Toronto Can. to Colorado USA

First topic message reminder :

***To help follow along***
Day 3 - posted July 9
Day 4 - posted July 10
Part II - posted July 12
Silv. to Ouray - July 15
Snow to sand - July 17
Grand Canyon - July 24
Into Utah - posted July 25
M.O.A.B. - posted July 28
The Bucket List - July 31


Hey All
I see the Ride Report section has been quiet so I will post about a 16 day 10,000 km trip from Toronto to Colorado that had us also ride through Arizona and Utah. From 14000ft snow covered mountains into the scorching deserts in a single day. It was a ride of a life time (until the next one).
It will take me several days to post the entire adventure. It will be a good excuse for me to go through all the photos etc and I will try to keep it geared to a Bandit crowd. I will just add to this original post if I am able to edit it rather than add new posts.

The crew:
Myself (Dave) 2008 GSF1250 SEA
Tom (Ride leader/organizer) 2008 Concours14 Looks like an Apache attack helicopter!!
Jeff (The wrench) Honda ST1300
Josh (Jeffs son) Kawasaki Versys 650
Mike (The IT specialist) BMW f800GS


Day 1 & 2....
Tom had posted on the Concours Owners Group and found a fellow rider who was willing to let us keep a truck and trailer at a piece of property for the 2 weeks we would be riding.
We now just had to load 5 bikes on the trailer and 5 guys into the Chevy Suburban for the 30+hr 2500km drive! We were going to take turns driving, 1 drives while at least one other stays awake to keep the driver alert and focused.
The route from Toronto to Colorado Springs; (If you zoom in to points B&C you will see the route up Pikes Peak and back down to our first nights stop)

http://goo.gl/maps/E0R1q

At least we have "Classy Restrooms" to have a good rub down with a wet wipe in!!!

We arrive at the break of dawn and grab a quick bite to eat before meeting our contact and unloading the bikes.
Pikes Peak is the first thing to light up in the rising sun and summons us to the top.

Despite only grabing bits of sleep in the back of the truck for the last day and a half the excitement gets us on our bikes and tackling the first of many of the incredible roads we will be riding in the coming weeks.
This photo is only part way up the mountain but you can see the road wind thru the forest on the left before the switch backs starts above the tree line.


Once we reach the top all is great, until we remove our helmets and for whatever the reason that is when the full effects of the 14,000ft elevation becomes evident. We are all very light headed and dizzy, almost nauseous, and are out of breath. You just want to sit down and catch you breath but there is no breath (oxygen) to catch! Before long you realize all of the tourists at the peak are in the same situation and kids seem worse off. Tom notices one boy in particular and summons the staff to bring oxygen to him. Realizing that by staying you are not actually going to "get better" one of our friends (Mike) decides to skip the photo op and make his way back down right away.

The road is steep and smells strongly of burning brakes. At one point Park Rangers have a spot check set up and use a laser thermometer on the vehicles brakes and if you have been riding them are told to pull over for a 30 minutes to allow the brakes to cool. We are waved through as we are just engine braking at each corner.
We all meet up at the bottom of the mountain after a pretty intense ride down where you have to stay focused. We take a moment to finally get our breath and our thoughts together, realize just how tired we are and head to the next town to get a decent meal and a good nights sleep!

P.S. Please feel free to ask any questions or even ask for more/less/different photos, there is thousands! This is a 16 day trip and I have only noted a 1/2 day of riding so it will take me a while to get through it so hopefully by the trip home I can write a decent ride report! LOL
There is a some close calls with natural disasters and a few bucket list items that get checked off the list to come....I hope you enjoy!

Regards
Dave

I feel obliged to say Happy Birthday to you T-leaf.  Really enjoyed the report and the photos - a bit of cabin fever here as the winter weather is upon us.

I would really suck at riding a trip like this, as I would want to stop every five minutes for photos. They are truly something to behold. The photo of the town beneath those massive mountains is amazing, nighttime must come early due to the shadows. Loving the story, and happy belated birthday...

Ewok1958 wrote:I feel obliged to say Happy Birthday to you T-leaf.  Really enjoyed the report and the photos - a bit of cabin fever here as the winter weather is upon us.

SuzySuzuki wrote:I would really suck at riding a trip like this, as I would want to stop every five minutes for photos. They are truly something to behold. The photo of the town beneath those massive mountains is amazing, nighttime must come early due to the shadows. Loving the story, and happy belated birthday...

Thanks guys!
Our riding season, back here in Toronto anyway, is really just getting up to speed after a long winter and a wet spring. It will wrap up again around October.
I am glad to hear you are enjoying the Ride Report as I am actually really enjoying writing it! My memory is shot at he best of times and I am finding that by writing this and searching for the right photo, plotting the route on a map and researching the areas I have been to on the trip that it is making it an even better experience for me. It is killing me that it is taking so long as there is still so many incredible photos, great adventures and amazing places we get to on this trip. It was 16 days and I'm only on day 5!! Wait 'til you see Utah!

Regards
Dave

Fantastic ride report. Loving it!

Cheers
Steve

10/10  

This is fantastic.........what a ride report!

By the time I woke up Mike and Josh had already gotten dressed and got the bikes ready for their off road adventure to Imogene Pass. It had rained the night before while we were sleeping, I was the only one to cover my bike and it is Tom who is usually religious about things like that. It was a dark morning and the clouds were so low that the peaks of the surrounding mountains were clear above them and were basking in the sun. We would get the odd glimpse of the bright peaks through breaks in the clouds. Mike I think would have waited a bit longer for the sun to come out but Josh was like a dog about to go for a walk so the camera was stuck to Mikes’ helmet and away they went.


I am never going to be known as an early bird so I took a bit longer to get ready and could seeing how quickly the sun was burning away the clouds, I figured I’d give it a bit a time to do its thing.
Tom and Jeff were going to have breakfast at the Hotel and just have an easy morning reorganizing their gear, emailing friends and family, and planning the next day or two.
With the warmer temps and the clear visibility I set off on another rip along the Million Dollar highway. I headed back up the winding road that climbed up the first mountain. The road was very quiet in regards to traffic and I noticed that all the rocks that had fallen onto the road that I had previously mentioned were now gone. I am not sure if a crew goes early in the morning or if they make several passes throughout the day but the road was clean as a whistle.
The temperature was significantly lower than I had expected first thing in the morning but climbed pretty quick to what I would guess to be the 10 to the low teens, maybe mid teens in the sun. At around 6 degrees my faith in tires drops off although before the trip I had a set of PR3’s put on and I was loving them! Previously I used 2 sets of Pilot Power 2ct and must say I had lost confidence in them. The PR3’s had scrubbed in nice and knurled right to the edge of my chicken strip.LOL The Pilot Powers had never done that.
Anyway, I had 2 passes to do and another with the group when we leave Ouray. I went through the first section at a fairly spirited pace but once up the mountain I found that up at the higher elevations that it had snowed! The roads were still totally clear and bone dry but the trees were all white. I stopped at a look out to just take it all in. Soon I would be descending back down into the valley and sweeping back and forth between the bases of the mountains. In here I guess the clouds didn’t get trapped as it was warm, dry and sunny. I had set my GPS to display speed and changed it from kph to mph, and in the valley coming down into one particular stretch I could see far enough ahead that there was no traffic, no construction and no police. A series of short sweepers back and forth then into a straight that crosses through the valley that you can see well ahead, after each corner I would roll on the throttle more and more and then by the straight just had to kick it up a gear and hold on as it quite easily got to the 100mph mark in time to roll off for the sweeping turns on the other side. I ran back past the giant S turns and knowing how far they were felt here was a good time to turn around and make my way back. I once again raced through the sweeper section but kept up a much quicker pace back into the twisty stuff. I wasn’t thinking about where to turn in and where to stand it back up and roll on the gas, it was just happening and if felt great. (Once I start over thinking proper lines and lean and exit points I know I’m “off” and it is time to sit up, slow down and flip the visor up.) I stopped for several photos on the way back so as not to hold up the crew on the way back later.







