Friday, March 30 - Sunday, April 1
Road Captain: Moe
Departure Time: 8 am
Departure Point: 166/101 - Exit ramp area on east side of 101

CE - Closed Event. THIS RIDE IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC!

Map & Proposed Route to Beatty:
http://rideplanner.harley-davidson.com/rideplanner/share/451030

PLEASE ARRIVE 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO RECEIVE A PRE-RIDE BRIEFING!

PLEASE BRING YOUR SM HOG MEMBERSHIP CARD FOR CURRENT STATUS!

Start off the new year with the first chapter three day ride to Death Valley. This has been one of the favorites of the chapter for years, but have not done for the past two years. We will be stay-ing at the Stagecoach Hotel and Casino in Beatty, Nevada. I have blocked off 15 rooms for us under the name of "Santa Maria HOG". Their # is 1-800-424-4946. We will arrive on Friday, March 30th and depart on Sunday, April 1st (no fool'n). Friday's ride will start at Hwy 166 east off the 101. We will leave that location at 8:00am eastbound in route to Arvin, where we will take Comanche to Hwy 178 and on along the Kern River Gorge to Lake Isabella for a little eaten stop. Continuing on 178 to the 14, which turns into the 398 to Olancha. From Olancha, we take the 190 to Panamint Springs for another stop for rest and liquids. We continue on the 190 across Panamint Valley to Death Valley where we take 374 into Nevada and the town of Beatty. Fridays ride is one beautiful ride, start to finish.

On Saturday, I'll take the group to Scotty's castle first, which is in the northern part of Death Valley. If you have never been there, it's a very interesting place, with 3 different tours. From Scotty's, we travel south and stop at various points of interest. Furnace Creek (gas and food), Artist Drive, Artist Palette, Badwater and Rhyolite (ghost town) are on the itinerary for the day. Sunday's trip home will find us back at Olancha, this time for breakfast. Then onto Tehachapi and the 58 to the 223 to Arvin then home via the 166. This route is a more direct and faster way home.

I have travelled to and around Death valley for many years now, and still enjoy the vast beauty, color, rock formations and history of the area. If you have never been, do not miss this chance to see this wonder up close and per-sonal. Even if you been there many times, like me, it's an awe-some, awesome ride. Also, the rooms are $49.05 per night, tax included. If you have any ques-tions, you can contact me (Moe) at tmoe1219@yahoo.com. Hope you all will join me for this little adventure.

Death Valley Map:
http://www.nps.gov/pwr/customcf/apps/maps/showmap.cfm?alphacode=deva&par...

Death Valley - Scotty's Castle:
http://www.nps.gov/deva/historyculture/scottys-castle.htm

Death Valley - Furnace Creek:
http://www.nps.gov/deva/historyculture/fcinn.htm

Rhyolite, Nevada Ghost Town:
http://www.nps.gov/deva/historyculture/rhyolite-ghost-town.htm

The return trip to the Santa Maria area will be the termination point for this ride.