Sagebrush is out west..... Made it! (Will be picture heavy)

[Sagebrush]

The ride to Leadville was nice and cool with bright sun the whole way. The temps dropped a bit more leaving the Littleton area and it stayed in the 60's the whole morning and early afternoon.

I got to Leadville at about 11:30 am and saw this place:

I've read about the Golden Burro on RR's so it was like I knew the place already....

I figured I should get the Burrito....

Very good food and a nice place all around. I met a local FJR rider as I was leaving too. The town is not what I had pictured from my childhood. It was a nice town and a good place to walk around.

A blury walking pic:

Another pic looking down the main street:

Ok, time to head up higher on the road to Independence Pass:

My GPS near the big sign:

The big sign:

Lots of bicycles being used up there, talk about self punishment...

Time to stretch the legs and walk the summit overlook path:

Alright, time to get back to the heat. On north to Grand Junction via I-70 to this stuff:

My second fuel stop of the day led me to this massive shade tree, its a warm 100 degress in the shade just off I-70 West somewhere...

From here around 130 miles from Grandjunction I head to Moab for the night.... its going to be a long day with temps in the 104 range.

The Utah rest stop:

My plan is to get into Moab before dark and yep, I make it in for this shot looking out of the room at the Rodeway Inn:

The ride from I-70 to Moab from the north was "fun", winds were really kicking hard and heat was not letting up. Winds were probably over 50 mph, it was hard maintaing lane position. The ride along the river is great and I'm ready for a stop after doing my Littleton to Leadville to Independence Pass to I-70 to Grandjunction to Moab.

Its a nice 100 degrees at 7pm and I go for a walk. Its been a good day with a drastic change in temps and I'm still up around 5K in elevation. Its amazing you can be over 5,000 feet and have temps in the 100's. I bet Mt Mitchel in NC is nice and cool. The rocks are pretty here, I've never seen this area before so, every turn and every mile is something new for me. B)

 

[Geezer]

Great report. I was in Moab a couple weeks ago. Make sure you see Arches national Park while you are in the area.

And if you want to see the Grand canyon, I recommend the north rim. It is much less crowded and easier to enjoy by motorcycle than the south rim. Other places worth seeing in that area are Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Monument Valley.

 

[Sagebrush]

Great report. I was in Moab a couple weeks ago. Make sure you see Arches national Park while you are in the area.
And if you want to see the Grand canyon, I recommend the north rim. It is much less crowded and easier to enjoy by motorcycle than the south rim. Other places worth seeing in that area are Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Monument Valley.

Yep, I agree. The North Rim was a long run from Miford, Utah but it was worth it. Arches NP was a major high point of the trip and I'll be posting pics shortly.

I'm back on the east coast now and catching up on the ride report. I finally got to a place

in GA where my air card is working at G3 speed so pics are being uploaded.

 

[Braenen]

What is this "favorite restaraunt" you mentioned? I am sitting in Alpharetta right now.

Alpha Soda perhaps?

 

[Sagebrush]

The next morning it was breakfast at the Moab Diner nice and early at 6am.

The view from the diner's window:

It was not cool even early in the morning but, it wasn't 100 yet. More like the mid 80's.

Here are some pics of Moab around 7am:

Arches NP is a short ride away, here is the visitor center:

After the climb up from the visitor center the views open up:

And.... starts looking more like this:

This should ring a bell..... my early morning version in the shade:

Signs like these are placed through out for info:

The windows etc.....

The view from the windows, its a pretty good walk back down to the parking area:

Moving on up the road:

The famous delicate one.....

The path leading up to the delicate arch overlook:

Back on the road heading in deeper:

And another road pic....

Getting to the end of the road:

Headed back out:

And the....... Ok the sign and some guy that rides a cherry colored bike:

Over 90 now and it still early for some folks. :glare:

 

[Sagebrush]

What is this "favorite restaraunt" you mentioned? I am sitting in Alpharetta right now.
Alpha Soda perhaps?

For take out: I like the Alpine Bakery and Pizza shop: https://alpinebakeryandpizzeria.com/Alpine_Bakery.html

Lots of good places to eat around Alpharetta. Windward has Fronteria,Cracker Barrel, etc..

I like this place: https://www.jchristophers.com/

For cajun, Pappadeuxs is near the mall: https://www.pappadeaux.com/home/

There is also an On the Border Cantina near the mall too and Bahama Breeze... so many options

 

[user 213]

Very nice ride report. Great photos as well. Moab is a fun town to explore, but not cheap to stay in. I usually camp in the center of town, or grab a room at the M-6 in Green River on I-70 which is hugely cheaper than in Moab at still close.

