Trans Am Trail From TN to Nevada on a KLR

[maynard58]

wow, didnt get to see the pictures.

[BigDogAdventures.com]

Originally Posted by basketcase

Bill, Smugmug is pulling the classic bmw act on you. "Bring more wallet."

Think of a garden hose (the server connected to the web) that is leased to you with permission for a certain volume of water (information) allowed to flow through your hose in a given month.

Following the analogy, there are so many of us out here drinking from your hose (reading your story) that your allotment was used up!

I've been there done that myself, and on both sides of that hosting/viewing matter.

Rick (looking forward to the rest of the story) in AL

that was a great explanation Basketcase---I understood that.

My genius son explained the same thing to me---and all I did was give him a real stupid look---but then I do that all the time anyway.

[basketcase]

Mark, thanks. I take that as a high compliment.

For the last 18 months I have worked around a bunch of geeks who are better at figuring out their new cell phones and texting capabilities than they are at carrying on a coherent conversation. Your comment gives me comfort that I have not gone over the edge with them...

[BlueLghtning]

Originally Posted by basketcase

Bill, Smugmug is pulling the classic bmw act on you. "Bring more wallet."

Olegmcc66, I was going to tell you to PM/Email Baldy if it was smugmug as he'll usually expand your bandwidth if its being used up on ADV, but it looks like you are using Photobucket to host your pics.

It's probably a pain, but if you start moving your pics to smugmug, you can continue your story. Smugmug is owned by the same people that run this site so they kind of go hand in hand. Several of us have links to coupon codes in our signatures that will save you $5.00 when you sign up too and you won't have a bandwidth issue.

Good luck! I'm looking forward to the rest of the story!

[olegmc66]

Well photobucket pulled the plug on me, but for 11 bucks I went ahead
and got 3 months unlimited - will ckeck out moving to Smugmug during that time.
The reason I went with photobucket in the first place was because they said it was free and smugmug was 39 a year,
so now I see they are only free for a certain amount. I used up my
month's allowance in less than a week. Thanks for that explanation.

Oh well I had some spare change laying around in paypal.

Thanks for the compliments on the pics. It is an older camera I bought
from a guy at work because he was upgrading. It has fallen off the
roof of my car and taken 3 falls on the trip. HP 935. I am pretty
sure is was set at low res, around 2mp for these pics.

Yeah I think the 800 BMW would be a good bike, maybe a little
big in the hard stuff, but there are go arounds. It really depends on
the weather. I did not ride thru one drop of rain the entire trip
(a snow flurry in CO). If you get alot of mud I guess the bigger
bike would be harder to control. And deep sand, turned me back once.

But I would think a bigger bike is less of an issue if you ride with others.
An 800 CC stuck in the mud, or snow, is alot less of an issue if you
have someone to help pull it out. I was by myself, and I know I am nuts,
but if I do that again I will swing by a Tractor Supply when I get to Colorado
and get one of those lightweight ATV winches. That would have come in handy
when I got stuck in the snow.
But I have alot less experience at this than most others on here, so dont
take my word for anything.

I was thinking maybe trying a Suzuki 400, but it looks like they
dont make them anymore in dualsport? Anyone know?

I was on the trail about 30 days, but did alot of layovers.

Bill

[basketcase]

Oops! When I saw Smugmug in the error message I assumed the photo hosting with with them.

Should I go spank myself? Probably not -- not checking the properties is not that bad...

Anyhow, the bandwidth explanation is correct no matter who does the hosting.

Glad you got it straightened out.

[irishdec]

Hey,great report,and great pic's.
Thanks for taking us along,but where do you get those maps of the trails?
irishdec

[olegmc66]

I heard from the locals that a good tour would be a ride up
this Potash road. You actually go by the turnoff on the TAT.
I would not miss it if you have time. It could actually
be part of the trail, it would add maybe 2-3 hours for the loop.

At the start of Potash, this guy is doing it the hard way.




On in towards the Potash Plant.





Blue Lake.





More monuments.




Good Road.





:)




Colorado flows around a bend and almost makes an island
on the inside.





Onward towards Canyonlands Nat Park.




Entrance to the park.




Entering the park.




Flowers by the road.






Friends.





Into the canyon.




Starting the climb to the Rim.




I feel small.




Dont get over too far to the right!




And don't look down!





The road just traveled.




Pefect road for Ole Blue.





Yeah I wore my HD jacket the entire trip. Just felt good. Had another
leather jacket under it with various layers of warmth and my
son's skateboard elbow and knee pads. Not hi tech but it worked for me.




Delicate plantlife out here. Tread lightly.




My first arch.






Standing Tall.




Made it to the top.






Like I said, I would say do this
Potash Road/Canyon Lands Loop even if you do not have
anytime to spare on the TAT. It could be done in 3 hours
and actually moves you up the trail a bit. And if need be
cut off a section of the trail to make up for it
(don't throw rocks at me). I'll discuss more later.

I'll come back tomorrow and continue on the trail (I rode thru
Arches NP as part of the first day back on the trail).

Bill

[Camas]

Fantastic stuff!! Thanks for sharing Bill.

[rider1150gsadv]

Cool RR!! Very nice pics and brings back great memories.
I did this trip last year 'till Colorado/Utah border and regret not finishing the whole thing... which means that I will do so this year
Anyway looking forward to the rest!!

[SRMN8R]

Those are the first pics I've seen of the Potash Road loop. I agree... that's a MUST DO! Awesome scenery!


Thanks for taking the enormous amount of time to share your journey with us.

I'm looking at doing the trip in 2015, or 2016. It'll be just my son and I.

I want to spend some time alone with him before he embarks on his own journey of life as an adult.

- Jimmy

[MizzouRider]

I really like the way you took this trip.. Very low key approach. I have a habit of being critical of all things european, but I like the idea of taking more vacation time. It would be hard to do this in a 2 week time slot..
I would have to take the GS and get on the black top to try to rip around the rougher stuff and miss too much. Keep a schedule get in 700+ mile days.
Makes me think get a 450 or 650 and just not try to go as far and enjoy it more.
Great RR, looking forward to more.

Jeff

[M1tch]

read this report through just now and decided to subscribe. great photos of places i will probably never see

[Rascus]

subscribed so i can see the photos when I get home

[RAZR]

nice