GALLIVANTING AROUND THE WILD WEST!

Or: How I Spent My Summer Vacation

by ED JOLLY Sr.- Published in CYCLING EAST  Oct. 96

          This story has its beginning one cold evening last February while lounging in my recliner next to a warm fire. Paging through my latest issue of the American Motorcyclist magazine and thinking fondly of last year's trail riding adventures, I happened across an ad for a trial riding vacation by Nevada Motorcycle Adventures. Since my plans for the next summer were far from complete at this time, why not call and see what they have to offer.

          The next day I place a call out to Nevada seeking information. Answering the phone at Nevada Motorcycle Adventures is Matt Ernst, owner and head honcho. Matt begins telling me how great the riding is, how breathtaking the scenery is, and about some of the places to visit and events in the Reno area. After reviewing the flyer I call Matt again and make a commitment to ride with a group in July.

          "Ed Jolly" someone is calling my name, as I arrive at the baggage claim. Tim, a rider from Florida I met and rode with a few years ago in Mexico, along with his brother Bruce, is also here to ride with Nevada Motorcycle Adventures. This was going to be a really good week, I could see it coming. At least I would know two of the other riders on this trip before we even got started.

          After a short drive we arrive at the headquarters of Nevada Motorcycle Adventures. Several guys are standing around looking at a fleet of late model Suzuki DR350'S. Inside the shop another guy was doing some last minute tinkering with another DR. With introductions out of the way, the guys standing around were also from Florida. Paul, Ron and Archie, a retired airline pilot. The guy working on the bike was Matt Ernst, owner, chief mechanic, and tour-guide first class.

          Each of us was asked to choose a bike so it could be set up to suit our individual riding styles. Looking over the one I had chosen, I could tell right off it was in top condition. New tires, chain, brake pads, new aluminum handlebars. Looking around a bit more, I could see each of the other bikes was in just as fine condition. After a couple of hours of bench racing and tall tales, we headed into town to get settled into our rooms for the night.

          We are off, this time to ride. Everyone changes to riding gear, and gets last minute instructions from our guide. Matt is a licensed guide and has permits for the entire six days for everywhere we are going to be trail riding. Instructions received, a few pictures taken, riders ready and itching to go, and we are off.

          This story started out to be a day by day description of the ride. Trouble is, with keeping notes, riding, eating, etc. they become hopelessly scrambled, so I will just give you a description of what happened in one grand lump.

          Nine riders, six days and miles and miles of trail, hundreds of mountains, countless valleys and passes. Nevada is a Motorcycle riding dream come true. You would think we were natives the way we were treated. Some days we ate on the trail from a lunch brought by the chase truck, some days we ate at some small restaurant out in the middle of nowhere.

          Each days ride would start about 8:30am, ending about 4:30pm. Mileage was about 100 miles per day. Several stops were taken along the way at abandoned and active gold and silver mines; cities long ago deserted high in the mountains and low in the valleys. A bombing range where planes flew in low up a long valley and attacked an airstrip with 2 planes on it. Another day we would ride on a dry lakebed, then climb into the highest mountains in the area. Still another day we crossed miles of desert, that was wild land, seeing deer, rabbits, coyotes, and wild horses. Still Another day we happened upon several natural hot springs which were used for bathing and relaxing.

          All week long the DR's ran flawlessly, with NO trouble at all. Maintenance was done each evening so the bikes were ready again in the morning. The morning of day six arrived much to everyone's regret, but all good things must end. Everyone ate breakfast, said our good-byes to the fine folks who had treated us royally, took pictures and rode off back toward Reno. The trip back had an exciting climax through an off road dune buggy race course, approximately 50 miles long. Back home in Maryland three thing stick in my mind about the ride 

1)      The fabulous beauty of the wide open spaces that we rode through:

2)      The local friendly and kind people who treated us just like neighbors.

3)      The scent of the Juniper trees in the mountains.

When I left Baltimore, it was for my vacation, and a relaxing trail ride. Upon my return after six days of communing with nature on a DR350, I can say, "It was truly an adventure.” A special thanks to Matt and all of his staff for giving us a Motorcycle Adventure and a half!

This story has been edited to fit our information package.