Here's the plan:
Just an update on dates and possible stopovers:
Fri Sept 18: Day 0 – prep FJR at Salt Lake City (will be ‘stored’ there for me pending arrival). The first 2 days are ‘transport stages’ to link up with friends arriving in LA.
Sat Sept 19: Day 1 – SLC to Las Vegas (425 miles)
Sun Sept 20: Day 2 – Las Vegas to Santa Barbara, where we link up with friends (360 miles)
Mon Sept 21: Day 3 – Santa B to Monterey or Carmel (along the coast 260 m)
Tues Sept 22: Day 4 – Monterey to Moccasin/Sonora area - not yet decided (a 2-night base, but anywhere close/better is good. (175 m)
Wed Sept 23: Day 5 – Loop ride, heading over Sonora Pass, then back via one of the other roads – thanks for the advice on this much appreciated. (est 300 m)
Thurs Sept 24: Day 6 – Moccasin/Sonora to Mammoth Lakes through Yosemite (210 m)
Fri Sept 25: Day 7 – Bishop to Las Vegas via Death Valley (300 m). 2 nights in LV. (Unfortunately I’ve had to cut a ride up to Goldfields from the route – not enough time).
Sat Sept 26: Day 8 – Loop ride from LV – probably taking in Valley of Fire & Hoover Dam.
Sun Sept 27: Day 9 – LV to Grand Canyon. (300 miles) including old section of Route 66.
Mon Sept 28: Day 10 – Grand Canyon to Page via Grand Canyon. (140 m – leaves enough time for sightseeing).
Tues Sept 29: Day 11 – Page to Kanab via North Rim (230 m)
Wed Sept 30: Day 12 – Kanab to Hatch, via Zion (there and back ride) and Cedar City (there and back ride) (210 m)
Thurs Oct 1: Day 13 – Hatch to Blanding, incorporating Bryce, Escalante etc (310 m)
Fri Oct 2: Day 14 – Blanding to Durango (260 m) - This day may be longer to include Monument Valley.
Sat Oct 3: Day 15 – Durango to Gunnison (230 m)
Sun Oct 4: Day 16 – Gunnison to Moab (280 m)
Mon Oct 5: Day 17 – Moab to SLC (240 m). Total at this point 4,200 miles, with 2 more days to spend. Will get to have a look at Bonneville, and ride this area for a day or two, before heading home to Australia.
We might end up spending another day or so in SW Colorado before heading back to SLC.