Day 15: Las Vegas, NV | Bakersfield, Ca

281 Miles

The entire motorcycle trip pre-Vegas was all about exploration and adventure.  Post-Vegas the focus of the trip is to GO HOME :)

Ruggles and I had planned on staying in the last night in Vegas so we could make an early morning start.  This didn’t end up happening.  My friend Sona, from LA moved to Vegas.  She invited us out with some friends.  Since they live in Vegas, they set us up with free bottle service at a lounge at Aria.  Sona and her friends weren’t able to stay very long, which left Ruggles and I with an entire bottle of Vodka to ourselves…

…

Cut to: The following morning at 8am.  Ruggles and I getting packed together and feeling absolutely terrible.  Very little sleep and big hangovers. The unfortunate thing, is on a bike you really don’t have much of a choice.  We couldn’t exactly stick around til noon and ride home with our AC on.

We said our sad goodbye’s and headed in opposite directions.  Moments after getting on the freeway, traffic stopped.  There had been a car accident that kept me stuck on the freeway…in 100+ heat, wearing full leathers…with a hangover.  Lovely.

The rest of the day was me hauling home as quickly as possible.  One of my best pals, Noel White, lives in Bakersfield.  I planned to stop by and say hello on my way back.  Once Noel saw me, he handed me his house keys and sent me to his house for a nap.  He said it looked like I was running on adrenaline alone.  I can’t agree, I know I was running on at least a little vodka from the night before.

Noel runs a surf shop in Bakersfield called SBI/Wavelengths.  He let me park the bike in the shop while I rehabbed.  He then took me to a nice dinner and I stayed the night with Duke keeping me company.  

It was nice to see Noel and have a beer before I left.  One more day of driving and I am home.