Man experience begin!