 

[Sagebrush]

Very nice ride report. Great photos as well. Moab is a fun town to explore, but not cheap to stay in. I usually camp in the center of town, or grab a room at the M-6 in Green River on I-70 which is hugely cheaper than in Moab at still close.

I stayed at hotels as I came across them and your right Moab is mucho $$$'s, about 120 a night.

Even with all the stops I still averaged just over 600 miles per day and didn't plan stops like I should have. AND boy it was just too hot to camp once I got into Utah. Should have camped in CO.

 

[Sagebrush]

Back to I-70 West from Arches NP....... ride till I hit a rest stop and then ride more.

Rest stop pics:

Rugged place to travel through:

Saw this at another rest stop:

I-70 goes right through it, there are some nice fast sweepers up through there:

The west is so vast and Utah adds in some color:

I wonder why?

Could it be the trees?

Any green around here... not yet....Need another 100 miles.

 

[Old Michael]

Love it Sagebrush. Great pics too.

(How the HELL do you keep your windscreen so clean?

Are there no insects in Utah this time of the year?)

 

[DABRIT]

Sagebrush,

What a great ride report.

Man there are some really remote places out there. As someone from a small, very populated country I am amazed at the expanse and the beauty of the place.

Keep the reports/pictures coming

Ride safe.

Chris

 

[Sagebrush]

I'm back, lost my internet connection while in Alabama, even the dial up stopped working for some reason..... I only have dial up at home. Back in GA for a while so her comes more pics soon.

Well, to deal with the bugs I carry a can of Pro Honda Cleaner/Polish. I actually ran out of my large can of cleaner by 7,000 miles... Lots of little bugs, I killed thousands. Tried high beams and the little suckers still kept coming.

:to_become_senile:

 

[feeger]

Great pics and ride reports!

 

[Shawn]

Great report Sagebrush....

I love the west and hope to make it to Utah - maybe next year...

Did north NM & Monument Valley a couple years ago, then up 550.... hard to keep the eyes on the road 'cause of the scenary!

 

[Sagebrush]

Heading on through to Green River in 106 degree heat I stopped for fuel and made a phone call finding out I had time for some exploring before arriving in Milford, UT. So, I took a few two lane roads south from I-70, did about 160 miles and saw some rolling hills:

The views were changing and I could see mountains again, the temps dropped into the low 90's with the elevation going up into the high 4,000 range. Saw this little fellow at a rest stop:

I should have headed southwest just south of the rest stop but, things were so green and the temps were dropping as I headed southeast. I figured that the body of water on the GPS was worth a visit and the GPS showed a road that would get me back west.... But that was totally wrong, I ended up going northeast on 62 and saw the Otter Creek Reservoir.... Should have turned around and back tracked, didn't.

After another 50 miles the GPS was leading me wrong on gravel roads that lead no where. After getting a real map out I realized there was no quick way west, I was actually near 12 and the neat stuff, not where I was actually headed. I made it to Loa looking for fuel and didn't have time for more wandering so, I did a U-turn and headed back north to a horrible tar snaked road called 119. That sucker was bad and the temps were hot in the high 90's. It was a slip and slide the whole way down.

Hwy 25 looked like a nice road around Fish Lake but, it was at least a couple hundred plus miles to my destination per the great GPS so I cut across the northern point of Fishlake NF. Looking at the map I can't figure why I did that, 89 to 20 would have been better, I-15 was pretty dull. I tried craming too many miles into my Moab to Milford, UT leg..... Paper maps are your friend.

So, I made it to Milford, UT at about 4:45 pm local time and found my uncle at work..... What a day! I don't remember how many miles but I burned 3 tanks of fuel that day. I figure I was over 550 miles for the day.

 

[Sagebrush]

After some sleep in Milford Utah I headed down I-15 to a HD dealer so my uncle could get a part and an oil change. It was a good run over 100 miles down to Zion HD, the service was done in a hour or so. Pretty well done actually. After that it was on to the North Rim..... My air temp reading climbed as we went south....89, 91, 92, 96 and then 100 for a while and then it was between 106 to 112 till we hit the Grand Canyon.

Here its 110 degrees in the shade at an indian reservation fuel stop.... Good prices, no taxes I understand:

Rolling on though red desert on 89 we start climbing up to the North Rim visitor area and hit thunderstorms. Temps fall into the mid 60's, the rain feels nice and its light till we pull in and the bottom falls out.. Time to look around the gift shop etc..

Just a bit damp and 64 degrees:

The actual visitor center is on down from the first two buildings where you get gas and gifts, food, ice cream and fudge and etc..

