Ride across the USA

[Jurlie_imp]

This entry is out of Sequence: I finished with day 3 of Djangos ride through Utah and this picks up the AM of day four:

Day 4:

We roll back into Hanksville in the truck, pic up the bikes we left in an RV campground, load the bikes and move them about 100 yards to a restaurant.


This Honda Rebel 500 had Illinois plates. He has more instant street cred with me then the guys riding the two wheeled road barge RV's:








Our bikes next to the Rebel:



Django and I finished a solid greasy spoon breakfast and rolled down the road southeast towards Natural Bridges Monument to get a campsite. Plan was after solidifying the sleeping quarters we would head to Mexican Hat via the Moki Dugway Switchbacks to have dinner at the Swinging Steak restaurant. A place I've been trying to eat at for the past 4-5 years since a close friend and fellow rider told me about it. They have an off-season and every time I'm down there I seem to hit it when they're closed.

We were chased by large, isolated high desert thunder cells most of the day but got lucky and were never caught:







We made it to Natural Bridges, reserved our site, and then remounted the bikes and made a concerted effort to out run the last thunder cell which from all appearances was attempting to intercept us at the Moki Switchbacks. To add to it all, somewhere out there was Flyn Rider looking to intercept us. We passed him as he was heading towards Natural Bridges and we were heading to the Switchbacks. I was looking for a RED CB like in his Avatar but something told me the loaded down, blue Nighthawk with a heavily bug splattered plexi glass fairing was our fellow forum member.

We made the switchbacks ahead of the storm: That's Django ahead of the car heading down.







We took a few pics and pressed on to Mexican Hat. I was convinced I could smell the steak from the top of the Switchbacks.

Day 5 shortly:
A few additional Pics from Day 4:

FINALLY I have my steak cooking. It was worth the 4-5 year wait. Cooked over an open cedar fire:



The steak:



Navajo cooks:



As we were heading back up the switchbacks to our campsite at NBNM. since we had missed the storm we took some pics back on the Switchbacks:

Django with the sandstone formation in the background which gave the town its name:



Back on the Switchbacks:





My sparse sleeping quarters back at Natural Bridges:


At the end of day four we find Flyn Rider waiting for us back at the NBNM Campground. We make acquaintances and head to bed shortly thereafter. Was a long hot day of riding.

Day 5: We break camp, load the bikes and take the approx. 10 mile one way loop through the park. I'd camped here several times during the winter coming here specifically to watch meteor showers due to the dark night sky and had never actually driven into the monument proper. Lots of nice view points and short hikes down into the canyon to see some well preserved Anasazi ruins.

Breaking camp:



My posse and their iron horses:



Pop Quiz: guess which one is the German?



Lots of archeological sites down in this canyon complex:



After completing the loop we head out of the park and east towards Blanding for lunch. The ride is devoid of traffic, as it's been for the last 4 days.

After lunch and gassing up we head north towards Moab and once again just barely miss a thunder cell which drenched the road moment before we get to the section.




Almost to Moab we stop at a road side attraction. hot as all get out in our gear we get some ice cream and Django has his picture taken with 'Mater'





We get to Moab and check into our Hotels and decide we have enough time to ride out to Dead Horse Point state park and take in some stellar views of canyonland National Park. Check the weather app and it looks good.

Off we go.....only to get pounded by ANOTHER fast moving afternoon storm cell on top of an open plateau that is throwing down lightning bolts and moderate heavy rain. To add a dose of drama to it we're stopped in the park because road crews repairing the surface are moving equipment and barricades off a section that's down to one lane. After about a 15 minute soaking we're allowed to move on.



Dead Horse Point:






Afterwards we head back to town, put on some dry clothes and head to dinner at a Mexican restaurant on the corner across from the Gonzo Inn where Django and I are staying. We end the day with a couple of beers on our balcony while Django calls his wife and updates some of his blog posts.

Here ends day 5 of Django's tour though southern Utah.

Could you please show your route (on map or just name visited places)?
I think I saw Arizona and Utah, but places in your photos are even more beautiful then I've seen.