SoCal to Utah - a short long weekend

[roundtripping]

After riding way too fast on the last few miles of flat dirt and then hitting the pavement again, I arrive at this place; Bullfrog Bay.



Lake Powell. It was hotter than a blacksmith's ass at this point and seeing the water really made me just want to dive straight in! But the ferry you see arriving in the background apparently doesn't go all that often and the shadows were almost starting to get a little long already.



Getting crowded.



I'm on a boat!!

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Anyhoo.... The slight breeze on the ferry across was a heavenly change to the hot air of Burr Trail.



Lots of people out playing on the water.



The ride across Lake Powell takes approximately 25 minutes, which I wouldn't have minded if it was slightly longer so I could have continued cutting down on the soda machine supplies.

Alas all good things must come to an end, so this ferry crossing too.

[GSdreamer]

Great report so far. I want to do this same trip...But maybe in the fall.

[roundtripping]

I rolled ashore and started heading over toward Natural Bridges National Monument (say that fast three times backwards). I wasn't really sure how this was going to work out as I'd planned to spend this night camping in Valley of the Gods and it was already getting kind of late. Thinking nothing of it, I roll past a gas station just off the ferry landing and ride almost all the way to NBNM when I realize not only is it late, but I should've gotten gas at the ferry landing... Searched my Zumo GPS for the closest gas...: Blanding, 40 miles in the "wrong" direction. Crap.




Well whatever. Blanding it is, I'll just motel it and nurse my toe a bit there for the night. So I gun it over to Blanding, gas up and find a motel just in time to make it to dinner before closing.

That Jimmy Changa feller should get a medal.



Sleep comes easily after this.

[roundtripping]

The morning of 6/26 I'm very tired. Which isn't really anything out of the ordinary. I can usually make myself get up fairly early if the occasion demands it, but it doesn't make me any less sleepy once up. So, if you take a good look at this picture and then factor in the sleepiness, you may be able to figure out that my mouth didn't taste very good the rest of this day. It was smooth as a baby's butt though.

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Originally Posted by GSdreamer

Great report so far. I want to do this same trip...But maybe in the fall.

Thank you sir! And I agree, fall or spring would probably be a smarter choice for this trip, unless you like riding around panting for air most of the time

I should mention, that during the whole trip I carried plenty of water with me, not only that but I actually drank the majority of it and kept refilling.

[Fishyhead]

Awesome ride Joakim! I wish I could have gone with you

[roundtripping]

Originally Posted by Fishyhead

Awesome ride Joakim! I wish I could have gone with you

Thanks Duy! Next time!

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So there I was, mouth full of normal-to-dry skin lotion and ready to backtrack a little and go check out the Natural Bridges National Monument.



I didn't really know what to expect from this and as it turns out you really need to be prepared to do a bit of hiking to get the full experience of the natural bridges. With my crippled toe and dressed up in motorcycle gear this turned out to be a bit of a bust for me. You live and you learn. Also, the gnats in the park were fierce. Someone told me they've been known to eat busloads of Japanese tourists in mere seconds. Well OK, I made that up. But they were pretty bad.

I did get one picture, barely worthy of posting.



So I turned the Austrian workhorse south on the 261 instead and headed off toward the Valley of the Gods. Here's the cross-roads where I sold my soul to the Devil, I figured since I was heading to the Valley of the Gods next I could redeem myself there?



This is actually right where Mulie Pt Rd and the 261 intersect. If you take MPR you'll get to see the grand Goosenecks. That sounded fowl to me so I skipped it and continued on the 261, which at this point turned to dirt.

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Just 1000 ft from where the dirt turns to pavement again, you make a left onto Valley of the Gods Rd which is all dirt.

Almost right away you'll run into this.



Valley of the Gods B&B The house is actually visible from the dirt road but for some reason I didn't get a good pic of it.

I continued on....



One of the Gods?



The dirt was in really good condition. I was having a lot of fun and saw about 60 mph quite a few times...

[dlow]

[Jrmobb]

Awesome, i just got done with a 7K miles trip in the my truck a few days ago. I went through all the parks in utah. It really is amazing out there. Enjoy it and keep posting!

[roundtripping]

Originally Posted by Jrmobb

Awesome, i just got done with a 7K miles trip in the my truck a few days ago. I went through all the parks in utah. It really is amazing out there. Enjoy it and keep posting!

Thanks! It's breathtaking.

[KneeDragGirl]

Fun report! Loved the video....very creative!

Was born and raised in Utah and there is something so magical and untouched about those parts you have visited.

Glad you got to do a solo ride and just clear your head. No better place to do it!