Day 1
This trip was originally planned as a week long ride to take
in part of the “Shadow of the Rockies” trail. Unfortunately, the main
facilitator of the trip broke his leg on dual sport ride a few months ago.
Since this was Ed’s trip we decided to go to Moab instead and try the “Shadow
of the Rockies” another year. We picked up a fourth person for the trip and away we went on May 1
st. There would be a BMW 650GS, a DR350 and 2 WR250R’s on the ride.
Since this is a vacation we decided to take two days to make
the long drive to Moab. Our first excitement occurred in Amarillo when we stopped
for some lunch. The trailer wiring plug came disconnected from the truck and
was pretty much gone.
An hour later we were back on the road again and a short
time later were in New Mexico.
We called it a day in Grants, New Mexico.
Day 2
We left Grants for Moab and had our second batch of
excitement for the trip. Snow anyone?
At this point in time my riding partners were starting to
question my scheduling of what week would be in Moab.
We drove out of the snow and decided to make a side trip to
Canyon de Chelly for some site seeing. The Anasazi - "Ancient Ones" -
lived in the canyon between 350 and 1300 AD and resided in communities nestled
below the towering cliffs or perched on high ledges. Their homes were
engineered using timbers and adobe-style bricks. The most impressive structures
are large cliff dwellings, built between 1100 and 1300 in the Pueblo period.
The Anasazi left the area around 1300.
We drove up to the second overlook and guess what happened
again?
Back on the road to Moab again.
The boys looked a little happier when the weather changed
dramatically as we dropped down in to Moab.
Day 3 we get our first taste of riding the bikes.
Day 3
No ride starts without a nutritious breakfast.
There is nothing like eggs, salmon cake, multigrain toast
and home fries to fuel you up for the day. The Eclectica Café would be our
breakfast spot every day while in Moab.
Having never been to Moab my plan was to take and easy ride
the first day to get the lay of the land. I decided to take what looked like a
pretty easy loop on Kane Creek Road. 25 miles or so of dirt then an easy
blacktop ride back to Moab.
After a few miles on the road I pulled over to stop to make
sure everyone’s bike wear fine no one was too hot, too cold etc.
When I turned around to check out the mountains I saw this:
A bunch of guys base jumping off of what looked too low to
me. They didn’t seem to be having any problems though.
Soon enough we were moving again and taking in the wonderful
surroundings.
At the end of Kane Creek Road we headed up towards Hurrah
pass. On the way up to the pass.
We then back tracked and took a right on the trail that
keeps going at the end of Kane Creek road. The trail got a little more
technical but nothing terrible.
A ways farther we rode along and through Kane Creek. There
were lots of small water crossings and a few places with lots of sand.
The sand was not being friendly to IDR on his BMW that was
much bigger and heavier than the other bikes. It seems his bike kept wanting to
lay in the sand and get a tan. Fortunately, there was plenty of water crossings
to rinse the sand off. Especially this one.
The water was over the mufflers on three of the bikes, and
on IDR’s BMW it was actually momentarily over the seat.
We would soon be as far as we would go on the trail. Less
than two miles from blacktop the trail went up some real technical stair steps.
At this point we made the decision that we would go out the way we rode in
which meant back tracking roughly 25 miles back to Moab. This meant re-riding
the 25 water crossings and all the sand.
IDR’s bike was getting tired again and decided to take a nap
by the petroglyphs.
Heading back to Moab.
The jeeps really liked the Slick Rock.
Back in Moab we would have a real late lunch (4pm) of Nachos
Supreme and a beer.
Tomorrow we tackle the White Rim Trail.
Day 4
Today would be roughly a 145 miles for our loop of the White
Rim Trail including the ride to Canyonlands National Park and back.
The Park Ranger was nice enough to let all four bikes in
using Don’s old fart Life Time Park Pass.
It didn’t take long for our jaws to drop at the amazing
landscape in front of us. A short time after the photo below was taken we would
be on the road at the bottom.
At Mussleman’s Arch
Now that the initial shock and awe was over, we settled into
a rhythm of riding for around 30 minutes and then taking a quick stop at a
scenic spot to enjoy the view.
At the next stops:
Can you see the road?
Almost to the end of the trail.
Soon we would be back on top and headed for civilization.
After 146 miles of fun there is nothing like filling your
belly at the Mexican Joint next door to the Hotel.
Tomorrow we take a rest day from dirt and ride through
Arches National Park and down to “Hole N” the Rock”.
Day 5
I went for the whole wheat banana nut pancakes at Electica
today. I couldn’t finish them.
Arches National Park was just a few miles North of our
Hotel.
The plan was to make an easy day of it stopping at the
Overlooks a wandering aimlessly.
“Park Avenue”
On the way to “Balanced Rock”
“Balanced Rock”
“Sand Dune Arch”
“Devils Garden Trail”
We are headed to the right. The arches to the left are a 7
mile hike.
On the way back to Moab
But not before stopping at “Delicate Arch”
After Arches we took a short ride to the tourist trap “Hole
N’ the Rock” a few miles South of Moab. Before becoming museum “Hole in the
Rock” was a diner, gift shop and then home.
We weren’t allowed to take pictures inside put some interior
shots can be seen here:
http://www.theholeintherock.com/photos.html
We still wound up with about 80 miles for the day.
Tomorrow the plan is to check out the East side of Moab in
the La Sal Mountains
Day 6
We headed South out of Moab to ride the La Sal Loop. It
didn’t take long for the scenery to be drastically different than it has been
the rest of the week.
This is where we are headed.
Off in the distance is where we have been riding all week.
We would soon be in for a surprise.
After playing in the snow for a while we headed back down
the Mountain to take a lower trail.
We took this trail for a while but it was real rocky so we
changed our plans and took a different route that was pretty much blacktop
except for a side trip on a dirt road.
The scenery was great for the next hour or so.
Don’s DR was the only the carbureted bike on the trip and at
high elevation it got tired and needed a quick nap.
Back on Blacktop
Almost back to the bottom of the Mountain
We would soon be back at 191 just North of Moab. We made the
decision to ride Gemini Bridges Trail to close out the day.
It is hard to believe that the snow far off in the distance
is where we were just a few hours ago.
Heading back towards Moab
Tomorrow is our last day of riding. We are going to make a
short day of it to get back and load up the bikes for trip back to Texas.
Day 7
It was a whopping 30 degrees when we got up this morning.
Knowing that we were doing a short day today we took our time getting out on
the trail. Today we would re-ride Kane Creek Road, Hurrah Pass, and then head
on to Chicken Corners.
At this point we went by a locked gate right by the Track I
was following to Chicken Corners. I stopped the guys and backtracked a short
distance to see if I messed up. After confirming that we needed to push on Don
caught me coming back up the hill.
Thelma and Louise Point is off the distance.
On the way back to the trailer
Day 8 and 9
No Photos on the trip home to Fort Worth. We drove back as
far as Vega, TX on Saturday. We stayed in a $40 Mom and Pop Hotel and had a
great meal at the “Boot Hill Saloon Bar and Grille”. We were back in Fort Worth
by early Sunday afternoon after an awesome week of riding with great friends
and fantastic weather.
All of the bikes worked very well and there were no
mechanical failures all week on any of the bikes.
I was very impressed with how my WRR worked in all
conditions at all elevations. It is an amazing all around trail bike.
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Looks like fun!
Hana ho ! 