The Summer of Stupid: 7400+ miles of 2up - OBCDR, CDT, TAT West and more...

[LittleWan]

Originally Posted by Questor

Thanks for the Moab pics.

I just got back from there and the KTM Adventure Rally.

We rode up the Long Valley trail, it's in good shape, and then down the Gemini Bridges road.

What a beautiful area.

Did you see any Big Buttes?

Q~

Big Buttes!

Lots more Moab to come...

[LittleWan]

Day 31: 8/6/10 Moab, UT White Rim Trail 146 miles



Last year, BigWan and I did the Long Canyon/Potash/Shafer Trail loop, and we liked it a lot.
The White Rim Trail made it onto our list for this year.

I can’t tell if this screen capture is better or worse than the photo of the map that I’ll have later...
Hmm. okay, it's better.





If you want your own, you can get a WRT map PDF here: linky





Oh yeah, breakfast first.








I don't like waiting around at diners or cafes. Come on! We have riding to do!
Grocery store brekkies are the best.







The morning light was wonderful in some directions, total crap in others.
I’ll show you the crap, later.
Have some wonderful:
















Riding the line between crap and wonderful...
(I just mean the lighting. I like this photo a lot).
















Not the best lighting, but at least the pretty parts stand out...







Okay, here’s some crap:





Dammit! If I had known that the Mineral Bottom switchbacks were going to be destroyed,
I would have tried so much harder to take nice photos of them.
I only took 2. TWO! and they are both awful.

And, this is after massaging them in Lightroom. The light was just too harsh.
Sorry.















We did the trail counterclockwise.
From Mineral Bottom to Hardscrabble to Murphy’s (is it Murphy or Murphy's?) Hogback...


Not for any particular reason, that’s just how it happened.


As you are well aware by now, we suck at planning.
I wanted to try and read some ride reports about the WRT, but I mostly just looked at the photos ("oooh. pretty.") and not one scrap of information seeped in.

Except one.
I knew that there was a bathroom at the top of what seemed like the toughest part of the WRT.
I didn’t even know what that section was called, but after doing research today, it looks like it’s Murphy(‘s) Hogback.

Anyway, I had read this ride report (Mishaps, Mountain Passes, and Moab...Six days of Wind, Water, Fire and Ice!) and this post, in particular, just cracked me up.
Poor Texas Jeff...


So, I told matt...
we’re looking for a long ascent with a bathroom at the top!




































Okay, where are we again?



Okay, thanks!



Sorry for the dark photo - it's that stupid light again.






We were blasting down this section (mo’mentum, people! it’s your friend in the loose stuff)...
when we saw this snake, sunning himself.







He had a serious face!
Doesn’t he look determined?





We moved him to a safer sunny spot so he wouldn’t get run over...

[LittleWan]

Day 31 continued...



The pretty factor started to pick up...








Hardscrabble sign.









I guess this is hardscrabble?









The views got nicer as we climbed.









I think this is my favorite photo of the day.
Love that little leaf-shaped island! Isn't it perfect?






All the hard rains and runoff had made the water a little yuckier-looking than before.
It sort of resembled chocolate milk.

I'm glad we didn't have to filter it through our poor water filter...

[Moraflex]

Originally Posted by redog1

the White Rim Trail was washed out, something we really wanted to do. We didn't do it and I had a feeling we would regret it. I think we do regret it but conceded that it would be a reason to come back if we did have any regrets of not doing something. Already thinking about a weeks trip back to Colorado next year to do some more of the passes. I think Moab is on the bucket list also. For any of you FF out there thinking about something like this, Just do it!

I planned on doing it in September but canceled. An entire switchback washed out and will be closed indefinitely. The Rangers are not accepting any camping reservations on the White Rim this year or next year. Total Bummer.

[LittleWan]

Originally Posted by Moraflex

Total Bummer.

Aw, Moraflex...that sucks.
But, Geek had some promising news at the end of that thread...







Day 31 continued...



Not much to say...
We made good time, though we were trying REALLY hard to ride slower and enjoy the scenery.

The roads were in decent shape and had soaked up the recent rains with ease.
It was actually the perfect time to ride - no dust.
Not that it matters when you’re by yourself...we rarely notice dust.





















We thought it would be nice to get a pic on the edge of this cliff.
I waited while BigWan rode over.
He looks so teeny out there!

























