I left Napa early on Thursday to beat the rain. It worked and the ride to Barstow was great.
I over-nighted in Barstow and woke up Friday to gathering clouds. TWC indicated snow approaching. Heavy enough to possibly close the higher points of I-15 between Barstow and Vegas later in the day. I split w/o breakfast and I gassed up in Baker.
My plan was to go north on 127 through Death Valley. But it looked like that area was already getting weather and besides, my cell phone charging cord had quit. I opted to go through Vegas to stay dryer longer and to stop at a Radio Shack or something for a new cell phone charging cord.
Stopped in Vegas long enough to gas up and buy a new charger cord at some little strip mall just off of 95. Goosed it and got going, I knew I was going to get wet.
Rain by Mercury, NV, just north of Vegas. I stopped for a quick burger, coffee and fuel at Beatty. First group of other riders were spotted here, pulling out of a gas station and going north. At the time I didn't realize that my longer route and lunch stop were costing me valuable time and letting the storm move in closer.
Snow began to fall around Scotty's Junction. Not heavy, but snow. However, by Goldfield the snow was slushing up on the roads. I was with another group of riders by now. Everything was a white-gray; my windscreen was completely covered was snow; my boots and lower legs covered with icy road slush. I was wearing electrically heated gauntlets, so my hands were warm enough but the outside of the gloves had frozen stiff.
We were behind a short line of vehicles which were being slowed by a snow plow. It took a second for my mind to grasp what I was seeing...a fucking snow plow! ...shit... It was getting worse that I anticipated, but it was too far back to Beatty and it wouldn't have been safe to make a U-turn anyway. Press on to the closest town and shelter---Tonopah.
Even though the snow plow had turned off just north of Goldfield, we made it to Tonopah with about an half-inch of snow on the road. The trouble was that the sloped parking lot of hotel was covered with about 3 or 4 inches of snow and ice. As one of us would pull up to the parking lot entrance, 6 to 8 others riders (who had arrived earlier) would line up on each side of the arriving bike. They would keep it upright as the rider very slowly worked his throttle/clutch to keep the bike moving forward.
The hotel had arraigned for inside parking for us, thank god. I managed to get parked without any spills. I pulled off my helmet and I went outside to see another rider take a low speed fall in the lot, he just tipped over really. He was helped up and soon made it inside. I figured it was my turn to return the favor, so I ran up to the next approaching rider and along with about 5 others, we got her inside. Yes *her*. There were two solo female riders who arrived for the rally!
Well anyway, at the riders meeting that night there were 27 out of 50 who showed up. The rally master said our scheduled start time in the morning was 0500 (yeah...right). Then he added that at 0500 a decision would be made if it was a go or not. We all already knew the answer.
I took my rally packet with bonus locations and check-in points up to my room and I plotted out a route on my map. As I finished I looked out of my window at the continuing snow fall. It was hard to tell where the highway was until a snow plow went by. I knew my pre-rally planning was just an academic exercise. I went down to the bar and had a few drinks. I went to bed around mid-night, not bothering to set my alarm.
I got up and had breakfast about 0830. All the riders and bikes were of course still there. The snow had actually stopped, but the roads weren't safe for us. So the White Stag 2001 is now know as the White Stag Lounge Rally. Most all of these riders knew each other from other events. They spent most of the day in the casino bar. I bought a book and read in my room until the pre-banquet cocktail hour. I went down and met a few others. We had a nice dinner and the rally master did a great job of being the MC and I even won a door prize.
Sunday morning the sun was bright and the weather clear. The parking lot was still very icy but the highway clear. So with temps around 19-20 we all began to leave. I took off north, which had a better weather forecast than south.
I had a really great ride coming home; it was cold but all sun and clear road, even over Donner Pass. I did 429 miles in 6 hours 34 mins. That's actual riding time, it doesn't count the 3 gas stops. Sunday traffic coming back from the ski slopes on 80 killed my time ;-).
Listers,
Just got home from Tonopah. I pulled out around 1000, going north on 95. Sky was clear, and the Weather Channel was reporting 19 degrees (although the thermometer on my bike was reading around 25). Reports were that south of Tonopah, Goldfield and Lido, the road was still bad.
After a few miles another group of riders caught up and I hung with them until they turned west on US6. I think their plan was to get to 395, then head south. I hope you guys are all well and home by now.
Just south of Fallon I caught up with the gentlemen from Virginia and Louisiana (sorry I can't remember names). Hung with then until I stopped in Fallon for fuel. I hope their ride is going well.
Cleared Donner Pass with no problems--all in all, today was a great ride. Too bad we didn't have these conditions on Saturday.
I want to thank Tom Almassy and his crew for a great job. Even though White Stag 2001 turned out to be a ride-to-eat with a T-shirt, I know I enjoyed meeting a few of you and putting names from the list together with faces.