GTS Touring Society - Death Valley, March 2004

There was once a time when all bikes at a GTS gathering were actually GTS-1000s- This is no longer the case! In fact, this year there were a number of changes- Only ONE GTS in the whole gathering. Bikes weren't all Yamahas, they weren't all Japanese, and in fact, not all vehicles were bikes!

Greg Branche was the only GTSer actually ON a GTS. His son Matthew was on one of Greg's Yamaha Visions, Bob & Jan Johnson came on their Aprilia Futura, and I was on my KLR 650 dual sport. My buddy David Myers showed up in his truck instead of on his KLR (this turned out later to be a very good thing).

Still, all had a great time together despite missing some of our "regulars" Paula & Doug McLeod, Jay & Haruyo Koblenz, and "new regular-to-be" Doug Kirk.

This was the first year we managed to hit the 'Valley at peak flower season. The rangers at the visitor's center told me that they'd had loads of rain, and that the flowers were particularly good this year. So for those wondering what an explosion of color in Death Valley looks like, this is it. I tried to get as many photos of them as I could. I found it an interesting contrast between the harsh, rugged beauty of the rocks and the bright, colorful and fragile beauty of the flowers.

Panamint Valley 1 of 4	Panamint Valley 2 of 4	Panamint Valley 3 of 4	Panamint Valley 4 of 4	Greg & Matt Branche	Greg & Matt Branche
Death Valley Flowers	Death Valley Flowers	Death Valley Flowers	The bikes at the Burro Inn	Matt's Vision	Greg's GTS & Bob& Jan's Aprilia (& my shadow!)
Kelly's KLR	Scotty's Castle	Scotty's Castle	Scotty's Castle	Scotty's Castle	Scotty's Castle
Bob & Jan Johnson @ Scotty's Castle	Furnace Creek Inn From left: David Myers, Matt Branche, Kelly Cash, Greg Branche, Jan & Bob Johnson	The crowd at Zabriski Point	Zabriski Point	Zabriski Point	Zabriski Point
Zabriski Point	Zabriski Point	Zabriski Point	Zabriski Point	Zabriski Point	Zabriski Point
Zabriski Point	Zabriski Point	Zabriski Point	Zabriski Point	Zabriski Point	Dante's View
Dante's View	Dante's View	Dante's View	Dante's View	Dante's View	Badwater
Badwater	Badwater	Badwater	Badwater	Badwater	Badwater
Badwater	Badwater	Badwater	Badwater	Badwater	Sand dunes by Stovepipe Wells
Flowers	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon
Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon
Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon
Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon
Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon (with moon!)	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon
Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon
Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon	Titus Canyon
Leadfield Ghost Town	Leadfield Ghost Town	Leadfield Ghost Town	Leadfield Ghost Town	Leadfield Ghost Town	Leadfield Ghost Town
Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon
Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon
Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon
Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon	Titus canyon
Titus canyon	Lots of wildflowers	Lots of wildflowers	David's & Kelly's campsite	Artist Drive	Artist Drive
Artist Drive	Artist Drive	Artist Drive	Artist Drive	Artist Drive	Artist Drive
Artist Drive	Artist Drive	Artist Drive	Artist Drive	Artist Drive	Artist Drive
Artist Drive	Artist Drive	Artist Drive	Artist Drive	Artist Drive	Artist Drive
Furnace Creek Inn	Setting sun on Funeral Mts.	Setting sun on Funeral Mts.	Setting sun on Funeral Mts.	Setting sun on Funeral Mts.	Clouds & moon
Setting sun on Funeral Mts.	Dusk at Furnace Creek Ranch	Dusk at Furnace Creek Ranch	Setting sun over Panamint Mts.	Setting sun over Panamint Mts.	Setting sun over Panamint Mts.
Orion rising	Orion rising	Campfire	Sunrise on Panamints	Sunrise on Panamints	Sunrise on Panamints
Sunrise on Panamints	Sunrise on Panamints	Sun rising over (ugh) RV park.	Sun rising over Texas Spring campground	Wildflowers	Wildflowers
Wildflowers	Wildflowers	Cactus variety	Cactus variety	Cactus variety	Wildflowers
Teakettle Junction	Teakettle Junction	Teakettle Junction (Kelly)	Teakettle Junction (David & Kelly)	The Racetrack	The Racetrack
The Racetrack (and "Grandstand")	Racetrack from Grandstand	Racetrack from Grandstand	Racetrack from Grandstand	Racetrack from Grandstand	Racetrack from Grandstand
Racetrack	Racetrack	Racetrack	Racetrack	Racetrack	Racetrack
Moving rocks	Moving rocks	Moving rocks	Moving rocks	Moving rocks	Moving rocks
Moving rocks	Moving rocks	Moving rocks	Moving rocks	Moving rocks	Moving rocks
Moving rocks	Moving rocks	Fragile plants	Do NOT break down here!	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine
Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine
Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine (& David)
Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine
Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine
Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine	Lost Burro Mine (& Kelly)	Lost Burro Mine	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill
Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill
Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill
Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill
Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill
Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Keane Wonder Mill	Chloride City	Chloride City
Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City
Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City
Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City
Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City
Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City
Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City
Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Chloride City	Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon
Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon
Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon
Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon wildflower	Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon
Mosaic Canyon	Mosaic Canyon