Last weekend I took a motorcycle ride through Death Valley. I’d been here before, but this visit was rather unique. Thanks to the massive rainfall that flooded out Death Valley the last time I was here and closed the park down entirely, the ancient Lake Manly has temporarily reformed in Badwater Basin. Wonderhussy, among others, even went kayaking in Death Valley just because she could. That looked like too much work, so I’d be satisfied with a good look and dipping my toes in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I patiently waited for a family to get their picture by this sign. In fact, I even took it for them. Then they returned the favor, even waiting for me to get my bike in the shot. This could be a thumbnail for the YouTube video I’ll make of the ride. That will come later, and I’ll share it here, but right now, I want to write about this ancient lake that has returned for a short while.
I didn’t realize just how closely I recreated my picture from two years ago. My 2022 visit is on the left, with this year’s on the right.
I walked about a quarter mile down the salt flats to get to the water. Everyone behind me is wading in the temporary lake. It’s quite a sight to see this in one of the driest places on earth.
I didn’t want to take off my boots and socks and roll up my pants, but I did plop my feet into the lake. When will I ever have this opportunity again?
I enjoyed the rest of the ride back to Pahrump. When I took off my boots, I saw there was still salt on them, a sight I’m used to seeing on cars during many six-month-long New England winters. My bike came nowhere near the salt, though, so I don’t have to worry about it rusting out from under me the way every vehicle from New England does.
But since there’s a car wash nearby, I still gave it a good wash after the ride. It deserved it and needed it badly after living in the Arizona desert all winter, far from any way to wash it thoroughly.
Smokey Da Van 