Rich and Jim Ride to Rockies Gold 2008

May 31st had Rich and Jim (and Lynda too) up very early for a breakfast meeting at the IHOP in Dublin before heading off the next 14 days for parts unknown and unexplored in route to the Second annual Rockies Gold gathering in Montrose Colorado.  After  feasting on French toast, eggs and sausage and downing water , coffee and Orange juice I was ready to go.  I gave Lynda a kiss good bye telling her I’d be on my cell phone and that I had my laptop with me so we should be able to pretty much stay in touch.  She went home and crawled back into bed.  Rich and I headed out 580 and picked up I-5 South.  We spotted about 6 hot air balloons floating along on the  early morning air currents in the central valley south of Patterson.  We rode all of the way down to Ca-58 where we turned toward Bakersfield,  where we proceeded across the Tehachapi Pass for the third time so far this year.  We stopped briefly in Mojave for gas and water before continuing on to Barstow and the I-15 toward Las Vegas.  It was a warm,  beautiful late spring day and we really enjoyed the ride across the desert.  We stopped just across the border in Nevada for gas.  While there another Goldwing from Las Vegas pulled up and started chatting with us – seems the rider was a gambler and felt sure he knew the winning numbers for the Super Lotto,  but needed to get to Barstow to buy the tickets – so he wanted to know how far away it was – the two hours didn’t deter him at all,  and he was off!

We stopped just North of Las Vegas at Peggy Sue’s Diner for a late lunch.  The bike, trailer and trike all attracted a lot of interest and photos.
   
Rich enjoying his lunch.                                     Peggy Sue’s parking lot.

After lunch we got back on I-15 and headed East to Mesquite where we found our Best Western waiting for us.  The ride into Mesquite was quite warm and by the time we were to pull off we were more than ready too1.  Mileage for the day was  616 miles.

On June 1st we got up early and checked out of the motel.  Where yesterday we were just hauling a** to get out of Ca. today was going to be quite a bit more laid back with another  ride through the beautiful Virgin River Gorge then a slow tour of Zion National Park a ride up US-89 where we would pick up Ut-14 for a quick stop in Cedars Break National Monument before heading through the canyon and into Cedar City for the night.  I told Rich as we were turning off of I-15 onto UT-19 that I was taking bets that by the time we were through with this tour he’d be real real tired of seeing red rocks!  His response was  that for the moment at least he sure was impressed!  Here’s a couple of shots we took along the way. Total miles for the day were about 215. Dinner on Sunday was at the Sizzler attached to the Motel Parking – everything else was closed!

 
Virgin River Gorge along I-15                           2 of the 3 Zion Sisters

 
Side view of the Pulpit and the Alter (Zion) The “other side” of the Tunnel by US-89

 
Your’s truly at Pt. Supreme at Cedars Break      And the View from Pt. Supreme.

Monday was going to be a long day in that we wanted to spend time touring Bryce Canyon National Park as well as The Capitol Reefs National Park both of which were a goodly distance apart and our ultimate goal of getting into Moab, Ut. for the night was at the top of our priority list.  We departed Cedar City after a typical Best Western Continental Breakfast.  We headed back over UT-14, picked up US-89 for a short while and then landed on UT-12 till the turnoff to Bryce.  Last year Lynda and I toured Bryce for the first time and I really loved the beauty of this park – it just doesn’t disappoint.

 
Me riding through the Red Rock park tunnel     Rich enjoying the view in Bryce

Just one of many stunning turnouts along the canyon rim

After leaving Bryce we turned right back onto UT-12, and I led Rich into unknow territory.  I told him that I’d never ridden beyond the entrance to Bryce on this road before so I didn’t know what to expect, but that is was the most direct route between Bryce and Capitol Reefs.  What I didn’t know is that UT-12 is one of the TOP Ranked motorcycle roads in Utah.  As we tooled along heading East I though t “Well,  this has been a nice, kinda quiet country road,  not too much going on”.  Was I ever in for a surprise!  What a stunning road this turned out to be – with twists and turns, and ‘up and overs’, and everything in between.  The only problem with the road was that it was technical enough I couldn’t take pictures while in motion, and not wide enough to pull off on the shoulder to take them . We had to make do with the rare vista points and turnouts.  It’s definitely on my “Must ride” list for traveling through Utah.

 
Some great twists and turns -  Hard to see, but the road is built on solid bedrock.

             
Capitol Reefs National Park was named so because the Indians called the peaks “Capitols” and the first non Native Americans to see the area were sailors who call all impediments to forward movement a “Reef”.
The picture above  is “The” Capitol Reef of Capitol Reefs National Park.

We finally made it into Capitol Reefs National Park around 3:00 in the afternoon,  and decided that we didn’t have enough time to spend touring it,  although the ‘recommended’ tour would have only taken about an hour to do the last mile of it was on dirt and I didn’t want to risk it.  We pressed on and finally picked up I-15 again for the short ride down to the  Moab turnoff.   We arrived in Moab at 5:30,  got checked into yet another Best Western where we would spend the next two nights.  Dinner on Monday was at the little Italian Restaurant  attached to the motel.  The Pizza was um-um Good!

