Zion National Park, Utah

[Warrior]

Originally this weekend was reserved for yard work, vehicle maintenance, and a little Sunday riding. Unfortunately the family reunion I thought I was going to miss, managed to snatch me up and take me to Vegas.

The ride from Phoenix to Vegas is as exiting as playing $1 blackjack. To make it even worse it's a blowdryer all the way through. This called for the 5:30 am leave time, which made the experience much better, I think it was only 85 degrees when I got to Vegas. Had some dinner with a bunch of strangers, got a little drunk, and was dreading the ride home. Wanted to do the same 5:30 takeoff, but waking up at 10:00 has a way of killing that.

The parents were there, and my brother lives in Vegas so Father's day brunch was on. The Cannery, a relatively new Casino open on the North side of Vegas, has an all you can eat crab leg buffet on Sundays. Exactly what the doctor ordered after a night of drinking. Don't know if it's the smell or the taste but it sure does wake you up!

My brother Allen, just bought my dad's V-Star 1100 custom and was itching for a ride. Same goes for my father who brought up his Warrior with much added bling. Mom was going to be on baby-sitting duty so Allen's wife Denise could come along, and my wife was there as well. So here are the players, but what's the game? I was going to head home the same way I came, but upon hearing that everyone was down for a ride, I axed that idea. Cruising in straight lines is fun and all, but I was looking for something a little more exciting. Utah!! Now there's some excitement. Now here's a state known for partying!!

Breaking out a map, which dad carries for every state in the area, it's decided to head through Zion, where afterward we would split at Kanab. I would continue on 89 through Page to Flagstaff, and take I-17 home. They would turn around and go the same way they came.

Plan was set, let's head out.

First thing, all Interstate's pretty much suck. Rarely are they any fun, good thing this was one of the rarities. Virgin River Gorge, is a gorge that happens to have an Interstate winding through it. Makes for a very high speed, high scenery ride. I probably did 100 mph through the whole thing. Allen says it's the first time he's ever gone a hundred around a curve, and he liked it!! Yamaha sure does know how to build it's cruisers. But, if you are a little more sedate and sane, the surrounding blur if slowed down reveals a beautiful canyon. Which my lovely wife, and her superb camera skills at high speed did. She got some great pics.

Once you enter Utah, you know you are in Utah. Everything here is beautiful, sure I've seen mountains, been to Mt. Whitney numerous times. But the mountains here are beautiful, sheer rock cliffs, brilliant red mesa's, just beautiful. Even the town of St. George makes you go, "Wow!"

A little gas here, a little picking up the lower jaw, and we are on our way to Zion. Here is where I should of listened to everyone who said to get a National Parks Pass. $20 for the 50 miles of park, that's one hell of a toll road. Worth it, but man $20! These streets should be paved of gold.

The pictures won't do the park justice everything is just amazing. When you first entering the park, giant sheer cliffs great you. First with open arms, then they squeeze you until you are looking up and seeing both sides of the canyon you are riding in. You switchback up one side until you ride through the darkest, longest tunnel I've ever seen. 1 mile long the sign says. When you are first entering it feels as if you are on a ride at Disneyland. But it's a slow crawl through the tunnel, imagine blazing through that thing, that would be a rush!

After you exit the tunnel, the terrain around you has changed. Instead of these sheer cliffs and towering rocks, you are surrounded by smooth granite hills. As if someone took a brush and applied to the hills around you. Really cool looking.

These accompany you till you reach the Eastern terminus of the park, where a high forest plateau is your accompaning scenery. The rest of the ride to Kanab is just as beautiful as the ride to Zion. A little dinner, and we part ways, they are heading back to capitalize on there $20 fee, Malina and I are trying to make it home before midnight.

Have I mentioned Utah is an amazing and beautiful place? Well the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument continues the beauty. At one point I had to stop and capture a picture. The sun is starting to set, and the Vermillion Cliffs were just breathtaking. Now understand, I never stop to take pictures unless at a scenic point or something. But I had to pull over and capture the moment.

Lake Powell was interesting as well, the water level is down 150 ft, a whole lot for one of the larger lakes in the Western region. Looked like a cool place to base jump if you are into that sort of thing.

The rest of the ride home was uneventful, it stayed purty till you reach Flagstaff, where it got butt cold! The Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket wasn't the best bet up here. Good thing I brought the rain jacket that zips in it. Helped a lot, cut most of the wind that was ice cubing my nipples!

Made it home from Flagstaff to Glendale in an hour and a half. The whole trip was somewhere 850 miles. Good times.

[Backmarker]

Ok. So that was probably a LOT better than the ride to Tortilla Flat would have been... Utah is beautiful. Would like to check it out a little more sometime. Until then, I'll just enjoy your photos and everyone elses.

Enjoyed the write up too! Thanks!

[acki2b]

Great thread.

I've been through Zion National Park a time or two. The pictures brought back great memories of the family camping there many years ago. Utah is a great place to ride especially in the spring and fall.

acki2b

[motowriter]

Wow!! Excellent photos, Jason! Not too hot in Utah? I enjoyed reading Hi Busa's tale of a ride to Zion and back and am delighted to see more pix from there. I drove through Utah a couple of times, years ago, and always thought it was the most beautiful of the western states. Course, now I ride, and I DO have a Nat'l Parks pass... so I guess I'll have to get over to Zion post-haste!

Nice write-up, awesome pix... thanks!!

G

[Hi Busa]

Originally Posted by Gary

Wow!! Excellent photos, Jason! Not too hot in Utah? I enjoyed reading Hi Busa's tale of a ride to Zion and back and am delighted to see more pix from there. I drove through Utah a couple of times, years ago, and always thought it was the most beautiful of the western states. Course, now I ride, and I DO have a Nat'l Parks pass... so I guess I'll have to get over to Zion post-haste!

Nice write-up, awesome pix... thanks!!

G

You are a much better photographer than I am
You got the pictures of the canyons I was trying to get while riding soo much better!
Great pics - thanks for posting!

[z_bassman]

Extremely awesome photos!

What is that cannon on the back of the lead bike??

[Wanderlust]

Just so happens that I was down in that part of the country last week-end as well for a family reunion in Bunkerville, NV. I was also in Mesquite, St. George, Hurricane, and LaVerkin. What beautiful country. Your photography is outstanding. I love the action photos. Next time I'm there, I hope to be riding instead of in a cage.

[Warrior]

Thanks for the compliments guys, but the accolades go to my wife who took all but the last shot. (Ding!! Just scored some pu... umm points)

This will be one of those trips forever etched in my mind. The park is just amazing, I will recommend it to whoever I see.

Say hello to my boomstick!!! Or as Yamaha likes to call it, the stock muffler. I like the looks, sets it apart from everyone else.

I don't know Renee, I still like Tortilla Flats alot, could run that road dozens of times in one day.

[Helmetdance]

Warrior,

Great shots. Zion is truly a uniquely beautiful place - it's even different from the rest of Utah!

I can't get over how crisp and clear the shots are taken from a rollin' bike!! OK - you've gots to explain the camera rig and mount (please)!

[Warrior]

Camera is a Kodak Easyshare CX6230. It's a 2 megapixel that my Aunt gave me as a gift. The mount is my wife who has learned to have a steady hand when taking pics.

And that's it. I point to what I want a shot of and she tells me that she's already got it. God bless her.