I arrive back at the hotel just as Mike and Josh are getting off thier bikes, perfect timing again! I guess our clocks have sync’ed up after being together this long now! Mike would later write in a blog that I arrived back at the hotel with an exhilaration that no drugs could provide. He then apologized for forgetting earlier this morning and wished me a happy birthday. LOL
Mike was absolutely thrilled with his ride and both Josh and his Kawasaki Versys did fantastic. We gathered in the breakfast room of the hotel and Mike started showing us the photos of their ride on his laptop and before long we had an audience of other hotel guests gathered around the table watching the slide show! And here are some of the pics..........spectacular!

I wonder who uses that back door? The ex-wives?


The entrance to their adventure.






And up they go.


They too get high enough up to find the snow that had fallen.


That’s the same tire track I would choose!


Winter wonderland in June.


Just beautiful.




Hello Police? Yeah, there is somebody shooting the telephone box beside this phone.






Josh at a memorial that had been laid for Donny who didn’t make the corner.

It is turning out to be a beautiful day in Ouray. The sun is out it is nice and warm and Tom and Jeff have planned a surprise for us today. The original plan was to ride back down Hwy 550 to Durango and then cut down to “The Four Corners”. The only place in the USA where four states meet. Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. But once Tom and Jeff hear about the snow we encountered and see the photos they let it spill...We are going from snow capped mountains through the desert to The Grand Canyon in one day! (at least try to!)
So the plan is this: >>> http://goo.gl/maps/xtHWy <<<
Ride back down the Million Dollar Hwy to Durango, head west to the town of Cortez for lunch, continue south west to the Four Corner Monument and then sprint through the desert of Arizona to the Grand Canyon. All in favour say aye...
The ride back down Hwy 550 is wonderful. We take turns racing ahead of the pack and then just cruise along until they pack is back in the mirrors. We get out early enough that Tome and Jeff who had stayed back at the hotel in the morning catch a glimpse of the snow filled trees before it melts and becomes past of the rapids cut deep in the rocks.
The ride isn’t very long as the road is now almost familiar, it is my 6th time running it in two days, and we know when we can fly and when to be good.
The Million Dollar Highway has become one of my all time favourite roads, and although we have tons more of the G1 rated roads to ride and a bunch that local Colorado riders have told us are must do’s it is almost sad when we blow past Silverton and know that that was probably the last time we will ever ride it as it is so far from home and there is so many more places to go. I am just so happy to this day when the talk comes down to great roads we have ridden to be able to say “Yeah Blue Ridge Parkway is fantastic but the Million Dollar Highway in Colorado......”
FYI...this is Blue Ridge Parkway >>> http://goo.gl/maps/BOkGO <<< It is within riding distance of Toronto so I don’t miss it the way I will miss The Million Dollar Hwy. It takes 2 days to ride it. Do not come to this part of the USA and not ride it!
Before we know it we are in Cortez for lunch and ask for a good place to eat from one of the residences and are directed to this little place on the Main St. Mr. Happy’s!!

The food was actually very good, the owner very friendly, the waitresses were gorgeous and the other patrons were.....entertaining.

By the time we had had reached Cortez the temperature had climbed into the 30’s but it is an incredibly dry heat, not as stuffy and humid as we are used to in Toronto. Mike in true adventure rider form wears gear that he soaks in water to keep him cool through evaporative cooling. He points out that the athletic “dry-fit” type helps keep you a bit cooler when dry but doesn’t hold as much water and dries much quicker therefore not lasting as long. We are all wearing “neckies” to keep the sun off of our necks and soaking them has a similar effect. I put on a long sleeve shirt that is quite thick that I had originally packed for cold weather riding. I soak that in water and pull it on...aaarrrggg feels just like pulling a cold wet sweater on but as soon as we start riding sure enough it becomes obvious just how cool this thing keeps you. Soon all the trees are gone and the rocks reduced to sand as we start really getting into a desert environment. Mike calls up on the communicator to see how the wet sweater is working as we share a laugh that my nipples are absolutely freezing! Although I never ride without gear I had just tucked my jacket, a heavy Rev-It Cayenne touring jacket, under a cargo net on the back seat in hopes of staying cooler. Turns out wearing the jacket over the soaked clothes keeps them from drying out as fast and the cooling effect lasts that much longer. More on this later.
We make it to “The Four Corners”.

It turns out the guy we asked to take this photo is a young guy from Toronto who had flown out to buy a bike in Arizona and was riding it all the way back. He had no rain suit, no extra gear, nothing. It was his first bike and his first real ride and only about 4000km’s to go. Cool lic. Plate though...


There is a large open market built around the Four Corners Marker where locals sell hand made trinkets, almost all of them the same. The ones who don’t have a spot at the market have make shift tables set up along the highway just hoping a tourist will pick their table so they decorate the with small colourful flags to try to draw them in. The poverty of the native people is just starting to become evident. I bought my daughters each a bracelet and some other small crafts.
There is nothing else here but some portable toilets that I can only imagine what the heat is making them like inside. We pour more water over ourselves to get the clothes soaked again, gear up and its is back on the highway.
The highway is poker straight with absolutely nothing to see but mesas far in the distance, you can travel for miles and miles before you even pass a collection of broken trailers that some call home out in the desert. The heat, the wind, and the sand batter at you constantly, I could not even imagine what it would be like living here.
There is no doubt that there is a beauty about it and inspires a sense of awe at just how amazing and powerful the earth is and how incredibly insignificant we and the little speck of time we call a lifetime is.


Either this is what millions of years of erosion have done to the mountain or they are still building it!



