Ride With Norman Reedus – Death Valley: “Dante’s View”

By starrymag | June 22, 2016

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

 

In the second episode of “Ride With Norman Reedus” we see Norman finally gets to “pop” his desert cherry, as he so aptly put it, for a ride from Las Vegas, Nevada to Death Valley, California. Joining him this week was his long-time friend, actor and artist Balthazar Getty (aka Balt).

Balthazar Getty is known for his work in such films as Mr. Holland’s Opus (Stadler), Lord of the Flies (Ralph), and Young Guns II (Tom O’Folliard). With a slew of acting credits under his belt, Getty is also a musician, a member of the famous Getty family (known for Getty oil) and most importantly an avid motorcyclist.

 

Day 1:

Norman starts his journey by meeting up with Balt at the famous Peppermill Restaurant on the Vegas strip. While at the Peppermill, Norman and Balt reminisce on their decades-spanning friendship while Norman explains how he met Balt when still working at a bike shop, riding around on a Honda Rebel (on loan from the bike shop) and pursuing an art career. The acting career had not even come into play yet.

Balt finds out that Norman has never been to the desert and is more than excited to share in one of his favorite places to ride. With their game-plan set, the duo decides to hit up Vegas for the night before starting the ride; both of them on Ducati Multistrada 1200s in red for the journey.

Their first major stop is at Sosa Metal Works in Old Las Vegas, where they meet with owner Christian Sosa. Sosa’s designs for bikes have a futuristic feel to them, with a one-year minimum waiting list for a custom Sosa bike. Norman and Balt get the chance to tour the shop with Sosa as he points out that all the machinery he uses is very old-school. Sosa even lets Norman try out the hammer machine that they use for the metal. And in typical Reedus fashion, he becomes a big kid in the biker shop.

To end their first day, both Norman and Balt find a Zombie Burlesque show that intrigues them both. After the show, the guys then head backstage to meet the cast and take some pictures. One of the cast members shares with Norman that the creator of the show was inspired by The Walking Dead. 

 

Day 2: 

The guys get a start on the road to their first stop in Pahrump, Nevada, where they’re going to a well-known clinic for Dirt Bike Riding. This leg of the ride takes them through the Mojave Desert and, ultimately, to a stop for lunch at Mountain Springs Saloon. The saloon is known for its Old Time Biker Bar feel and some of the best barbecue in the area.

They meet the owner, Leadfeather, is more than happy to whip up some dirty pulled pork sandwiches for the dynamic duo while they find their way to some video Blackjack. While killing it at Blackjack, Norman shares his winnings with an older couple who, in an adorable exchange, jokingly quip about giving him their daughter’s phone number. Moments later, Norman and Balt dig into some decadent sandwiches, the proof is in the pudding as Norman licks his fingers clean in Daryl Dixon fashion.

After lunch, Norman and Balt head out on Route 160 to Pahrump in order to meet up with Jimmy Lewis who runs a dirt bike clinic. Lewis is not only an avid rider, but also an Editor for Dirt Rider Magazine. Lewis loans them both two of his newest dirt bikes and the three head on out to the open road in the desert. There, they spend an afternoon into the early evening riding fast and popping wheelies. At one point, fans are treated to a semi strip-show when Norman, out of discomfort from the knee pads that he must wear, drops half-trou (the underwear stayed on) to get some air down there.

Post-clinic, the men check into the Furnace Creek Inn for the night where Nina Kaplan, Anya Violet and Ashmore Ellis from Babes Ride Out, a club for female motorcyclists, join them for the final leg of their trip the following morning: Artist Drive to Dante’s View in Death Valley.

 

Day 3 & Final Destination:

As the group head out, with Nina and Ashmore riding on Harley Sportsters and Anya on her Modified Triumph Bonneville T100 Custom, the group start on the trek on Artist Drive to Dante’s View in Death Valley. During their ride, Norman is in awe of the solitude that the desert brings, making a quip that he feels like he’s riding through a “natural Mount Rushmore.”

Where in the city it is easy to be in solitude amongst millions, Norman notes that the desert provides an “absolute and crushing” solitude instead. A place where you feel your size versus the rest of the world.

The group finally arrives at Dante’s View, known to be a viewpoint to the Badwater Basin, one of the lowest points in North America at 282 feet below sea level. The view is incredible, with salt coating the area and according to Norman, one of the most beautiful places he has ever seen. They commemorate the journey with one of Norman’s signature selfies.

Later, Norman, Balt and the lovely ladies from Babes Ride Out convene in the Basin for some campfire time, complete with beer. Norman shares his lesson from riding in the desert: feeling that while being out in the middle of nowhere is a place to escape, you also continue your journey in self-discovery.

Join me for next week’s recap as Norman his journey through North Carolina on the Blue Ridge Parkway with guest rider and founder of Standard Motorcycle Co., Jason Paul Michaels!

 

Check out these links for some of the people and places mentioned in the show:

 

Peppermill Restaurant: www.peppermilllasvegas.com

Sosa Metal Works: www.sosametalworks.com

Zombie Burlesque Show: www.zombieburlesqueshow.com/

Jimmy Lewis Dirt Bike Clinic: jimmylewisoffroad.com/

Furnace Creek Inn: www.furnacecreekresort.com

Babes Ride Out: www.babesrideout.com