The Rascal Diaries: 7/21/14 Desert Storm

Crossing the desert on a bike is never easy. Today it was even more of a challenge!

Prepared for a long, hot day, we began our trek on route 140. To our delight, an overcast sky kept us cooler. Out toward Klamath Falls, rice fields lined the road in this volcanic soil. Chunks of lava rock erupted from the ground periodically, attesting to a turbulent past. Our picnic spot in a state park led us down a one lane eroding switch backed road, across a railed bridge to a lovely table by a stream. This would be the only serenity for hours.

Our last chance for gas was in Lakeview. From here on there would be 200 miles of nothing! The terrain was changing to desert and rock with little water. While getting gassed up, we noticed a dark brown cloud on the horizon. I asked the attendant if it was a fire. "Dust" was his answer. And so we encountered another nuance to the sport of motorcycling - dust storms! Ferocious brown clouds boiled up on the horizon. The severity of the wind challenged Jules at every turn. Into the clouds we rode, our teeth and eyes gritty.

As we pulled out of each cloud, more appeared on the horizon, but now they were looking suspiciously like rain clouds. The fact that it never rains here calmed me until the drop in temperature, the wind and the lightening on the horizon debunked that myth. With no shelter, we were forced into rain suits and the continuation across this wasteland known as Nevada. Onward we rode into some of the most frighteningly beautiful storm clouds I have ever experienced.

For 200 miles and three hours, we took the brunt of Mother Nature's wrath. An abrupt end to the black ceiling above teased us for miles with its stunning blue. The sun broke through at points, creating spotlights of hope. A well-placed gas station gave us peace of mind for the thirty miles left to our destination for the night. Settled in Winnemucca, NV, we decompressed as we hugged each other and whispered , "What a ride."

The experience of immersion into the elements of nature can be both terrifying and stimulating. In the throes of the storms today, I could only count the miles until we were in safe haven. But rested and sheltered, I looked back on our up close and personal encounter with the environment and add it to the chapter of my book on living life to its fullest.