Day 7: Roller Coaster Highways, Alien Solar Fields, and the Bright Lights of Vegas
There is a distinct shift in the energy of a road trip when you turn your front wheel away from the quiet desert tracks and point it directly toward the neon capital of the world. Yesterday’s run from Lake Havasu City to Las Vegas was a blistering, 105°F push across state lines, packed with weird microclimates, strict sandwich shops, and a breathtaking 360-degree view of Sin City.
The Morning Log: London Bridge Laps and Fluid Checks
We kicked off the morning with our standard routine: hot coffee, a few muffins, and a mandatory pre-ride maintenance check. The oil levels looked great across the rigs, but Pete and Dean’s bikes were thirsty for a little coolant. Fortunately, we carried extra with us, so we topped them off and buttoned up the fairings.
Before leaving Lake Havasu City behind, we had to take one final lap across the historic London Bridge to explore the island on the other side. Crossing the massive brick structure with British and American flags flying on alternating poles is a surreal experience. The island itself is pretty sparse—just a handful of houses, condos, boat ramps, and Jet Ski rentals. It also carried a pretty aggressive, fishy lake smell. I couldn’t help but think: If I’m dropping $600,000 on a waterfront condo, I probably don’t want my front porch smelling like a dead fish market.
We pointed the bikes north on Highway 55, intercepted I-40 West to Topock, and officially crossed the Colorado River into California.
[ CALIFORNIA BOUND: STATION CHECKPOINT ]
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The Surprise: Just as we crossed the state line into California, we rolled into a mandatory highway checkpoint.
The Vibe: Oddly strict. We weren’t entirely sure what they were looking for or inspecting—likely agricultural or state compliance—but we cleared it without an issue and kept rolling.
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The Mojave Roller Coaster and Alien Tech
Once through the checkpoint, we jumped right back onto historic Route 66, tracing the river along the old tracks down to Needles. We cut back through the stunning landscapes of the Mojave Valley, stopping to snap a quick group photo at the iconic Historic Route 66 California Gateway sign, before veering north onto Highway 95 straight for Las Vegas.
Highway 95 was an absolute trip to ride. The asphalt felt like a literal roller coaster, constantly dipping and rising 8 to 10 feet at regular intervals. I’m pretty sure those dramatic dips are designed as spillways for flash flood waters to tear across the desert without washing Route 66 completely off the map.
The desert scenery was beautifully bizarre. We rode past massive solar fields with hundreds of blinding mirrors aiming directly up at central towers—looking like a set right out of an alien movie. Dust devils and dirt twisters danced across the horizon, and tumbleweeds constantly darted across our path.
The thermometer hovered around a steady 105°F, but the desert had one more weird trick up its sleeve. As we cruised directly under a massive set of high-voltage power lines, the temperature reading instantly spiked to 109°F in a split second. Talk about an odd microclimate!
Sub Crises and Stratosphere Heights
Rolling into Las Vegas, the peaceful highway immediately dissolved into a chaotic mess of heavy traffic and terrible road signage. Navigating the grid to find our bearings was a nightmare.
Needing a break from the heat, we pulled over at a Firehouse Subs for lunch. The whole crew naturally dragged a couple of tables together so we could sit as one group, but the staff immediately gave us a stern scolding. Thanks to lingering local restrictions, we were forced to break apart and sit at two separate tables just to eat our sandwiches.
Appetites sorted, we fought our way over to the Henderson area to check into our rooms. Melissa followed closely behind in the support rental car, which made it incredibly easy to unload our heavy bags, shuffle our gear around, unpack, and finally cool down in the A/C.
[ ROAD CHEF REVIEW: TOP OF THE WORLD RESTAURANT ]
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Location: Top of the Stratosphere Tower, Las Vegas
The Vibe: High-end dining with a floor that slowly completes a full 360-degree rotation every single hour.
The Food: Dean and Mike had reservations and treated themselves to an exceptional, perfectly cooked fillet. The dessert stole the show: a salted caramel crème brûlée that was absolutely outstanding.
The Verdict: Pridely expensive but worth every penny for the uncompromised panoramic views of the entire lit-up Vegas skyline.
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Neon Canopies and Strangers on Fremont
To cap off the night, we hit the pavement of historic Fremont Street. We stood under the legendary multi-block canopy to watch the massive, synchronized LED light show overhead, while zipliners constantly buzzed directly above our heads.
Fremont Street is always a world-class people-watching experience, and last night did not disappoint—it was absolutely packed with some of the strangest characters you’ll ever see in one place. We snapped a few photos, soaked in the classic downtown neon, and enjoyed the energy.
It is a bit of a bummer that Hoover Dam, several restaurant tours, and a few of the historic hotels remain completely closed down due to local restrictions, but we aren’t letting it slow us down.
The Mission for Tomorrow: The hunt is officially on. We are hit the pavement first thing in the morning to scout out the local bike shops and try to find Blake a replacement motorcycle so he can get back on two wheels!
Until then, keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down.