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Identity Crisis! My Bike Thinks She's a Dualsport
Southern Utah, October 16-20, 2008
With a rare 3 day weekend off, I plan a ride through Southern Utah. If I leave Friday after work I'll have 4 days to ride. I've ridden Utah several times, so this time I want to see a few new sights; Goosenecks of the San Juan Valley of the Gods Moki Dugway Lake Powell Ferry Burr Trail This plan should require an on-road/off-road Dualsport. I do own a Dualsport, but her 2 sports are SPORT and Touring. She hasn't been too happy lately with all my talk of buying a proper Dualsport. She doesn't want to share her garage space and riding time with any other bike. I remind her she's getting old and wasn't purposely built for the type of trails I want to conquer. She reminds me of all the gravel roads she's taken me on and how reliable she's been the last 43,000 miles. She is eager to prove I don't need another bike to get to the back country. We head off in search of solitude... Just me and my bike. :ricky How will we fare? Here's a few teaser shots to get started. http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...51_4MbXX-M.jpg http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...25_wKJUR-L.jpg http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...44_Pebiz-M.jpg http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...74_P2BHy-L.jpg http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...99_B3aen-M.jpg http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...97_nw3yx-M.jpg http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...54_6GdQx-L.jpg http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...61_6N2JU-M.jpg http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...18_LdBbM-L.jpg http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...1_uS8F4-X2.jpg Stay Tuned! I have hundreds more... :wink: |
Awesome pics!! Gorgeous bike too! :thumb
:lurk :lurk |
Awesome...
My personal absolute favorite riding territory... (although I don't particularly like the washboard!)
more pics or we track ya down and confiscate your 'puter and that bitchin black motorsicle. :lurk |
Great!!
Keep it coming!!:clap :clap :clap
Great Pics.....:thumb I want MORE!!!! More....More....More....:D Cheers Bala |
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Get a dual sport that is so ugly that your wee little black bike will know that you got it just to bang......... around on the rough stuff. Sort of a dirty little secret. |
I cheated and peeked... (used to find all the hidden presents early at xmas too :dunno ) Good ones are a comin'.
BUT... I gotta ask Dave... did you stop at Hells Backbone Grill? I've spent two of my 20+ wedding anniverseries at Boulder Lodge... and almost got my GS terminally stuck in the crazy loose sand (did I ever mention that I hate sand) at Deer Creek campground... bob |
aw fuck me! I was too scared to take mine down there. That damn road caused me to buy an 1150gs when I got home! f*cker! :clap
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...7/IMG_2843.jpg |
This looks like it will be a good one.
:lurk:lurk |
:thumbup :thumbup Great pictures!!
Looking forward to the rest of the story! |
Damn! what a great pictures !
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I had special Metzler Sand/Sport Touring Tires... :D BTW, I think I remember reading your RR while preparing for this trip. |
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Thanks for all the nice comments guys! |
Day 1, Ghost Ships
Phoenix to Goosenecks of the San Juan State Park, Utah
336 Miles http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...12_kWhbe-L.jpg I race home from work and finish loading the bike. I head out into the heat. I decided to leave my mesh riding gear at home and immediately regret it. My temp gauge is reading 103 degrees as I head north out of Phoenix(HELL) on the superslab. http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...92_sd26C-M.jpg Day 1 will be boring! I-17 does have some nice curves, but I've ridden it too many times. http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...75_V3Mu8-M.jpg It cools down into the 70s at 7000 feet in Flagstaff. http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...34_TVEyf-M.jpg Heading north from Flag the trees thin out on the long downhill into the deserts of the Navajo Reservation. http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...00_DQV84-M.jpg Humphrey's Peak, The highest elevation in Arizona is behind me. http://dave6253.smugmug.com/photos/3...68_CWuEP-M.jpg The sun sets. I put away the camera for the remainder of tonights ride. My goal for the day was to make it to the Goosenecks to camp. I was a little bummed when I realized I would be riding through Monument Valley in the dark. It's been awhile since I was last there on a bike. I would not be able to take new photos. I was actually dreading tonights ride. I pulled to the shoulder of the highway on the Reservation to add layers. The moon was not up yet and it was DARK!!! I actually had to use a flashlight just to see anything I was doing. The sky was crystal clear with billions of stars visible (I counted). The cloudy Milky Way made me hungry for chocolate and caramel...:D A freight train passed nearby with the horns blowing and the white light piercing the desert ahead. I started back up and ran alongside the train for awhile. The Moon came up as I neared Kayenta. When I headed North into Monument Valley I got an unexpected surprise. The familiar rock formations were perfectly silhouetted against the Moon and stars of the perfect night sky. My boring ride suddenly was exciting. I looked around in amazement as I watched the closest formations slowly slip past like silent ghost ships in the night. The moonlight glistened off the rock faces. I rarely saw another vehicle. I had the perfect night ride of a lifetime! If you've already experienced Monument Valley by day, I highly recommend riding through on a perfect moonlit night. Although I have no photos to remember it by, It was definitely a highlight of this trip. I make it to Goosenecks and slept near the edge of the rim. It was a clear night, so I didn't bother with setting up the tent. I could hear the river 1000 feet below. Tomorrow we hit the dirt roads, Hopefully not literally. I promise to shoot more photos tomorrow. |
More please...
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