The long stretch of highway we are on has almost no cars or trucks on it. No body is talking on the communicators. It is music on or deep in thought time and just keep munching kilometres. You tend to focus on something, anything in the distance and just get there before spotting the next thing on the horizon. The winds are strong and can sometimes push you suddenly into the oncoming lane, when ever a vehicle does approach you brace just in case a strong gust comes along.
Jeff once again has gone to the front from his usual sweeper position. I am back in the pack as I have a hard time being the first or second bike behind Jeff as he tends to drift from tire track to tire track and I am the one with the strictest etiquette when it comes to group riding. Tom was at the back sweeping, I’m pretty sure he had just set the cruise control and was texting his wife back home or catching up on e-mails. He would signal me and then pull off to the shoulder to respond and then the next thing I know he is back up with us. On a particular stretch that looked something like this...

I called up to Mike who was ahead of me and asked “Do you think Jeff would mind if I jump into the other lane and just takeoff for a bit?” And before Mike could answer Tom went by me in a flash, he was in full tuck and that concours was screaming!! I just said to Mike “Never mind” and did the Road Runner “Beep Beep” sound and pulled out and it was go time! I tucked down behind my windscreen and just went to full throttle in 6th gear and did not let go. Although straight as an arrow the road still had some slight up rolling humps in it and I swear the front end was up over a few, Tom is certain he was airborne at one point. At first I watched the speedometer the best I could and could see it run towards 200kph and it was still pulling like a train. I don’t know why but I started to look to my GPS not only for an accurate reading but I wanted it in mph. It was only showing it in the little corner and I could see it pass 100,110 and 120 but soon I spotted a black SUV facing towards the highway way off in the distance. I thought for sure it was highway patrol and just pictured being on the news for having a speeding ticket that eliminated Arizonas’ debt! Tom was still a good 300+ meters ahead of me when I rolled off the throttle and before I could even sit up right I was flying past the empty black SUV, and Tom who hadn’t flinched was gone! Later I asked Tom if he noted a Top speed and I think he said he saw 230kph. Tom then said he had enough speed there for the rest of the trip, enough for the rest of the season! He just had to get it out of his system. LOL.
We ended up stopping for gas and a quick break in what appears to be the only town for miles. As soon as we pull up to the fuel pumps we are each approached by a local asking us to pump some gas into a rag they have inside a plastic bag. There is dozens of them at this gas station alone. Most can barely speak as they are so high from huffing gas. I look over and Mike is engaged in quite a conversation with one and next thing I see is Mike is filling up a portable gas can for him. I went over to make sure Mike wasn’t being threatened. Mike says “Oh no, these people are just very poor. That is his truck on the other side there, he is an iron worker but doesn’t have enough money to fuel his truck.” I later point out that the reason he didn’t ask Mike to put the gas in the truck is because he will soon be behind the gas station pouring it in rags for money. Mike doesn’t want to believe it and says the guy said he was a proud Navajo and that the US government screwed his people by giving them this land to live off and there is nothing in these desert they can earn a living from.
We ride just up the street and pull into a McDonalds to get some refreshments and figure out where to spend he night. I think it is McDonalds, it has a big yellow M but doesn’t say McDonalds. We are asked for money and or food numerous times before we get inside. Once inside rather than good old Ronald and Grimace greeting us there is 2 armed McGuards!! Yikes. Although we obviously draw a lot of attention we stake out our little spot on the outdoor tables and figure out how much time we have and to what town that will get us to ‘cause we sure as $#!& are not staying in this one!
The options are very limited, we are going to Tuba City or Tuba City. The heat and wind and monotony of the desert highway has taken its toll and we are getting very tired and Tuba City is the only town on this highway between us and the Grand Canyon. We gather up or stuff and under the watchful eyes of many locals pull back onto the highway and speed away.
We arrive at dusk to Tuba City and find the first 2 hotels we find are either very expensive or full. We decide to ride further ride up the street to find another hotel as the GPS showed several in the area. 2 were closed down and a Brand new Best Western that wasn’t even in the GPS had a vacancy, decent rates and a very inviting swimming pool. The neighbour though was a huge court house and correction facility. The town was dry so there was nowhere to pick up any beer but we still had a few travellers packed away in the cases from the other night. We locked up the bikes as best as we could. A refreshing swim in the pool and a quick and convenient dinner in the Denny’s attached to the hotel and it was bed time for this tired lot.

Tomorrow....The Grand Canyon!

Awesome T-Leaf. Poor Donny didn't have much of a chance when he didn't make that corner!  
Oh, & happy belated birthday mate

Hey guys, sorry once again for the delay. I now have family over from Scotland, and some from Chicago plus I am building a new fence and we have gorgeous riding weather in the evening.

Back to the ride report...

Today we are heading to the Grand Canyon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon
I have never been to it but have heard that it is spectacular. My wife had the chance to visit it the previous year as part of a business trip and I had heard all about it.
The day started hot right from the get go. Mike and I were already soaking our shirts and neckies just packing the bikes up! We still had quite a bit of riding through the desert to get to the Grand Canyon.
This is the route we would eventually take >> http://goo.gl/maps/wHfWu <<
We were going to ride to a city south of the Grand Canyon for lunch and to check out a motorcycle shop for any gear we felt we could use.
Before we left I decided that this “Evaporative Cooling” was just the ticket and put on a set of long underwear under my riding pants. They are a thick Under Armour compression type pant that I wear while playing ice hockey and figured I may need them in the mountains. I soaked them down by wrapping them in a dripping wet towel before putting on my vented riding pants. Did they ever work!! Actually to much, my crotch was too cold at speed. I could easily just pour more water through the vents on the thighs to wet them down when needed and the thick underwear would hold the water fantastic.
We once again had to battle heavy hot winds and blowing sands. Just as the temperature really began to climb we ran into road construction that had torn up the surface of the road and had traffic backed up. I had to leave more space from the rider in front of me because of the bits of rubber that his tire was throwing up into me. I have never visited Australia, I would love to one day, but I imagine the type of riding we are doing and sights to be similar to Central Australia except for the Mesas’ on the horizon (flat top mountains that have been heavily eroded) that appear almost as rows of huge ocean liners on a sea of sand.





We stopped only once at a gas station to fill up and grab some refreshments. There was a large gift store that was part of the fuel station. I remember that they had racks of little trinkets that were almost identical to the crafts that the local Navajo’s were trying to sell road side. The only difference was that when you moved the little price tag it revealed a very small “Made in India” label.
The incredible heat was enough to convince Jeff to soak his shirt down before we head off form Flagstaff. We continued to be held up in traffic but made it to Flagstaff in good spirits, hungry and still eager to see the Grand Canyon. The local motorcycle store did not have any deals that jumped out and was more of a motocross/ATV specialty shop. We were so close to the famous Route 66 that we had to do a minor detour to get a photo on it.



We stopped at a Greek Restaurant that had a closed down motel behind it. The restaurant was probably once part of the same facility. Toms wife is Greek and I guess this would provide a taste of home. I think we just got lucky finding this place but it turned out to be the best Greek restaurant any of us had ever been to and Toronto has some great ones!
From there we had an enjoyable ride out of the city and into Grand Canyon National Park. Tom, Jeff and Josh took advantage of the No Helmet Law and rode in hats and a t-shirt. Mike and I just do not enjoy riding without gear.



