hppants
Well-known member
Reading Ross' thread has inspired me. The mind is a wonderful thing!
Since the steam bath is in full swing along the gulf coast, which basically limits my weekend riding to either a couple of hours VERY early in the morning, or take a realistic chance on heat stroke, I thought I would start a thread on my next adventure. I've got my brand new FJR just about farkled out and it needs MAJOR miles put on it. Although clearly I'm whistling through my arse, I'm actually hoping to take 2 (TWO!!) bike trips before the end of the year:
1. Leaving September 3 (give or take) - minimum 10 days, likely 12 days, hopefully 14 days.
2. Leaving October 20 (give or take) - minimum 6 days, likely 8 days, hopefully 10 days. This would be a leaf-peeping trip in the Appilacians.
I'll table #2 for a while. Work obligations and budget are not really set for that one. But #1 is a go and right now, I want to get into it - my first bike trip West of Texas!!!! I've dreamed about doing this for years and Lord willing, this is the time. Here's my "wanna see" list (so far):
Zion
Bryce
Arches
Million Dollar Highway
Monument Valley
Natural Bridges Monument (Utah)
Antelope Canyon (Page, AZ)
Horseshoe Bend
I've thought about things west of Utah (Yosemite would be the target), but I fear 14 days just isn't enough time as it basically takes 2 days to get to Amarilo, Tx and 2 days to get back. So I think Zion will be my Western limit. Also, I've been to the Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak, and the ski slopes north of Denver many times in the cage. I'm not interested in spending time re-visiting this - I think I'll concentrate more on the southern and western side of Colorado.
Something I'm researching now is what to do when I get to Amarilo, Texas. I can head north by northwest through Raton Pass, NM (which is our traditional way to get to Colorado), then turn West on Hwy 160, which I hear is GREAT riding. Or I can head due East to Albuquerque (hopefully not all by slab), Petrified Forest, perhaps the north rim of the Grand Canyon (I've visited the south rim twice in a cage), then up to Monument Vally and into Utah. Thoughts on this?
Also really big on my list is to see the Aspen trees turn in Western Colorado. We don't have this tree down here (or even in the appilacian range) I hear that Durango and Silverton is a good area for this. Obviously I can ride the Million Dollar Highway while in this area as well.
So I'm thinking about creating a loop based in Amarilo. Think west to Arizona, then north into Utah, then East to Silverton/Durango, then East to Walsenburg, CO, then south back to Amarilo. I could run clockwise or counterclockwise - perhaps using the Aspen trees as the deciding factor (if they are turning early, counter clockwise, if not - visa versa)
I'll definitely be camping, but likley throw in a motel night or two (especially night 1 and night "done" - the heat in Texas will be brutal in early Sept.). Will the national parks generally have camping spots available at this time? Even on a weekend night (if that's how it falls)? What about that white frozen stuff? Is there any chance I'll get caught up in that for this trip? Pants will ride in freezing cold. He will ride in rain. But he doesn't ride in frozen rain.
Any thoughts you guys on the Western front have would surely be appreciated. Also as we get closer, I'd enjoy meeting and sharing some miles with ya'll as well.
Since the steam bath is in full swing along the gulf coast, which basically limits my weekend riding to either a couple of hours VERY early in the morning, or take a realistic chance on heat stroke, I thought I would start a thread on my next adventure. I've got my brand new FJR just about farkled out and it needs MAJOR miles put on it. Although clearly I'm whistling through my arse, I'm actually hoping to take 2 (TWO!!) bike trips before the end of the year:
1. Leaving September 3 (give or take) - minimum 10 days, likely 12 days, hopefully 14 days.
2. Leaving October 20 (give or take) - minimum 6 days, likely 8 days, hopefully 10 days. This would be a leaf-peeping trip in the Appilacians.
I'll table #2 for a while. Work obligations and budget are not really set for that one. But #1 is a go and right now, I want to get into it - my first bike trip West of Texas!!!! I've dreamed about doing this for years and Lord willing, this is the time. Here's my "wanna see" list (so far):
Zion
Bryce
Arches
Million Dollar Highway
Monument Valley
Natural Bridges Monument (Utah)
Antelope Canyon (Page, AZ)
Horseshoe Bend
I've thought about things west of Utah (Yosemite would be the target), but I fear 14 days just isn't enough time as it basically takes 2 days to get to Amarilo, Tx and 2 days to get back. So I think Zion will be my Western limit. Also, I've been to the Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak, and the ski slopes north of Denver many times in the cage. I'm not interested in spending time re-visiting this - I think I'll concentrate more on the southern and western side of Colorado.
Something I'm researching now is what to do when I get to Amarilo, Texas. I can head north by northwest through Raton Pass, NM (which is our traditional way to get to Colorado), then turn West on Hwy 160, which I hear is GREAT riding. Or I can head due East to Albuquerque (hopefully not all by slab), Petrified Forest, perhaps the north rim of the Grand Canyon (I've visited the south rim twice in a cage), then up to Monument Vally and into Utah. Thoughts on this?
Also really big on my list is to see the Aspen trees turn in Western Colorado. We don't have this tree down here (or even in the appilacian range) I hear that Durango and Silverton is a good area for this. Obviously I can ride the Million Dollar Highway while in this area as well.
So I'm thinking about creating a loop based in Amarilo. Think west to Arizona, then north into Utah, then East to Silverton/Durango, then East to Walsenburg, CO, then south back to Amarilo. I could run clockwise or counterclockwise - perhaps using the Aspen trees as the deciding factor (if they are turning early, counter clockwise, if not - visa versa)
I'll definitely be camping, but likley throw in a motel night or two (especially night 1 and night "done" - the heat in Texas will be brutal in early Sept.). Will the national parks generally have camping spots available at this time? Even on a weekend night (if that's how it falls)? What about that white frozen stuff? Is there any chance I'll get caught up in that for this trip? Pants will ride in freezing cold. He will ride in rain. But he doesn't ride in frozen rain.
Any thoughts you guys on the Western front have would surely be appreciated. Also as we get closer, I'd enjoy meeting and sharing some miles with ya'll as well.
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