Laid Off? Utah Here We Come!

[WoodsChick]

So after getting out of the canyon we figured we better start looking for a place to bed down for the night. No way were we going to make Hole In The Rock on this day. The canyon opened up into a wide sandy wash and we had a total blast flat-tracking through the esses side by side. I was getting monster drive out of the turns with my big ol' rear supermoto knobby and it was fun having the edge over Eric for once in my life It's really fun being on the same bike, too. Both 610's have the same pipe and they sound exactly the same...the staccato notes echoing off the canyon walls in stereo.

We found ourselves a nice place to camp up against a beautiful Entrada sandstone bluff...

We set up camp...

And then headed up onto the sandstone to enjoy the sunset with our bota bag...

I know Eric was tired of hearing me say it, but I just couldn't get over how green the desert was...

A very rare photo of the two of us. The pink you see behind us is actually natural color on the walls of the bluff...

We were out of the tent long before daybreak, as we wanted to scramble up to the top of the sandstone bluffs and greet the dawn face to face. We waited patiently...

And waited...

Patience has its rewards...

So worth it...I felt like I was swimming in a pool of gold!

We walked around for an hour or so up there...

My hand isn't very big, but still...

Dinosaur tracks!

I learned after I got home that the tracks weren't officially discovered until 1998...

There were quite a few tracks, some with a discernible track from the dragging tail right between the footprints! This trackway shows the actual steps...

home sweet home from on high...

More on the way...




WoodsChick

 

[WoodsChick]

We reluctantly packed up and got ready to go...

I switched out my bite valve and made a mental note to not forget to put the bladder in the tent with me like I always do...

I made the final rounds to make sure I didn't forget anything, and managed to snap a few shots of some of the flowers in our camp...

Heading south towards Hole In The Rock...

But first we must ride 50 Mile Bench...

This road was an absolute bitch of a climb, rocky and steep. My fan kept coming on so I didn't stop to take any photos, but it basically just went straight up from the valley floor. Most roads like this employ switchbacks to climb up the canyon walls. Not 50 Mile Bench. We climbed quite a bit in a very short distance, the road where we started visible behind me...

Interesting stuff on the way back down to the valley floor...

These flowers were so incredibly brilliant against the backdrop of the desert...

It was quite surreal getting buzzed by this guy out here...

We made it!

I simply cannot imagine...

For the first time on this trip it was really hot and the water looked sooo inviting, but there was no real way to get down to it. In light of what the Mormons pulled off with their wagons, I feel kinda silly saying that, but...

We hiked back down to the bikes...

And prepared for the bomb run back to Capitol Reef...

More later...




WoodsChick

 

[slackmeyer]

Awe-some.

Great pictures, I don't know what you're talking about complaining about the camera, this year's pictures are definitely coming out better. Can't wait to get back to Utah, hopefully this summer or fall.

zak

 

[jimboFosho]

Just looks like so much fun, I can't wait to get out more

 

[Nemo Brinker]

Yay! Just keeps getting better and better. Your photo skills are definitely getting even more mighty, and I'm impressed that even in the midst of the action you are willing to stop and pull out the camera.

Yes, picked up Roadstergal's little-ish DRZ for T and I...good times ahead. It'll be a good skill-building tool that is still street legal, I think, and she set it up damn well.

Neato, neato dino tracks. Any pictographs/petroglyphs?

 

[Idioteque]

I hate you, officially made me regret selling my bimmer.


Awesome pictures.

 

[Roadstergal]

More pics! I will sit down with a coffee tonight and admire at leisure.

Nemo bought your DRZ, didn't she?? Yay!!
Wait...what are you gonna ride now?

I still have my KX!

Oddly enough, 408MX and SM racing are helping my dirt skills along. Maybe after another year or two of racing, I'll ditch the SM and start ADV riding. It's just too much to make time for both. We started down the dark path, though - we bought a toy hauler...

 

[WoodsChick]

Awe-some.

Great pictures, I don't know what you're talking about complaining about the camera, this year's pictures are definitely coming out better. Can't wait to get back to Utah, hopefully this summer or fall.

zak

Well, I'm not really complaining, per se, it's just that it's a point-and-shoot with dust inside the lens and it can only do so much. It's a good one, but it gets thrashed on the bike. I don't think I'd want anything fancier on the bike, except for something a little more water-proof and dust-proof.

Just looks like so much fun, I can't wait to get out more

Don't wait! Do it today! None of us have any guaranteed tomorrows coming to us, ya know.

Yay! Just keeps getting better and better. Your photo skills are definitely getting even more mighty, and I'm impressed that even in the midst of the action you are willing to stop and pull out the camera.