When we arrive at the Main look out visitor parking is absolutely packed but we manage to find a spot blocked off to cars near the main entrance and squeeze all the bikes in. We definitely grabbed some attention walking around in the heat with long pants, boots, neck “scarves” etc.



The view walked out to was absolutely spectacular. I could not even begin to describe it as I still do not feel that I grasped just how incredibly vast this canyon is. Near the end of our stay we spotted the glimmering speck that was much closer to the side we were on but near the base and when we realized it was a helicopter it put it far more into perspective. I wish we could have done the helicopter tour and flown through and into the canyon to help understand the enormity of this natural wonder.
It is not as wide (1km less) but is significantly deeper than your own Capertee Valley but it is the colours of the rocks and the definition of the layers that makes the Grand Canyon such a wonder to behold. In talking to Mike who has been to the Grand Canyon several times, has done the hike to the bottom etc, he talks of how every time it is completely different, how the red rocks can almost illuminate in the right conditions. The staff say the same thing, that everyday before going to their station they walk to the lookout to see how it looks on that particular day.

























Here is the view from the bottom. Have a spin around >>> http://goo.gl/maps/oAOSQ <<<

I pick up my Grand Canyon 2013 rock (for the collection of rocks from the various places that I and my wife have travelled and keep in a large glass jar) and we headed back to the gift shop for a quick look around, and to grab a drink before heading back to the parking lot. The plan at this point is to cut along the southern rim of the Grand Canyon and then after riding back up some of the same highway we rode coming south jump off and take a highway up to the town of Page just south of the border between Arizona and Utah and that would set us up to continue on the original plan of riding the top roads in Utah and Colorado. When we get back to the bikes we find two BMW’s have shared our self appointed motorcycle parking lot. Mike is back at our bikes when the BMW return and they begin to chat. They have been zipping all over the west coast and decided to make a detour to add the Grand Canyon to there “Been there” list just as we had. When we began talking of where we were headed they brought to our attention that the highway we were going to take to page had been closed due to a collapse. We had already left it late for making it to Page and the only other option was to double all the way back past Tuba City from the night before and take another route into Page. It added just to much time so we all agreed that knowing that the pool was clean and open late that another night in Tuba City would be in order.
The road leading out of the Grand Canyon Park was beautiful and very twisty although the watch for mountain lions signs were a bit unnerving. We all find our spot and get in staggered formation. Tom is leading, I am second, Josh, Mike then Jeff. We are getting hungry and tired and looking forward to just getting to the hotel and dreading the hot highway ahead. Good time for a Safety Check!!! Mike calls up to me that he has forgotten to do up the strap on his helmet and can’t get Tom on the radio. I call to Tom and say next convenient pull off we need to stop for Mike. I notify Mike that Tom now knows and will pull over. Through the trees we can still catch glimpses of the Grand Canyon and sometimes Tom will point them out. We soon come up to an empty overflow parking lot on the left. (Keep in mind we are in the right lane) Tom points into the parking lot then indicates his turn, he brakes and begins to turn in. I am in the right tire track and although I always check my mirrors but on this occasion also had a “bad feeling” ,something didn’t click, I looked in my left mirror and could see Josh had not picked up on Tom braking and turning and had locked up the back wheel and was fishtailing right towards us, smoke coming out from the tire. I swear I could see his eyes the size of saucers through his helmet. Almost as if I was expecting it I was off the brake, ignoring the turn and moving right as to give him room and sure enough he some how kept it straight enough and got through the gap between Tom and I. Mike witnessed the entire chain of events and as I previously mentioned is a scholar of this kind of stuff. He was immediately asking me how I knew to keep going, how to monitor what the riders/traffic behind you is about to do and adjust accordingly, etc. I really enjoy our talks like this and they happen often but we never have had a near miss to talk about.
The corporate Mike wants to now have nightly safety talks similar to the ones he and I have over the communicators on a regular basis. At the next stop I have a great talk to Josh. He definitely had a big scare and learned a lesson. He is a great kid, with a really good head on his shoulders he is going to be an excellent motorcycle rider for years to come and I’m sure he will soon be teaching a friend about safe group riding. Tom has a point that we sometimes become to dependant on the communicators and almost assume that everyone is in on what is discussed. Gone are the relying on hand signals, visual communication and concentration. This is my first trip with the communicators. I like them but I so enjoy the etiquette of a group ride that I still try to ride as I always have, pointing to the tank when I need gas.
On the way back to Tuba City we stopped for a road side break . There was a driveway with an open gate and a road way to nowhere. We let Mike take the BMW for a dusty rooster tail rip through the desert. Not long after he disappeared from site we could see the bright LED headlights making there way back even faster. I think the fear of being shot by the sand farmer at the end of the road got into his head.




Its then back to Tuba City and another Denny’s dinner.

Today we ride into Utah.



I do not really know what to expect on this leg of the journey but having witnessed Toms’ excitement about it I was looking forward to it. I am very happy that we went into Arizona and did the Grand Canyon, I may not have the opportunity ever again, but this is a motorcycle trip and I am here to ride!
We had a typical hotel breakfast but without anyone saying anything we all got packed up and ready in good time. We had moved the bikes to the front entrance area and picked away at what was available to eat each time we made a trip back to the room. Tom would always tuck a few extra apples in his top case to feed any horses we may come across in our journey. We would always eat the apples at fuel and rest stops before he had a chance to feed the horses but just in case he loaded up again today.
There were a few more bikes at the hotel this time and I had the chance to talk to a few of them. One, an old timer on and early 90’s BMW who had travelled everywhere and I think was on his 3rd go round. He was telling me of some of the must do roads in Utah. There were a few Hanz and Franz type tourists on their rented Harley Davidsons but they could not speak English. While loading up their bikes I think I overheard one say “Dis pieze ov shite eiz lowd ahn shaky!” Is that German? There was a few BMW’s to, a Special Edition R1200GS and a K1300s that I was ogling. The rider of the K was in regular street clothes and sneakers and was wound up like a top. I mentioned a few numbers such as the 176hp and he was all excited saying that he loved the bike that’s why he rented it. He threw a leg over and how he got out of the parking lot without hitting a parked car or dumping it is beyond me!! Stalling, cutting the throttle on and off in 1st gear with his head snapping back each time..Yikes.

