Colorado Springs via central UT...

[Clark White]

Well it's springs break, and BEAUTIFUL weather, so I'm off on the bike (BMW?). I'm waiting on a new right foot peg/break plate, but assuming that comes in today like scheduled I will be on the 1100GS. If not, A quick repacking and I'll be off on the KLR. I plan to camp on the AZ UT border near Paria Canyon tonight before heading up to Manti UT to see my Dad for the weekend. Then off to Colorado Springs to visit some good friends there for the week before returning through Four Corners in time to work the night of the 21st. Lets hope the weather holds as predicted this time!

Clark

 

[Clark White]

Twas a beautiful day for riding! DPS cut my night short by informing me that I had no tail or break lights and was therefore impossible to see at night, so I camped early for fear of being run over. Had Cream of Wheat in camp and PB&J for lunch along the way, shared with a couple of horses on the far side of a rickety old bridge.

 

[Skylinerider]

Nice! I'll be up in Ephraim this weekend, I'll look for your bike around.

 

[Greggk]

awesome pics man! I wish I wasn't Deployed, so I could meet up with you when you hit Colorado Springs, and take you out to lunch....

 

[Clark White]

Skylinerider, what brings you to Ephraim? I venture up to Manti on a semi regular basis to visit Dad, though I'm usually in the 4Runner for the sake of bringing the dog's with me. Are you going to be around tomorrow, and if so would you be interested in breakfast depending on your schedule?

Greggk, where abouts are you deployed? The reason I'm going to CO Springs is to visit some long time friends. The husband is in Korea for the year before returning to the Springs so he suggested I go up there, see the Rocky's, and maybe give his wife a break from the kids.

 

[Greggk]

cool, I am in Iraq.. hate the country with a passion been to this country all too many times...

 

[Clark White]

Well I finally got off my butt and caught up with photo's from the latest part of the trip.

I left my Dad's house Sunday afternoon.






Salt George? along I-70



Devils George? along I-70 in central UT.



I used my P&S in manual mode but it still managed to adjust something and screw up the colors :smilies27



Don't remember the name of this one, west of Arches.



I camped on the bank of the Colorado River south east of Arches National Park

 

[Clark White]

I awoke a little late, but I slept under the starts, no tent, which was awesome with the sound of the river flowing by 20ft from mine. When I reached Grand Junction I took US50 through Gunnison rather then staying on the interstate. It was a beautiful ride, though a little cold. I stopped in Gunnison for a really good burger, then on over Monarch Pass.

Why yes, I did get stuck in the snow here, why do you ask? And in case anyone is curious, a fully loaded GS is very heavy to get unstuck by your self.





Looking east from the pass



I pulled into Colorado Springs Monday evening and am staying at a friends house for a few days. Today we went for a walk around Cheyenne Mtn. Park today. I was kind of disappointed because I had worked it up in my mind thinking it was on top of the Mtn., bur in reality it isn't even at the base. Guess NORAD kinda has a monopoly on that one...after, we ended up going to Garden of the Gods.

Pikes Peak







My best friends 4yo daughter and baby son

 

[mph]

great shots...did you camp along the Mineral Bottom road on the Colorado River? If so, how was it? The road that is...

 

[Clark White]

great shots...did you camp along the Mineral Bottom road on the Colorado River? If so, how was it? The road that is...

I camped along UT 128 going NE from Moab along the river, so I can't give you any updates on Mineral Bottom Rd. 128 was a great ride though!

Greggk, how much longer do you have in the sand box?

Clark

 

[mph]

Thanks...was just curious. Looks like you had a blast!

 

[piercearrowinc]

Very cool pics on Colorado Springs. I lived there as a kid You make it look new!

 

[Clark White]

Couple more shots from the top of Pikes Peak. Note to self, manual mode needs to include white balance for pano's...





I couldn't help but take a picture of this sign on the road up to Pikes Peak




The next day the kids played hookie from school and we went to the Zoo

 

[Clark White]

My last full day in Colorado Springs I went for a ride up the Mtn. to do a little exploring. I had a blast, saw some beautiful country, and was reminded that the 1100GS is not a dirt bike

Soft sand, rocks, and hill climbs are not the friend of the big GS. It doesn't look too steep in the picture, but I assure you it was. I spun out and had to lay the bike over so I could fill in the hole with some rocks



For the most part I had no trouble getting around the trails



Except when I got on the north slopes where the snow was hard packed



I rode around for about 3hrs before I had had enough of getting beat and decided to head back



A departing picture on Saturday morning. Hailey decided to try on my motorcycle boots



The ride back was quick, but not easy. I took I25 south to US 160 where I turned west and headed over Wolf Creek Pass to Pagosa Springs and Durango. Sounds easy enough, except that I had high winds the entire way and was literally scraping pegs just to hold a straight line. I passed Four Corners just after they closed, which was fine by me as I had no interest in paying to see the actual site. I spent the night a couple miles east of Tuba City with a wild horse that was none too pleased at my presence. I then rode down 89A through Sedona and over Mingus Mtn., cursing all the rude tourists who refused to go faster then 20mph or to pull over to let me pass.

Thankfully I got back in time for brunch with Mom yesterday (Sunday) because today it has snowed all day long...and now I guess since I am at work and on the clock I can get my ambulance inspection!

Clark White

 

[Clark White]

Was going through my pictures and realized I had forgotten to add a couple good shots of the family I was staying with...

Hailey, the 4yo. She thinks I'm her grandpa; I guess I do have a few grey hairs?



Owen, who just turned 8mo



The new pug Aniken (or Yoda, or Jaba, depending on who you ask). They just got him while I was there, replacement for Max who has randomly decided to start biting the kids



And Nathalie