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[guitarhack]

Originally Posted by GSequoia

Highway 128 is indeed quite nice. I had been to Moab several times wiht my jeep club but when my wife, son, her sister, and myself were driving cross country in winter 2009 we spent New Years eve at the Red Cliffs Lodge on 128 about ten minutes outside Moab. The highway off of 70 was not plowed, it was a snow packed highway; we hit it at night. The girls were nervous but I knew everything was under control.. Another nice point is Arches NP under snow, oh man it's great, photos here.


Now slightly more on topic... The family liked Moab so much they're on board to spend a week there in October 2013 (the date of my Jeep club's annual event). I get an automatic green light ot spend a week in Moab *and* I'll be dragging the KLR too. (on an offroad motorcycle hauler so I can still do the I-70 frontage road).

Sorry for hte diversion.

Man! You will have a blast with your KLR there.

How will the weather be there in October?

[GSequoia]

Originally Posted by guitarhack

Man! You will have a blast with your KLR there.

How will the weather be there in October?

Pleasant days, cool evenings (by California standards). If staying a week you're pretty much guaranteed to see some rain with snow possible north of 7000.

[Max Wedge]

Just joined in, greatly enjoying it. IN!

[jbcaddy]

enjoyed reading along, I rode much of the same area a couple years ago and then took my dad there a few weeks later by van. as a survey tech, I found this interesting tidbit about the four corners monument.

In an April 20 story about the location of the Four Corners marker, The Associated Press erroneously reported that the monument is 2.5 miles west of where it should be. Instead, according to Dave Doyle of the National Geodetic Survey, the monument marking the intersection of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah is about 1,807 feet east of where it should have been placed in 1875. Doyle says the monument's location has been legally adopted by all the states as the official corner.

[Mikepotter86]

I love the warning signs! Do you have a rough map of your route? I am planning on doing a similair trip in 2014 with a friend and I am looking for inspiration.

[guitarhack]

Originally Posted by Mikepotter86

I love the warning signs! Do you have a rough map of your route? I am planning on doing a similair trip in 2014 with a friend and I am looking for inspiration.

Hi Mike

I really don't have a map of the area that will be very useful. Most of the maps I have plugged into this RR are screenshots from MapSource. When I have tried to get a map of the route I took west of Denver, MapSource has to zoom out so far that the small roads I was on disappear. I have posted some of my favorite roads a few days ago. Start by plugging in to MapSource or MapQuest, or whatever map program you use, the destinations you wish to visit, then see if you can connect the dots with the roads I mentioned.

Keep in mind; I have only been in the area once. I am no expert anyway.

With all of that being said, the Utah and Colorado sections looked something like this (excluding some of the day trips, the jaunt into Nebraska, etc)

[guitarhack]

Originally Posted by jbcaddy

In an April 20 story about the location of the Four Corners marker, The Associated Press erroneously reported that the monument is 2.5 miles west of where it should be. Instead, according to Dave Doyle of the National Geodetic Survey, the monument marking the intersection of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah is about 1,807 feet east of where it should have been placed in 1875. Doyle says the monument's location has been legally adopted by all the states as the official corner.

Too funny.

Now I wish I had known - and zoomed in on my GPS when I was there to see if it agreed.

It never ceases to amaze me; The number of things we take for gospel... that end up being complete BS.

[Backmarker61]

Really really great report you've got here... Incredible pics, great writing... good inspiration!

It seems like you blended a trip on the bike with a vacation with the family perfectly.... I did not know that was possible!

Anyways, thanks a lot for sharing!

[guitarhack]

Wednesday, June 13th
Mileage: ~ 175

While this day may have been the shortest riding day of the trip, it was definitely the last of the short days





After saying our goodby's, we headed our separate ways; I headed back into the mountains, and the Support Crew headed for the airport.

After getting back on I-70 for a few miles...


...and continuing to enjoy the scenery...






...it was time to get back onto the side roads.


I drove through the towns of Frisco and Breckenridge..








...then started to climb.




and the bike was continuing to run like a champ.