We were soon off and were well fed and well rested. This is the route for the day >> http://goo.gl/maps/BHZcd <<

This day more than any from the trip is a blur for me yet I remember specific things like finally turning of the first highway after dealing with construction delays again. I remember talking to Mike about how nice it was to see green again as there were trees and fields of grass on the farms and occasionally we would pass small fields that were filled with water, almost as if someone had accidentally flooded them by leaving a hose on. The roads them selves were far more entertaining as we left the flat deserts and entered back into the hills . The colours of them were striking, yellow, gold, reddish orange, but they appeared as just eroded stone, how the trees managed to get hold and thrive was incredible.
What I do not recall is stopping for food or fuel. I think we may have stopped at one of the Wal-Marts in Page or another city. I recall stopping at one on a very hot day, much like this one and loading every bike with as much water as we could carry. It is so incredibly dry. Before the trip that was the #1 bit of advice, through out the trip strangers would stop and say I hope you are drinking a lot of water, other riders all would say the same thing. I think it was at this point I asked at the Pharmacy counter about something for our noses as everyone was complaining and she sold me bottles of a saline wash and a moisturizing gel. This gel stuff was fantastic! What a relief. Utah for as long as I will remember smell like a soothing pine forest! Although the highways we were riding were absolutely beautiful, especially once we re-entered the hills the target for this day way Hwy12 into Escalante and “The Grand Staircase” it would also set us up for getting to the best rated roads in Utah in the most sensible route. This was also a route that Tom had been urged to take from members of motorcycle forums he is a member of. America has a love affair with the Open Road and has many sections that are known as “Americas Byways”. Think of it as Butler Motorcycle Maps but for the RV driving family or the trailer hauling people out to see America. Along with breathtaking views it guarantees traffic, gift shops and photo ops but they are truly spectacular.
When we pulled of Hwy 89 and started towards Escalante along Scenic Byway 12 I do not think any of us were prepared to see what lay around each and every corner. It was for me practically unbelievable. Unfortunately it is so awe inspiring that it drove us to see what was around the next corner and the next and we did not stop for any photos! I have a copy of all the photos taken on the trip and not one here! Tom did have the GoPro running the entire time but I have not received the videos yet. We had entered what is called the Red Canyon. This will give you an idea of what we were riding through...

Spin around or take a trip up the road here >> http://goo.gl/maps/whRP0 <<<

In writing this report I now realize that this portion of the trip, and even including other trips, is where I regret not stopping for photographs. I was so thrilled just riding through here.
I have stolen these pics from the interweb..














We arrived in the small town of Escalante. A town that seemed based on the visitors to the Red Canyon. The first motel was full but they pointed us to a bed and breakfast just up the street and warned us of “The Bike Doctor”, a crazy local who harasses bikers that there bike needs work and doesn’t know when to back off. We all pulled up to the B&B and while discussing the price, breakfast etc with the owner sure enough up rides The Bike Doctor. He has that moniker painted in crooked writing along the side of his beat up Harley chopper. Before he can even really begin I am already sending him on his way.
We ended up staying at the B&B and right next door was a brilliant little gift shop and cafe/restaurant with an enclosed patio. After visiting the gift shop and getting my first decent coffee in ages we returned once we were presentable and had the most wonderful evening on the porch with amazingly fresh pizzas and numerous pitchers of our favourite beer. They allowed us to stay while they cleaned up for the night and we left with the staff.
Now, as much as I hate to admit it I have almost a fear of horses. LOL. I think they are beautiful and graceful but from the other side of a fence. Tom on the other hand loves them and he has a few left over apples for some mustangs in the field behind the B&B. They were very nervous but Tom explained they can’t see us in the dim light so over the fence he goes. A couple huffed and ran off but one stood still long enough for Tom to introduce himself. The horse then followed Tom back towards us at the fence. Tom had me feed the apple to the horse. I dropped it a couple of times but eventually success. Soon the other 2 horses joined and I was able to feed each of them an apple or two. This plays into this trip later.
My horses...hahaha







I’m sorry for the lack of photos of the ride itself. I think collectively we were just so thrilled getting back into some twisty roads and fantastic scenery that we just kept riding. Even the pictures I did post do not capture what it is actually like riding through it for mile after mile.

I have a few good shots of the ride tomorrow to Moab.

Great stuff T-leaf, I'm loving it.  Love the fact that you inserted some internet shots to highlight the highlights - that's my kind of trip report.

"“Dis pieze ov shite eiz lowd ahn shaky!” Is that German? "   Same German we hear in oz when it comes to HD tractors. 
 
And Moab - you sure that's not "Mother of all Bombs" because that's what it was in "Under the Dome" the other night - be careful.  

The next morning our B&B host had us breakfast ready bright and early, I was 15 minutes late having the times confused. He made sure I knew. He was a strange dude, also served in the local volunteer fire and rescue. He seemed anxious to tell us that the reason he was late getting in last night was because he had a call about a couple who were hiking in the canyons when the husband dislodged a large rock which knocked his wife over a 100ft ledge and that she landed on her head, killing her instantly. “It was the most gruesome one yet.” He then went on to tell us how hard the B&B life is, that people have weird habits and that he uses a blue light to look for any mess in rooms that he rents to young couples!!! I joked that I was going to shag the teddy bears he had placed in the rooms and let him blue light that!
This morning was the same routine, pack up the cases, clean the bikes and helmets (I use lemon furniture polish. Cleans off the bugs, has an anti-corrosion ingredient, prevents the visor from fogging up –hockey trick- and repels the dust and moistureand is amazing on black plastics and mirrors too!) Tom is using the Motul bike cleaner and Plexxus cleaner for his windshield and visor to the same effect at 8X the cost. I think he will be changing to Pledge soon. LOL.
We share a friendly conversation with other guests at the B&B, an elderly couple in a rented convertible.
I say a quick goodbye to my horse friends and take thier photos now that I can see them and am shooed away by a farmer lady in a house coat and curlers.

This is the route >>> http://goo.gl/maps/teg28 <<< There is almost nowhere you can’t zoom in or go to street view that isn’t spectacular.

Almost right from the very start we were in the thick of it. Just on the other side of town from where we entered the road (Hwy 12) was incredible and gave us just enough time to get into our groove with some fantastic sweepers, beautiful scenery and gorgeous weather. It was enough to warm up the tires get the blood flowing and set the tone for what would be a very spirited ride for the rest of the day. The section of Hwy we were about to ride was called the Million Dollar Road (Not Highway. LOL) It is almost as if Dr. Evil was naming the roads .
Here is what the Utah Butler Motorcycle Map has to say...
The Million Dollar Road - ”Just south of the small town of Boulder lies a stretch of highway unlike any other. Before paved roads came through in 1940 Boulder was the last municipality to receive mail by mule train. This drive may service automobiles but many portions are barely wider than a car – it rides the crest of a ridge called Hogback where at times the earth falls thousands of feet below off both sides of the road.”
Again, I have had to borrow others videos as I have not received a copy of ours yet! These are good though.
At the 7:30 mark is where he crosses the “Hogback” ridge. We were looking forward to it but were all somewhat disappointed in how short the trip across the ridge was and the lack of that scary feeling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzChyoThr48


This is the Hogback Ridge. (It is much higher than it appears in this pic though.)