Yes, picked up Roadstergal's little-ish DRZ for T and I...good times ahead. It'll be a good skill-building tool that is still street legal, I think, and she set it up damn well.

Neato, neato dino tracks. Any pictographs/petroglyphs?

Yeah, there were some cool pictographs but we never stopped to look at them. I know, I know...stoopid me There were some hidden ones in Poison Springs Canyon but we were chasing the sun and couldn't really slow down to go look for them.

Good for you for picking up the little DRZ! I have a feeling you two are going to love it!




WoodsChick

 

[WoodsChick]

We headed north towards base camp, back across the crazy sandstone and slick rock badlands...

This little guy was enjoying watching the world go by...

I'm looking forward to doing this road again!

I think we're going the wrong way...

Nothin' fancy...just your average run-of-the-mill view along the highway...

The road out to Hole In The Rock is extremely sandy with the biggest gnarliest washboard we'd ever seen. If you keep it about 55 or so it's pretty smooth. Anything less than that and your teeth will rattle out of your head and the sand will have its way with you. We made good time on our way to the plateau...

We were greeted with some nice views up on the plateau...

Peek-a-Boo!

Back down the switchbacks...

We bombed back to camp, maintaining a steady 65mph on the sandy dirt road, and made it back after sunset. We reveled in the luxurious splendor of our camper van as we showered, cooked dinner and looked at photos and maps all night.

The next day would be somewhat of a work/rest day. We basically just goofed around and took care of business. We did manage to do some sight-seeing and some scouting, though...

One of my favorite things...water in the desert...

We scouted out this fording of the river (same river in photos above,) as it was on the next day's menu. We walked it and both of us thought it could be done even though the water was moving really fast and there were big rolley rocks on the bottom. It was right at the beginning of a long day's ride, though, and the potential for an early DNF was too great for us to take a chance on it. We plotted another course around it, I'm sorry to say...

We'd have our chance at an equally-challenging river crossing a few days later, though, so all was not lost


Next up: Cathedral Valley, broken parts, and bike maintenance in the desert arty




WoodsChick

 

[WoodsChick]

I hate you, officially made me regret selling my bimmer.


Awesome pictures.

Thanks! And there's plenty of bikes out there looking for good homes...go get one!

More pics! I will sit down with a coffee tonight and admire at leisure.




I still have my KX!

Oddly enough, 408MX and SM racing are helping my dirt skills along. Maybe after another year or two of racing, I'll ditch the SM and start ADV riding. It's just too much to make time for both. We started down the dark path, though - we bought a toy hauler...

Girl, you headed down that dark path a loooong time ago when you bought your first motorcycle




WoodsChick

 

[WoodsChick]

The next day would be a real Play Day...no camping gear! Just a leisurely day ride through Cathedral Valley with an expected return before dark. Heh...

The terrain looked a bit different at first...

Then it started reminding me of H.R. Pufnstuf...

I dig the multi-colored rock lasagne...

This photo does absolutely no justice whatsoever to the brilliantly-colored peak behind the bikes...

Mmm...sticky rock good!

This trail was giggly-good fun! It was taking us away from our ultimate destination but who cares?

Klaaanngg! Gotta love that ground clearance...

Have I mentioned lately how much Eric is enjoying his TE610?

The solution to the klaaanngg

Like sand? Come to Utah; you'll be in heaven...

Wait...weren't we headed to Cathedral Valley? Yes we were...

More on the way...




WoodsChick

 

[ThumperX]

I have butterflies in my tummy. I feel the sand grabbing at my tires like hungry bog monsters.
I smell the crisp air and feel it warm as the day progresses.

Most of all, I imagine this landscape in ten million year increments as our species evolves to a point where we can ride our iron hearted beasts over it and appreciate the sorting and sifting that went into forming it.

 

[sportsluvr]

Beautiful pictures.

 

[Butch]

i think I should get myself laid off...

 

[louemc]

^^^ it's been my way of life...I'd work and save money like crazy...Quite my job and do this motorcycle exploring vacation for a year or so...then get a new job.

Then repeat.

 

[travisfeist]

I'm off to Utah for a few weeks to moto and this is great for motivation!!!

 

[WoodsChick]

I'm off to Utah for a few weeks to moto and this is great for motivation!!!

Right on! Where ya goin'?




WoodsChick

 

[travisfeist]

Moab, then south. Annual spring trip, but looking much hotter than normal this year.

 

[WoodsChick]

Moab, then south. Annual spring trip, but looking much hotter than normal this year.

Yeah, you just never know. Last time I was out at the San Rafael Swell we got snowed on, yet I've ridden Moab in September in 100-degree heat before, too.

Have fun and post up some photos when you get back!




WoodsChick

 

[Kfxrider90]

These pictures are amazing. I can't wait until I can do all this stuff one day.