3500 Miles Without A Plan

[kimber99]

A year and two days ago, Markus and I went for a daytrip ride to the Napa wine country. The weather was perfect, the roads were not crowded, and the conspiracy was perfect. Allowing our teeny wine buzz (from a couple of stingy tastes) to wear off thoroughly before riding on, we sat outside for a couple hours in the shade of vines and agreed that we should set out on a grand road trip. Though it was late in the season, our timing was dictated by circumstance. We’d both been laid off from our jobs in the weeks prior and were more or less without responsibility (or irresponsible). We had only to ignore the nagging obligation to attempt to find new work. Not really that hard to do. Two days later, a year ago today, we met to begin what would be a 3500 mile trip to Tahoe, across southern Nevada and southern Utah, up through Colorado to Colorado Springs, home of Markus’ very hospitable parents-in-law, and culminating in a mad dash home just one day before the snow and ice hit Colorado in a freeze that would continue uninterrupted into winter.

Markus had suggested we head for Baja, Mexico. I have to admit to being a bit concerned about the banditos and general lawlessness, and we agreed on Colorado instead. We’d planned to camp and keep expenses low, ending up in Colorado Springs for a couple of days of luxury at Katie’s folks’ home. (We ended up camping only one night.)

Meeting at the very not so scenic Hwy 37, the start of our adventure


Various work on the bikes required in Sacramento (new tires for me) a few fixes for Markus.


After a night at S.Lake Tahoe (visiting my bro), we were on our way through the middle of nowhere (southern Nevada, south of Hwy 50).


I've got a thing for abandoned drive-in theatres, and forced a U-turn when I saw this one...


My 650gs was severely out-gunned by Markus' 1200gs. My poor single cylinder gave its all for about a week straight without skipping a beat!

[kimber99]

Check out this insane rig! Somehow it was about to make a 90 degree right hand turn. Or maybe that's why it had stopped...because it couldn't.

[kimber99]

As we reached the eastern side of Nevada, just after sunset, Markus made a revelation after consulting with his GPS. We were only about an hour's ride north of Las Vegas, where, he informed me, he had never visited. We hadn't planned to head that far south, but there really wasn't a plan, so south we went.



It was a beautiful, strange way to introduce Markus to Vegas, riding down the strip at night. As you can see, there were distractions, which would make riding a bit more hazardous.






Me on the phone to my wife Doni: "Hey, we're in Las Vegas. Markus has never been. Can you go online and book us a room?" 5 minutes later Doni called to say we were booked at Hooters. She thought that was most appropriate. Gotta love that woman!


We were out until 2am walking the strip, doing a little gambling and enjoying larger than life marguaritas. A very good time!

[kimber99]

A bit of a slow start the next morning, and on to Zion for a night of camping.








Markus "busted" for failing to pay our camping dues. Those rangers are tough!

[kimber99]

Moonrise over Zion


Cool! We stumbled upon a new moto buddy! (Eric, out of Vegas area.) We shared many a beverage around his fire, after (of course) choosing the immediately adjacent campsite






See the mountain climber?

[kimber99]

The day was a great one of riding through southern Utah with a visit to Bryce








We didn't get into a small town in southeastern Utah (Bluff, I think?) until well after dark and after dodging cattle on an open range in the dark. No cars anywhere. No cell phone coverage. You crash, you lose.

[kimber99]

Sunrise over Utah. Next stop, Colorado!


While we had decided NOT to visit 4 corners, we reached an intersection that said we only had to go a few miles out of our way... And when will we be back here??? Better go!

[kimber99]

More miles of nothing. While a native of the West, I had no idea how much of it there was, more or less untouched.


Mesa Verde! Not only were the ruins amazing, the ride up was a pretty good racecourse of twisties!


Starting to look like Colorado!


The sign did not go unnoticed...though we weren't quite card carrying members. In fact this very trip had been conceived in violation.

[kimber99]

Black Canyon of the Gunnison...yet more wonderful scenery.

[kimber99]

In Colorado Springs...living the college town life!


Daytrip north....to...? Can't remember the town's name. Markus?


The interior of this hotel was the set of the movie "The Shining". Cool!