Once again in our excitement we blasted through it with out stopping for any photos! Plus it was only about 35km long and at the speed we were going we were soon at an intersection at the next town of Boulder. It is here that we had been advised to find the time to get off Hwy12 and do a quick trip along The Burr Trail by Toms forum friends and by our B&B host who rides a KLR. The Burr Trail is not paved for its entire length so we will be only riding the western end. At this point the road narrows to not much wider than a car width, no center line or shoulders and almost seems to sneak off out of town through a back alley. The pavement is in quite good shape but sand spills onto the edges. I actually love these types of back roads. We climb our way up onto a plateau and are treated to views of Utah in the raw. We are on the other side of the velvet rope. There will be no rest rooms, gift shops, information centers or gas stations out here. It is a clean white yellow sand, but this is a different desert . See here >>> http://goo.gl/maps/anuGU <<<

This portion of the Trail is rated G2 but so we drop down into a notch canyon and find this...


Now we are in the G1 rated section and as per the Butler Map;
The Burr Trail – “John Burr established his name sake in the late 1800’s to drive cattle between winter and summer ranges. The trip follows Duffy Mesa and the aptly named Long Canyon – Wingate Sandstone. Remnants of wind born sand dunes 200 million years old shades the sun in dramatic slot canyons....”

We have not seen another vehicle since we left the highway, we have this place to ourselves!!!
We go through this at quite a spirited pace but around every corner there is scenes that are hard to believe. I would later explain it as Imagine Las Vegas or Disney built a motorcycle theme park and this was the main attraction. You would at least know the scene was fake but have a ton of fun. This one was 100s of millions of years in the making, incredibly real and with no line ups and it didn’t seem to end.
The height of the canyon wall in some sections was incredible and almost looked as if sections had fallen of in an attempt to reveal a hidden secret.













While stopped for photos 2 local true Canyon Dancers went racing by each in full racing leathers on Ducati Multistrada’s and in close formation. We would pass them after they had turned around, I met them mid corner, them on the inside and they were dragging knees. We rode it for most of its paved length as it does turn to a dirt/gravel road and becomes a series of hairpin switchbacks. Mike would have loved to have continued into that!

Another video I found and this one does give a very good feel of riding the G1 section of Burr Trail...
http://vimeo.com/53987026

Once we had turned around and were doubling back a few of us tried to do our best Canyon Dancer impressions and pushed as hard as we dared. I remember how happy Mike was when I pointed out at the end of the Trail that there wasn’t any chicken strips left on the tires.

Once back on Hwy 12 we stop for lunch in the next town. It is a very small town with only a few BBQ and Burger joints competing for you business with flashy signs and motorcycles on the rooftop.
A not so good lunch of overly greasy burgers, a friendly hello to the eldery couple in the convertible that we met at the B&B as they pulled in as we get set to leave and at which point realize Joshs’ license plate has fallen off!
The Burr Trail was just amazing and a road I will always remember and talk about when the talk turns to the great roads we have travelled.
Still it was only a side route, a small jump of the planned route which was Highway 12 which was fantastic all on its own. We have a nice little run for about 30mins of beautiful twisty highway to soak in the rides we had enjoyed and the fat from the burgers then it is back into the G2 an G1 rated stuff! This section is known as “The Journey Through Time”.
As per the Butler Map again.....
A Journey Through Time – “From sandstone desert to pine forest climbing through the Dixie National Forest the snaking road darts in and out of aspen and pine before opening up to endless vistas of Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase Escalante. The ride includes significant elevation changes, up to 10,000ft so be prepared for variable temperatures.”








Thank You Youtube!!!>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GnqKpD8KDE

The red and yellow sandstone has been beautiful and something I had never seen before, The huge rust coloured shear faces of the canyons were something to behold but this section had us back into the forest and I just love riding through trees! This was far less technical that the canyon but flowing sweepers through a forest are my favourite. And with this being more of a tourist road the photo ops and scenic look outs are well marked so in between the sweepers invite you to power out of every turn. The entire group is running a spirited pace through here until we meet the Mojo killer!! Tar snakes. I don’t mind them too much, I have it in my head that traction will resume in an inch or so. (Gravel and/or rocks and my arse bites a hole in the seat) But Tom especially, tar snakes and he will quite happily push his bike along the shoulder for miles. These ones are really bad and I felt my front tire give way a few times and when on the communicator the “F#$&, S%!%, M*%^&$#$@!!!” you hear tells you when your friend is in a corner, but if they are ahead of you it serves as a good warning. LOL. Today this is welcome as it has up sitting upright and enjoying they spectacular views, the wonderful fresh air and smell of the forest (without having to stuff it up our nose with a Q-tip).
At the end of this ride we could easily get on a super slab of a highway and high tail it to our destination, the town of Moab where we have decided we may take a break and stay a couple of nights in. But with the there is still some incredible roads to take by taking the lonnnggg way around, 2 sections of which are again G1 rated roads. We new we had made the right decision when the first section, a mountain pass had warnings to motorcyclist of sharp switchbacks and steep elevations. But it was Hwy 95 that had us going the hardest.
The Butler Maps notes;
HWY95 – Bicentennial Scenic Byway – This is an outstanding example of a G3-G1 progression...Less than a mile after the junction at 276 it evolves into a G2 and quickly becomes G1-The Gold Standard-and remains so for nearly 60 magnificent miles. Slot canyons cutting through rugged cedar mesa sandstone among other stunning scenes truly make this ride one of the best in the state of Utah.
This video is an excellent example of what we experienced although for most of it we ran at pretty high speeds. We each took turns but I was the only one who through out the day was up front with who ever wanted to join me. It caught up as I limped out of the canyon on fumes. The last portion I was just cruising at about 4000rpm, full tuck, well below the posted limit just waving everyone by. I have never squeezed so many km’s out of the bike once the last bar disappeared!

HWY 95 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6ys3S-Ql2E

We stopped in a few towns and at each decided to press one more town closer to Moab until we finally found a liquor store, packed the bikes with beer and while searching for a place to stay once again decided to just pushed on all the way to Moab and we would just enjoy a sleep in the morning.
Moab is the Adventure Capitol of America and quite the party town to boot. We pulled in just as a Rodeo that had been on for the week prior was pulling out. Most of us fell asleep on the grass in front of one of the larger hotels in town while Jeff and Tom went looking for either a great deal or simply a vacancy. They returned and it was the hotel we were sleeping in front of so we just unpacked the bikes where they stood and fell into our rooms. We did make it out for a very late dinner and a few beers and ended up closing the local bar.
Still have no idea what tomorrow holds but Wow, what a day of riding we just had. I do not think I will ever be able to do a one day ride anywhere in the world that could compare to what we just pulled off. (But I will give it my best shot.)

A bit about Moab Utah >>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moab,_Utah

https://www.google.ca/search?q=moab+utah&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=1Z_0UcS_K4yOrQGPg4GQDA&ved=0CG8QsAQ&biw=1360&bih=611




I wish I had come to Moab Utah when I was 25 years younger and 25 pounds lighter!!!


