There's a lot of Color Between Phoenix & Aspen

[dave6253]

Not really very far...

Rider: Dave
Bike: 2002 Aprilia RST1000 Futura
Distance: 1817 Miles of Asphalt
Time: Four Days
Dates: October 4-7, 2012
Locations: AZ, UT, CO
Colors: Billions

[dave6253]

It was still dark out, when I start up the engine.
The bike has been reliable so far. I'm hoping she continues to be...



...and this tire lasts another couple thousand miles.
I'll have to keep an eye on it.




I was ripping up I-17 at first light.




At sunrise I stopped to switch to a tinted visor.









I'm in no particular hurry. Today is planned to be the shortest day, and I already know where I'll be sleeping.




I've got plenty of time, so I take the scenic detour through the Sunset Crater & Wupatki National Monuments.

[poolman]

Nice start, certainly looking forward to the rest!

The forest is transforming now in the DC area as well, and autumn is such a great season to ride.


EDIT: And also, if your bike was in this picture it could very well be front page material.



Cheers,

[Cannonshot]

Great images Dave!

[dave6253]

Thanks poolman and Cannonshot!

It would've been difficult to get the bike up on that mesa. I didn't even try.

[dave6253]

I've ridden through here many times before.




I don't bother stopping at the large ruins this time. They are impressive, though.




I scope out a few of the smaller ruins this time.

[dave6253]

I've ridden the long 2 lane highways that cross the Navajo Nation many times before, but...









I still enjoy the spectacular scenery.




I take another detour up towards Page, AZ.




I've never seen the Horseshoe Bend before.




There were tons of tourists in the small parking lot off the highway. RVs, Buses, Grown men wearing capri pants...




I take the hike out there lugging the entire tank bag the whole way.





I think the round balls in the layers of sandstone are indictative of volcano activity.









Boats...




and Turkey Vultures zip around below.




The mid-day hazy light was not optimal for photos...





But I try anyway. I need to return here for a sunset someday.

[dave6253]

I take a 2 lane I've never set wheels on before. I pass the power plant near Page and
I see the narrow crack in the ground known as Antelope Canyon. I didn't even slow down though.

Agathla Peak, near Kayenta, AZ

Heading to...

Monument Valley

[dave6253]

I pay my $5 entry fee into the Tribal Park and stop the bike near the view of the Mittens.

I decide to hang out here a couple hours to watch the sunset.
I shoot a quick panorama, then go into the lodge to get some snacks.

A map of the Navajo and Hopi Lands. I thought the increase in size from the 1868 borders was interesting.

I stroll through the store looking at pricey trinkets...

I selected a cold soda and ice cream bar. There were no prices listed, so I was prepared to be robbed at the cashier.
No problem. I got in line behind 2 ladies at the cash register. The clerk was ignoring us. One of the ladies had to
repeatedly speak up before the clerk finally came over, reluctantly. She seemed rude as she took their money.
As they turned to leave I stepped forward and placed my items on the counter. The "clerk" turned her back and walked away. WTF? I left the ice cream on the counter to melt.


At least the view was priceless...

[thegraydog]

[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concretion

Can't work out how to quote the picture, but those little marbles you find around sandstone are concretions. Adorable!

[dave6253]

Originally Posted by thegraydog

[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concretion

Can't work out how to quote the picture, but those little marbles you find around sandstone are concretions. Adorable!

Thanks for the info. I found this quote from the Wiki article the most helpful.

Moqui Marbles

Moqui Marbles, hematite concretions, from the Navajo Sandstone of southeast Utah. Cube is one centimeter square.


Moqui Marbles, also called Moqui balls, and "Moki marbles", are iron oxide concretions which can be found eroding in great abundance out of outcrops of the Navajo Sandstone within south-central and southeastern Utah. These concretions range in shape from spheres to discs, buttons, spiked balls, cylindrical forms, and other odd shapes. They range from pea-size to baseball-size. They were created by the precipitation of iron, which was dissolved in groundwater. These concretions are argued to be a terrestrial analogue of the Martian hematite spherules, called "blueberries" (Chan and Parry 2002, Chan et al. 2005).

The photo you were referring to.



I should have known the Navajo Sandstone is sedimentary rock from the old sea bed. My initial thought of the small round balls were that they were similar to the volcanic hailstones that are found in places such as the Chiricahua Mountains of Southeastern Arizona. Since these were not very far from the volcanic areas of Northern Arizona I thought they must be volcanic. Thanks for finding the real explanation of these things.

[dave6253]

I watch

the colorful

sunset

and fading light

at Monument Valley.

A Magestic Experience

I jump back on the bike and ride the short distance up to The Goosenecks of the San Juan State Park.
The stars were just making their appearance as I stopped the bike in a familiar free camping spot.

[DurtKlod]

I have to admit that I started reading this thread without paying attention as to who the author/rider was. It didn't take very long for me to figure out it was you simply by the quality and types of your photographs. Initially you were talking about going to Page and I did not see that detour on the first map. Glad to see you corrected it on the second one... not that it matters! You also mentioned that you left the ice cream bar on the counter to melt... but you made no mention as to what happened to the cold soda!!! Great trip so far. I look forward to the rest.

[dave6253]

Hi DirtKlod. I left the cold Orange Crush with the melting ice cream bar. I had a lukewarm soda and water on the bike.

[dave6253]

I was up before sunrise shooting pictures of the hole in the ground next to my bed.