Two Years Living On Two Wheels...And Counting

[Judoka]

Dark fell and I was ready to knock out. Several long days in the saddle had worn me down. An absolutely still night lent to perfect acoustics as Horton Creek gently sung me to sleep.

Then...ring, ringing! I answered the phone to hear my friend from Flagstaff excitedly tell me that we were invited to a wedding in two days up in Seattle WA. She insisted I come and told me she was going to send me money immediately.
A little back story here: We were roommates in Seattle years before and all of her family knew me and we were close. I was always at their get togethers; which happened pretty much every weekend. That is how Pacific Islanders are. Now we had lost contact for several months because quite honestly, I had accidentally blocked her! Tech is not my strong suit. When we met up in Flagstaff two days prior it was because a mutual friend had called me out of the blue and we figured out that I had her blocked. Anyway, it was on!
The plan was to meet the following night at her aunts house in Las Vegas and drive up to Seattle. So much for sleeping! I tossed and turned until about 04:00 and then packed up camp and headed back the way I came. I had filled up when I had first arrived in Bishop so I just hit the highway!

 

[Judoka]

The Sierra Nevada Mountains are absolutely awe-inspiring! In the morning they capture the light perfectly, and you just think you are staring into heaven. I did not capture photos of the sun rising on them but it was magnificent! I headed out of Lone Pine and had to stop to just take it all in.

 

[rruff]

This part of the story is all in August of 2022.

Just wondering about the green! That's in the rainy season, so plants are happy and busting out... but it's usually pretty green all year at high elevation, except for late spring most years.

 

[Judoka]

Hwy 168 between Big Pine and the Nevada border is a must see! It is absolutely insane to drive for the first time at night but during the day it is as good as it gets for a motorbike! Along this route you pass the entrance to Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. I could not refuse the detour, so I went. When I got to the gatehouse nobody was there so...away I went. Good thing because I would not be able to afford admission. Talk about a climb! UP, up, up I went.
The road is paved but it is not in great shape. The views however are absolutely epic!


The road below. This climbs fast!

 

[Judoka]

Just wondering about the green! That's in the rainy season, so plants are happy and busting out... but it's usually pretty green all year at high elevation, except for late spring most years.

The green in these pictures are just east of Big Pine CA at an elevation of about 4'000 ft. in mid August.
The green in the previous posts are New Mexico and Arizona a week or so earlier.
Thanks for following along!

 

[AbleGuy]

You’ve mentioned physical pain and money challenges here…but at the same time you are showing us the true richness you’ve discovered by being free and on the road.

But there are few real measures of ‘wealth’ better than that, in my book. A tank of gas and the open road in front of you…

It’s very enjoyable and inspirational to follow your reminiscences. Keep it up👍🏻

 

[Judoka]

From this overlook you can see the highest point in the continental United States, Mount Whitney, and basically the entire Sierra Nevada range. I could even see Horton Creek, where I had camped the night before! Pictures can never do it justice!

 

[Judoka]

These scraggly-looking trees are the oldest trees on the planet! Technically they are the oldest non-colonal living organisms on the Earth. The are more than 4000 years old!

 

[GR8ADV]

Running on reserve I was now just hoping to make it into town at Payson. Maybe I could panhandle.

After some words of encouragement he asked me if he could give me $20....


There it was! There was the $20 I knew I needed to make it to my first destination!

While I was broke as can be and had to be super conservative financially,

I did manage to stop in Williams AZ to have a craft beer at one of my favorite breweries.

So if I am following.
-You are so broke you can’t even buy gas and may have to panhandle.
-someone changes your destiny by giving you $20
-you have to be “super conservative financially”
-you spend $5-$8 on a craft beer.

Did I miss something?

 

[Judoka]

You’ve mentioned physical pain and money challenges here…but at the same time you are showing us the true richness you’ve discovered by being free and on the road.

But there are few real measures of ‘wealth’ better than that, in my book. A tank of gas and the open road in front of you…

It’s very enjoyable and inspirational to follow your reminiscences. Keep it up👍🏻

I hope I don't sound like I am complaining. I agree. I was very very fortunate to be living life in spite of those circumstances; maybe especially in those circumstances. There were many more curve balls to come I assure you!

 

[Judoka]

So if I am following.
-You are so broke you can’t even buy gas and may have to panhandle.
-someone changes your destiny by giving you $20
-you have to be “super conservative financially”
-you spend $5-$8 on a craft beer.

Did I miss something?

Yep! That about sums it up. That beer was worth it too! Priorities!

 

[rruff]

Yep! That about sums it up. That beer was worth it too! Priorities!

You like living on the edge!

I don't like being broke, but I do like being poor just fine... sometimes I think I prefer it... less crap to deal with.

 

[Judoka]

Once back on the highway I laid into it. My detour did not "put me behind" my roughly set schedule but I wanted to move on as it was getting hot. When I came to the junction of Hwy 168 and Hwy 266 my fuel light came on! I was in the middle of nowhere but by now I had learned that this bike was funny about that light and may have several gallons left in the tank, so I did not sweat it.
Unfortunately, by the time I hit the junction of US 95 I knew I was in trouble. I looked on my phone for the nearest gas station and found one just to the north on 95, so off I went.

Only problem was that when I got there it was closed down. As in no longer in business. Now I was in trouble! It was already 103 and maybe noon. I don't remember exactly. I just remembered it was hot and I was out of gas. So, I headed back South in the direction I had come through last night. Maybe I could make it to the station where I had filled up when I came through the last time. Of course logic was telling me had used a full tank on the way to bishop from filling there, and that was without the side trip up to the Ancient Bristlecone Forest. Hope was...hoping that maybe since all the climbing was over I could make it ???.

 

[Judoka]

"When we lose hope, we lose joy in the present because we have no confidence in the future." - Warren Wiersbe


There are no pictures here. I did not even think about documenting my shame and possibly my demise!

Shall I tell the extent of my stupidity here?

This is not a rhetorical question here. I just wanted to know if anyone wants to know how seriously I messed up in this situation. THIS was one of those "Coming To Jesus " moments in my life!

 

[Judoka]

You like living on the edge!

I don't like being broke, but I do like being poor just fine... sometimes I think I prefer it... less crap to deal with.

Oddly enough I have always been a "Minimalist" at heart. I have never found the value in owning so much stuff or having a big house. It is just more to clean to me. I do find value in experiences! I do find value in relationships as well. As you pointed out, I do find value in Craft Beer too!