P.S. I find that while writing this report that I am reminded of my ignorance of the various landscapes that make up Australia. I have tried to study certain features as I feel I may be preaching to the choir about some of the stunning views I came across on this trip but you have to keep in mind that in my corner of the world we have nothing but trees, trees and more trees. I have never before in my life laid eyes on deserts and mesas and snow covered mountains and run through notch canyons that I can only compare to being between the skyscrapers in the downtown of a major city... Anyway, I will see it all again tomorrow in a much, much different way. Goodnight.
Dave

Dave, its not ignorance, its missed opportunity to see Australia's vast and varied landscapes. Mind you, most of us are probably envious of what you've seen on your trip, a case of its always greener on the other side of the fence.

A day of rest ???

Last night just before the bar closed , we and only a few other diners were left, a group of incredibly loud and obnoxious Harley riders came in and ordered enough pitchers to last them for hours. When we got back to the hotel we found they had their bikes parked by ours. Just hoped they didn’t have a room close to us.

In the morning we woke up just in time to grab breakfast before it closed except for Mike, he is up at the crack of dawn everyday and on the computer either writing about the previous days adventure or dealing with family and work related e-mails. We looked out our 2nd fl window and found Mike talking to all the bikers “bitches” at the pool side. Loved it, Mike in his socks and sandals wearing his manpri shorts and neckie/scarf having them all gathered around as the guys in sleeveless shirts, fingerless gloves and assless pants came out to pack their pyjamas into their bikes. LOL

This was to be a day for everyone to take a bit of a break and even split up and do our own thing.
I know some of the guys had talked about white water rafting but I still had not had knee surgery (torn meniscus) and just knew it would lock doing something like that and the last thing I would want is to be launched from a boat into raging rapids and not be able to straighten my leg! So I was going to ride to Arches National Park myself while they did the rafting. I wish my knee was OK but even then I would have just rented a mountain bike as Moab is considered one of the best mtn biking areas in the world.
A ride up Main St and you will find every adventure toy imaginable for rent. Dune buggys, ATV’s, jacked up Jeeps, motocross and enduro bikes, kayaks, you name it.
When I mention I am going to ride to Arches National Park the plans begin to change each look into what suits them. Tom and Mike, both experience horseback riders start looking places they can go to. Knowing I had overcome my fear of horses to feed them the push was on to get me to ride one!
At about the same time Jeff and Josh, while flipping through the adventure catalogue came across an ad for skydiving. I have an idea, if I can ride a horse we can all jump out of a plane!! Lets do both!
A few phone calls later and the plan is in action. Mike is the only one who isn’t going to jump, apparently his professional title comes with a disclaimer that does not allow him to part take in dangerous activities. Tom is an experience skydiver, some of which is from his days in the military.
The jump school also offers base jumping. This is the photograph in their ad. I joked that I would pay an extra few bucks to be the one at the back.




We arrange a time with the jump school, early afternoon and arrange a time with a local ranch for the horse back tour, early evening. That leaves us a few hours to wander into town and do a bit of shopping and grab a bite to eat.
We have a short ride up the highway to the airport and get a very brief how-to on body position when we leave the plane and at landing.
We have to jump tandem with an instructor and these guys are a motley crew as would be expected.
Tom and I are the first to go as there is only room for 5 people (barely)on the emptied out plane. In the last few years I have found that the drop on roller coasters makes me feel like I am going to lose my lunch every time. I was not like that before so I am worried about that during the free fall. Other than that I am not nervous at all. I asked how long is the fall? About 35 seconds then about 7 minutes once the chute opens. So I am planning on how to deal with the first 35 seconds. Do I count? Do I close my eyes? Or maybe focus away on the horizon? I guess I will figure it out. We get the video package so the instructors have GoPro’s on their wrists to record us. I am glad we did but wish I had told the instructors to dial down the hype.




On the plane I was stuffed to the back and would be the last to leave. As we climbed higher and higher I looked out the window a few times and could believe how high we were and the instructor would turn on the GoPro, video out the window and then swing it around while saying “Whooaaa, only half way up dude!” I began to feel nauseous and almost a bit panicky. I found I was constantly trying shuffle in the harness to try and relax and not seem so agitated. My breathing even became laboured and I was just kind of loopy. I could see the altimeter and we had just past 8000ft. I asked again, “How high do we jump from? 10,000ft. Wow, another 2000 to go....breath. I didn’t get scared but I did not expect to feel this way, I thought I would be fine then it dawned on me...How high above sea level is Moab? 4000ft. Ah ha! The same height as Pikes Peak! I’m not nervous, it is the same feeling we had when we rode to the top of Pikes Peak on day one! That made me immediately relax and feel much better.

When the instructor asked us to shuffle closer to the door beside the pilot I reached up and pulled on a metal strap to lift my weight and SNAP! the rivets broke and the metal strap was left hanging from the ceiling of the plane. LOL
Once at altitude Tom was first out and now I and the instructor who I was now strapped to had to shimmy our way backwards up to the door. The door is to our left and is quite small. He says “OK, swing your legs out and feel for the platform you stood on getting in.” The door is beside me and in the sitting position only comes to my arse. WHAT?!? I can’t get my legs through there! I try but am not even close! “Pull your leg up tight one at a time!” “My F****in’ knee will lock!” OMG...It is going to take 8 minutes to get to the ground and I do not know how to unlock my knee in mid air! My Dr. had told me that if the knee were ever to lock and I could not straighten it I have 2 hours before there is permanent tendon/nerve damage and that I have to get to a hospital for emergency surgery....OMG, I’m in the States with the most extortionist medical system in the world! Now the instructor is saying “We gotta go dude!” I figure I will pull my left leg up and if it locks I will just come back with the plane. I did get the legs out, I never did touch a platform though. As soon as my legs were out we quickly spun around and jumped.

This would be the view once in the air>> http://goo.gl/maps/9Mmcy

Awhile back I looked into going to a hang gliding class close to home. I recall how their brochure mentioned that best students were motorcycle riders. They went onto explain how for many motorcyclists riding is not a thrill or adrenalin rush , it is a means of relaxation, even on the twisty roads. I completely understood it then and once we left the plane I felt the exact same way! Except for the instructor screaming all the WHOOOOHOOO! Yeah man, you are flying! crap for the video camera it was just beautiful! I was pointing to scribble lines on the ground asking “Is that a road?!?! I wanna ride that!” “What’s that over there?” Asking about huge odd coloured pools near a potash factory. (You can see them in the attached image but the colour has been masked. ????) Then I started to try to spot Tom but could not until shortly before he landed. The rush off falling did not feel the way I thought it would, but did not disappoint but when that chute opened it was the most relaxing thing I had ever experienced. I could have stayed up there for hours. The scenery was incredible. Snow covered mountains on the horizon, red cracked earth all around , meandering rivers at the bottom of deep canyons. Just spectacular.

I landed shortly after Tom and were we ever stoked about what we had just done.


It was far better than I thought it would be.
Up next were Jeff and Josh, the father son team and Jeff was joking about how his wife was going to kill him, not for him jumping out of a plane but for letting her son jump out of a plane. We had a bit of time before the plane landed and was ready to take them up. I think me explaining how I felt on the plane and how it was like being up on Pikes Peak helped them get over that hump.
All in all a great time and one big item off the bucket list!