The inside of the visitor center:

At this point its storming outside so, we watch the video and wait till the heavy stuff passes. Its a good haul to the actual entrance of the North Rim. The ride was nice and cool with smoke in the air. Signs of forest fires come and go, the clouds hang low and all goes well to the entrance gate where I find out I hit the park on a free day. No fee weekend, very nice. The normal entry fee is $25 for cars or $12 for bikes.

North Rim Pictures:

One of the paths:

Thunder and lightning across the canyon is interesting to watch:

It was hard to get clear shots with the wet weather and the forest fire smoke:

And looking out near the lodge:

The lodge was crowded so, we headed back down to the first resturant for dinner and then made our way back to Milford, UT. Food was above average for park service food. Leaving at 9am and returning at 9pm we did 498 miles. The run back up the Utah portion of 89 was senic in places. Going west on 20 back to I-15 was a nice surprise. That road rocked with its huge sweepers and senic views, long straights were good for top speed testing.... :nono:

 

[Kasey]

Sagebrush - your trip tale and excellent photos are fantastic. I was through all the places you went in Colorado and Utah several years ago and have been wanting to get back ever since. Your writeup made me realize how quickly time is passing and I'd better start planning for next year.

Kasey

 

[Sagebrush]

Sagebrush - your trip tale and excellent photos are fantastic. I was through all the places you went in Colorado and Utah several years ago and have been wanting to get back ever since. Your writeup made me realize how quickly time is passing and I'd better start planning for next year.
Kasey

Going through the pictures makes me think about what I missed. Hopefully I'll be in the area again someday.

I'll probably slow down and camp 100% off a dual sport, hack or something better off road. I liked riding around Utah in the desert more than I would have ever guessed. Moab made me regret selling my KTM 950 ADV. I have a DR650, but those long pavement stretches would really suck in the high deserts, well maybe not. My DR650 does have a 400 mile range, I would just have to do it at a slower pace with less seat time per day. The old KTM would have been perfect on this trip with the all day comfort, crash bars and solid off road abilities while still running an easy and relaxed 80 mph all day across the bland parts........ Maybe some day. :dribble:

 

[Sagebrush]

Since the National Parks were having a no entry fee weekend I figured I better take advantage and not rest Sunday like I planned. Looking at the maps and realizing the money I'd been spending on fuel and lodging I decided to start heading back east a bit. Zion is another 200 mile side trip from me now so, it will be saved for another trip. My Uncle said he would go and see Carlsbad before going home and I've been hearing about that cave for a long time. So, its on the list and I'll sweep south instead of heading NW to Mt. Evans. I saw a lot of the Rocky mountains already and I was really enjoying the high mountain desert. My route to Carlsbad would be via Utah 12 heading north for a while... :yahoo:

Can't pass that up and then there is Glen Canyon and Mesa Verde that I passed up heading north on 550.... So many places and time is running out, this makes a total of over four weeks on the road since this is my third motorcycle trip in the last two months. I've been back home twice during that time though. Had so much fun I wanted to go again and again and then go some where I've never been before. So after 3,000 miles on the east coast I went west and here I am about 5600 miles into my third trip in two months and I think my riding bug is well fed, or is that my back and butt complaining.

So next up is Dixie NF and everything along SCENIC 12:

I guess this is the starting point of the Red Canyon, here is a shot looking north from the rest stop info area:

Heading on through the Red Canyon things flatten out and it turns to some grass lands till you get back into some rolling hills. Turning right off of 12 following the signs to Bryce Canyon I came across this sign:

Ruby's is an over sized tourist trap / fuel stop and hotel. Very good selection of stuff to buy and they even have cameras and electronics on hand. The restaurant is large and they have a good size buffet. I tried the buffet and walked around the shops. Didn't buy anything.... Time for Bryce:

This place was on fire but, I was able to stall long enough for the fire fighters to get things flame-less. Here is one of the info signs:

The views were better than the North Rim to me, the colors and the texture of the cliff faces stick in my memory:

How about a hike? Those people down below are ant sized, it a long way down:

Time to get moving and see scenic 12, back on the road heading out:

Now its time for a break along SCENIC 12, this looks like a good spot:

Notice that my PR2's are holding up great, by fay the best tire I've ever had on the FJR or any ST for that matter. I'm getting great wear and handling, the tires are holding up even though I'm not being easy on them. The edges look great after all the high speed desert hot sweepers.

 

[MsLilly]

I loved all your pictures and your ride report. We are heading out on Saturday and will probably hit some of those spots. We've been many times before but I never tire of that part of the country. Glad you had a good trip!