Tuesday was yet another plan to execute – two more National Parks and perhaps another National Monument.  Ahhhh  the best laid plans J .  I had discovered a huge flat spot on one of the trailers tires.  I’d just put a new set of tires on it before we left on the trip. So I knew something was wrong for sure.  We decided to head up to Arch’s National Park  early,  then, after seeing the park we’d stop back in town at the tire store and get it replaced again while we had lunch.  Rich and I first stopped at the visitor center so we could buy a postcard and I wanted to get a new pin for my cap.  While standing there I heard a familiar voice saying  “Jim Smith, what are you doing here?”  It was my old boss!  He and his wife were on a cross country car ride and had spent the last day or so in Canyonlands National Park (Where he got lost, and blew a tire out before finding someone who could direct him) .  So he had story’s to tell,  and highly recommended the tire shop in town.  Here’s a couple of shots of Arch’s.

 

 
Rich at Balancing rock                         One of Many Arch Groups

Delicate Arch – Can Hike to it over exposed
Rock --  Usually over 100 Degrees –

After spending several hours in the Arches we headed back into town and pulled into “Chips Tires” on North Main Street and he took a look at the tire on  the trailer and said it looked like it was out of balance,  and that it definitely should be replaced.  So,  he replaced it an balanced it and we proceeded to ride the  rest of ride with no other problems with it.  Later that afternoon we decided to take a ride down to the Canyonlands National Park.  What we didn’t realize is that the Canyonlands  covers a huge area and the area we chose was intended for four wheel off road driving and lots of backpacking.  So after an hour and a half ride through some pretty country we arrived to find that the best we could do is basically turn around and ride back.  A couple of interesting stops were made – perhaps the most interesting one was at “The Newspaper Rock”.  Ancient  Indian Hieroglyphics --  The best Rich and I could figure out was that they were complaining about the heat and the lack of hunting.

The Newspaper Rock -  It’s Big!

 

Wednesday morning we were on the road pretty early and headed north to UT-128 after checking out of our  Best Western.  Highway 128 follows the  Colorado River through more red rock cliffs and bluffs as it meanders it’s way up to I-70.  We  got on I-70 and rode east about 58 miles crossing into Colorado to the little town of Fruita for a ride through the Colorado National Monument before heading south and east into Montrose, Co. for the actual Rockies Gold Gathering.  The Colorado Natl. Monument is a stunning 1 hour diversion from the boredom of I-70, extending from Fruita to Grand Junction.  Some of the sights along the way à

  
Entering the National Mon.                             Yep – Nice MC Road !

  
The Lone Sentinel                                   More – Gim’me More!

After departing the National Monument in Grand Junction we headed South on US-50 arriving in the little town of Delta just in time for a late lunch.  Very hospitable little town and quite biker friendly.  We continued south  another 30 miles before arriving in Montrose and this years Rockies Gold. We got checked into our respective hotels and promised to meet a little later in the evening to walk around and kick some tires and tell some lies with the rest of the attendees.  This year we were very lucky to have in attendance several couples from France as well as our long distance champ that came all of the way from Durban South Africa.

  
A few of the more than 300 Bikes there for the event. Meet and greet of the European Couples.

  That’s Edmond from Durban South Africa on the Left  and Dave Tarley the organizer of the event on the right.  Rich and I met a number of folks that evening – Rich asked a lot of folks about their 1800 Trikes ---Hummm wonder if he’s trying to tell us something! J

 

 

 

Thursday it rained all day,  so about all we were able to do is make a quick ride up to the “Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park” where it was so fogged in we went back into town and found a nice Italian Place to have some lunch.

Friday dawned clear and warmer than it had been the previous two days so we decided that today would be the day to ride the San Juan Skyway over 550 from Montrose into Durango and then back via the San Juan River Gorge.  What a great ride!  I won’t share pictures of the ride because they’ve been posted a number of times before.  The town of Silverton is still just as pretty as can be although on this particular Saturday it was very quiet and uninspiring.  By the time we got to Durango for gas and some lunch we were both ready for a break.  I will say that over the last 5 years US-550 has gotten more well known and much more heavily travelled,  and as such has lost a lot of it’s appeal and charm as a Motorcycle road.  We followed 18 wheelers, Winnebeago’s,  and family van’s full to the rafters of vacationers.  Oh well.

Saturday we decided to ride back up to Grand Junction and take “The Grand Mesa Loop” Scenic Byway.  A road that climbs above 11,000 feet and includes a ski resort, several snow parks, many many lakes and some stunning views of the valley far below.  The road eventually brought us back  to Delta where we returned to Montrose for Lunch.  Saturday afternoon we rode the Deloris River Gorge through some stunning canyon scenery.  A few more pics of the day à

      
Just off of I-70 Heading South and West    Nearing the top  of the Grand Mesa Loop

   
From the top Of the Loop.            Heading into the San Juan River Gorge

A little rest stop before heading back to the motel.

We both left Montrose on Sunday and headed north toward Salt Lake City.  When we got into town Rich headed East on I-80 and I continued North on I-15 to Pocatllo, Id.  Rich decided to head for home, and I wanted to make a quick pass through Yellowstone and Tetons before I headed for home.  My ride So on Monday I rode through Yellowstone and encountered Snow and rain at South Yellowstone that lasted all of the way to Jackson Hole, Wy. Where I spend the night in the most expensive lodging to date,  but it was at least comfortable and dry.  Tuesday I headed to Elko, Nv. and was home on Wed.  All in all this was a very fun trip. I love riding in Colorado, and Utah.  Both beautiful states and full of scenic wonders.

Till Next – get out there and ride – Safe!