Jeff beside the crappy little door and the instructor still has to get behind him. Now imagine them strapped to your back saying Swing you feet out! HA!











Waiting for the videos of each of our jumps took some time. We had a beer with the guys and girls who worked there while they packed the parachutes and did the maintenance on the plane. We watched the videos as each were done and then rushed of to a very nice but quick dinner at a great resort located just out side Moab in one of the canyons.



We had to quickly eat and head up the road to meet the owner of Hauer Ranch for or horse back ride.

These are views from around the ranch...









This wasn’t the typical dude ranch where it is single file, nose to tail on a narrow well worn path. This was more of a “We will take you out, see how you do individually and as a group and decide where we will take you from there.” type of ride. Jeff and I were the only ones who hadn’t ridden a before. Tom and Mike both had ridden Western style before. Tom warned me that once we start galloping I have to stand up and time it right or my arse will slap the saddle like a “Japanese tourist” and he slaps his hands up and down to demonstrate. Once there we are each given horses they feel will suit as best, most of the horses are just back from the rodeo competition and had done very well but were still sprung.
We then met our “Outrider” Sam. Sam was as much as a cowgirl as you could ever imagine. She had a great body, was very attractive and was as crude as could be and didn’t take an ounce of shite from us, the horses or her boss, Sena Hauer who was our escort for the ride.

This is Sam....and her right breast.



At one point I was up riding with the owner and she was saying that she didn’t know what to do with Sam. She had a very rough childhood and she would like to help her but she was just too brash and unpolished to be with customers. I assured her that each one of us would agree that Sam being with us and kicking the crap out of our manhood made the trip far better than we could have ever asked for.
That seemed to make her happy. But I did have to reminder to pick which customers get Sam and which get Pedro, the Outrider in training whose name wasn’t Perdo but Sam couldn’t remember his name so she just told him to suck it up...”You look like a Pedro!”
The Ranch is known for being the back drop for many movies , City Slickers being one of them. We rode for about 30 minutes or so and were brought to various look out points and they would point out that in a certain movie featuring John Wayne that just across the river was depicted as Mexico and this was the scene of a shoot out .......
We continued along, I was feeling very comfortable and was surprised just how much control over the horse I had. The personality of each horse was also becoming evident. Sam said my horse was an ornery slut and would go back after our ride and kick every horse she could before being put away. Mid ride we changed the horses name from Snip to Snooky. Sam points out that my crotch will hurt from riding either this Snooky or the Jersey Shore Snooky.

Although all the horses are competing for the lead some how Josh and I, the new riders, manage to take the lead and get a good pace going with Sam along for support. It is determined that we fit the bill for a full out run through an old river bed. We gather and Sena Hauer tries to set the ground rules. No passing Sam who will be at the front and yada yada yada....And they are off!!! OMG what a rush! It didn’t take me long to find that timing Tom had mentioned and I just kind of stood up and absorbed it all with my legs and the knee held up. Mike was in front of me and the slapping of his ass on that saddle had me laughing so hard I thought I was going to fall of Snooky. It was so loud and between the WHAP sounds I could hear him saying “My inseam, my inseam in too short!” I still laugh just thinking of it. We really got up to a good clip and I was quite shocked to see just how dangerous it was.
Although in dried out river we were running right along side the vertical wall of what was the river bank and large boulders 4-5 feet high. If you were to slip off or clip anything...
Sam didn’t stay up front she dropped back to make fun of everybody equally and see how each was doing but Sena would get panicked that her customers were racing off. She would shout to us to slow down but when it was me I didn’t realize it was me she was screaming at, everything seemed fine so it would be Sam that would shout back at her saying “Relax for f***s sakes! They are fine. Where are they gonna go?” and another bickering match would ensue.



Mike with his GPS Spotracker on his arm and his height adjusted stirrups.


Our 2 ½ hour tour turned into closer to 3 ½ -4 hours. We had to stop and let the horses drink, eat and rest for a bit. I think that Sena and Sam had a good time with us to, especially Sam as there was no rules with us and she had a captive audience.
We head back just as the sun was setting.



It was actually getting dark as we got back to the ranch. We stayed and talked to Sam and Sena for bit longer while they got the horses ready for the night.
The ride back to Moab was along a spectacular road that ran along the canyon wall on one side and the meandering river on the other but it was pitch black and we were in the wild! We had Mike ride up front as he has LED lights as bright as anything I have ever seen. I was about mid pack for the ride home and Tom was sweeping as he too has some addition lighting. On the ride back we (I) have a minor confrontation with a Jeep driver who risked our lives by pulling out to pass at the worst time on a twisty road and would just force their way between us when they ran out of road....Arrrgggghh.
We would return in the morning to ride this highway again as it too was a Butler G1 rated road known as the Colorado River Scenic Byway....”Consider the Colorado River Road for the most scenic entrance to Moab’s world famous outdoor recreation. The graceful, winding way also exposes riders to dramatic G1 riding. In many places the road hangs above the Colorado River with thousand foot sandstone walls hugging the shoulder of the other side....”
It was quite spectacular riding it in the pitch dark. I am looking forward to seeing it in the daylight.
For now it s back to the hotel to check a few big ticket items off the Bucket List and get ready for more spectacular riding as we head back to Colorado!
It was neat to see that when we returned back from our trip all the riders I know back home just wanted to hear about the horseback riding and the skydiving not about the incredible roads we had been to.
Still on list...
-Ride Canada’s West and East coast (Sea to Sky Highway and The Cabot Trail)
-Ride through Europe (Talk has been of doing the Edelweiss tour)
-Visit Australia!
-Hang glide.
P.S. This coming Friday (Aug 2nd) I am going on a 4 day trip south into Pennsylvania USA with most of the same guys and a few new faces. It is not Colorado but is absolutely beautiful none the less. I will bring a camera and try to stop for enough picks for a different ride report. Hopefully it will help you through your winter. (pfffft...or what you call winter. LOL)
Regards
Dave

Hey Dave, what do you mean "pfffft what we would call winter" it's really cold here at the moment. I've had to put a tee shirt on with my shorts this year! 

You're more than welcome over here buddy.  And if you do southern Pen, I'd like a couple of shots of diesel loco consists please.    PS: that pic from the restaurant is worth a million!

Ewok1958 wrote:You're more than welcome over here buddy.  And if you do southern Pen, I'd like a couple of shots of diesel loco consists please.    PS: that pic from the restaurant is worth a million!

Hey Ewok,
Unfortunately we will be riding in the more mountainous NW corner of PA, not in the flatter SE corner near Strasburg and the Train Museum. But now that I know your interest I will keep and eye out during my travels.
Jumping forward a bit we did come across this during our Colorado trip...







http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galloping_Goose_(railcar)


http://gallopinggoose5.com/pages/museum.html

I hope you enjoy!