Starting at the very east edge of Nevada with 616 miles to SF. Tipping my cap ( helmet ) as I passed the giant cowboy headed toward Elko Nevada. Passing a truck stop outside Wells, Nevada called the 4-way Café thinking of my only skydive and the friends who joined me as I continued toward the sun. In Elko while filling the bike I noticed how badly I needed of a rear tire. The young man gassing up his motorcycle offered directions to the nearest motorcycle shop ( 5th Gear Power Sports ). The early start had me waiting until they opened their doors. I was a little bummed out because this was going to put me behind by at least 3 hours but I rolled with it. Changing the rubber threads to treads off I went into the desert.
A “camelback” full of water, two extra bottles and a number of sun blocks with varying SPF levels I headed into the desert. This part of the trip had me concerned about breaking down and it would have been escalated if not for the new tire on the back. Listening to the PIXIES across the big sandbox while racing a train to my right and the bright blue sky above had me smiling and singing to myself. Yes I think the time alone is starting to make me a bit silly.
Outside of Mill City, Nevada I saw my first Dust Devil. Tornado like but it was blowing sand that passed 10 feet to my left. Thankfully the sandbox wasn’t as hot as I thought and the colors of blue, tan and pale green began to change. More trees and hills started to appear and more police officers were patrolling the border just outside of California. The area of Squaw Valley California is a place I will go to explore. Trees, lakes and beautiful mountainside greeted me as I headed up in elevation feeling the nice cool air hitting my face.
North of Auburn I saw my first California forest fire. It was extremely HOT that even being on the bike was suffocating. Weaving through the heavy traffic south of Sacramento caused by 4 boxes of Styrofoam trays tossed all over the freeway. Cooler breezes welcomed me as I passed through Oakland and Berkeley headed toward the San Francisco.
Coming over the Bay Bridge I entered spectacular San Francisco with a view of downtown and the Golden Gate Bridge off in the distance with the peaks of the bridge peering out of the fog. The whole trip I was thinking of how I would mark the end of my journey on a motorcycle, would it be a picture of me on my bike in front of the Golden Gate Bridge, in front of my new home or in front of a famous trolley car? The first picture I took was that of the college I would be attending. It just felt right. Up the street I drove dropping off my bags at my new home, throwing my stuff into my apartment and walking down the block to the Connecticut Yankee a bar owned by New Englanders. Thought it fitting to end my journey with a nod to the east coast. I ordered the bowl of clam “chowda”, a Sam Adams and a shot of Tequila eating and drinking standing the whole time I was there. The neighborhood I live in feels like home and a nice place to spend the next couple of years possibly more. Upon my arrival I found a nice sitting monk tucked away in an odd furniture shop, the monk carved out of solid stone. Sitting with a peaceful and patient appearance, which struck a cord with me.
Having time to digest all that I have seen, those I met, obstacles to overcome the one piece of advice I would offer is to urge all of you to step out of your busy lives and see our country it is absolutely beautiful and the people I met along the way were so friendly and fascinating that I am looking forward to my next trip that I have never traveled. Dream, inspire, experience, take that chance and smile.
Hope you enjoyed this experience as much as I did and feel free to ask me any questions or comment directly to timothy at timothymorse dot com. Thank you for taking time out to read my story. – Timothy Morse
Final odometer reading - 19,143
Total Miles - 3,723 at 7:15 pm pacific standard time, thousands of dead insects plastered to the front of the bike with a smile on my face as I parked in front of the place I will spend the next couple of years.
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