Crossed the Divide for about the 15th time



...and was bummed there were no ADV sticker, or Mobius, or ...



When I passed this Library I just had to stop and check it out...




I was excited the kids were there.



Oh, give me a home, where the

..roam.

Where the ...


and the..

play.

That's right; I made the "Home On The Range Trifecta"! ...Well, sort of. I indeed saw all of those critters that day, buy I wasn't quick enough to take a pic of the deer. So I had to borrow that pic from a few days earlier.


The day's first real stop is that mountain up ahead.



Getting a little closer...



After a while, when it seemed as if I was in spittin' distance, Gail Garmin lead me astray


...and damn she was stubborn that day! I should have given up and broken out a map. She just kept wanting me to go that same way - that was blocked.

But eventually we were back on track.





After paying my $12.00...








I started to climb.









The views started to change



...but I had to be on the highest of alert.

...but I never saw him. He must have been off filming a beef jerky commercial.




Speaking of commercials, I was stopped a few times because they appeared to be filming a Can-Am Spider commercial.



I blew by the brake check place (for the folks going down hill)



Then really started to climb



At the risk of sounding like a whiner, the traffic was aggravating. I was really surprised at the number of folks on the road during the middle of the week. ...that tended to like to stop to take in the views, in the middle of a turn.





In my typical fashion, I quickly grew impatient, and started passing folks at maybe "less than advisable" locations. None the less, the climbing continued.







By the way, the road is entirely paved these days.



One more turn...



...and I'm there.







Colorado Springs is down there - where my cousin's house is
.






I took the usual pictures (that everyone else seems to take)





...but really didn't hang around too long.





..as the place was a zoo. The Cog Train (or whatever it's called)





...had just unloaded a mob of folks that had packed the gift shop (where I was disappointed that I couldn't find a Pike's Peak sticker for my side cases - more about those stickers later). Along with packing the gift shop, the mob absolutely WRECKED the bathroom. I'll spare you the details.


Anyway, after wandering around for a while and snapping pics, it was time to head back down.



At about this point, I was completely OVER the site-seers and their creeping speeds - and started blowing by people at will.






In time I made it back down the hill








As you may recall, this trip was originally suggested by my long-lost (and recently found) cousin Debbie.

I made it to her house and had a wonderful visit. I really enjoyed spending the second half of the day with her and her daughter Sarah. While waiting for Sarah to get off work, she took me on a tour of the Garden Of The Gods.

http://www.gardenofgods.com










Looking back up at Pike's Peak. The panorama didn't stitch together perfectly, but I still like the shot.







The Garden was just one more pleasant surprise the trip sprung on me. It was just too cool!



One of my other cousins (Cynthia) and her boys showed up from La Junta (a two hour ride each way) and we all went to dinner at a cool restaurant - that's in an old bomber.



I know I am glossing over the family portion of the day, but it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in many years.

OK, enough mushy stuff...


Tomorrow's going to be a long ride.

[Mark_O]

I said it before and I'll say it again, great report Brad.

[guitarhack]

Originally Posted by Backmarker61

Really really great report you've got here... Incredible pics, great writing... good inspiration!

It seems like you blended a trip on the bike with a vacation with the family perfectly.... I did not know that was possible!

Anyways, thanks a lot for sharing!

Thanks Backmarker.

I don’t know how well mixing the family vacation and a bike trip ultimately worked out, but that was the intent. I am blessed to have an understanding wife.

[guitarhack]

Originally Posted by Mark_O

I said it before and I'll say it again, great report Brad.

Thanks Mark.

Looking forward to getting together at the Nottarally.

[Cuttle]

got any pics of the inside of the bomber???

[guitarhack]

Originally Posted by Cuttle

got any pics of the inside of the bomber???

No. I was trying not to be obnoxious with too many photos.
This link has a few pics though...
http://www.solosrestaurant.com/

[bilborides]

Great read and pic's.I did Utah last year,i think it is a top spot for all things outdoors.What a beautiful State.K am packing my bags.Thanks for the memories.Oh Yea you keep that support crew happy and maybe you can go again.