The rocks had an interesting marbled surface.


























We had to really force ourselves to stop and take photos.
It's not a race, right??
Think, scenic tour. Leisurely pace.
Slooooooow....
haha, just seeing if you're paying attention. It's a slow loris, apparently?




Slow down and smell the...rocks.
I liked these big ones, so I walked over to the edge to get a better angle.

















Flying saucer rocks.









Close up.






Up next - Murphy's Hogback video...

[LittleWan]

Day 31 continued...




I asked BigWan to stop here so I could take a photo.
(I think I’m pushing my glasses up in that pic. Or blocking the glare?)






He said, “hey, look up there - I think this might be that spot with the rock steps...”
Really?
Okay, I haven’t done any video in a while.
I guess we’ll know it’s the right spot if there’s a bathroom at the top...


Haha. Is there an echo in here?
I make a little noise at 18 sec. but I'm not sure why. Probably because a rock hit me or something.

Well, while we’re here...





Here’s the section we just rode up.








Looking down at the steps.








I don’t think I’ve taken a photo of the bike in a while.
Bob! Look away!









Not yet, Bob...







Okay, you’re safe now. Whew.
(Bob told me not to put any more 990 pics. They make him feel sad. Get better, Bob!)

















This was another rocky step-type section. It doesn't show up very well in this pic...



























These rocks remind me of African Ndebele Dolls.

[Gale B.T.]

I

make a little noise at 18 sec. but I'm not sure why. Probably because a rock hit me or something

Yea there LW, about the same time for me also, like when I saw the steps, I let out a little " OH F !!!"

I tried to slow the video down so I could see BW's line but did not happen

Once again , many will chime in on how impressed we are with the two of you , the RR and the riding!!!

keep 'em coming, gale

[Bob]

Nice landscapes, but there is something fuzzy right in the middle of them.

Last year when we rode it that step was pretty "squared" off, looks like the 990 really tore it up and now there are pieces missing.

[CapCal1000]

I've seen a few pictures of folks dumping their bikes going up or down those steps on the white rim trail by the bathroom. I love how you two on a "big bike" loaded for touring and two-up just blasted up the thing..

[PDarnall]

Originally Posted by LittleWan

Hey, those venison pics are coming up today!
I'll be able to post as soon as I kick my sister out...

Thank you for the great RR!

Does your sister like to ride motorcycles?

Philip

[LittleWan]

Originally Posted by Gale B.T.

keep 'em coming, gale

Hi Gale! And, once again, thank you for reading this thing and cheering us on!

Can you tell I’m really sad that the colorado part of our RR is over?
I hope I can hold it together for the next 11 days...

Originally Posted by Bob

Nice landscapes, but there is something fuzzy right in the middle of them.

Oh, speaking of sad, here’s Bob... Hi, bob - hope that wasn’t too painful.

Originally Posted by CapCal1000

I love how you two on a "big bike" loaded for touring and two-up just blasted up the thing..

Hi CapCal1000! Thanks, except that we were UNLOADED for the white rim.
You can see that the bike was naked in the photos further down the page - 3rd and 4th photos under the video
(well, naked except for a couple gallons of water - we aren't totally irresponsible ).

But, yeah, it would have been exactly the same - even with all the luggage. And a bundle of firewood.

Originally Posted by PDarnall

Does your sister like to ride motorcycles?

Philip

Haha, nice try, Phillip! I don't pimp out my sister.

(But, I'm glad you like the RR )





Day 31 continued...











































































































Oh, I had the best photo of BigWan doing interpretive dance on the arch, but he's still mad at me for the 1993 hair/leaning tower of pisa picture...
So, no dice.

[dave6253]

Let me guess. You two did the WRT about 6 hours faster than me.

[zeroblah]

Im loving this! you guys are awesome, i dont think i could have taken that step up that fast by myself. Amazing pics of moab, much better than mine. Perhaps a photography class is in order for me

[Tn. Walrus]

Not only are they flying up that section, but Little Wan is using one hand to film the event . I have huge respect for Big Wan, but you girl, have some mad skills of your own riding on the back

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by LittleWan

Dude, that is an awesome picture!!


I have no idea how I got there, but I saw all of the same places when I rode the WRT and the river was on my left.