Cheese Weasels Get Dirty In Utah

[the Ferret]

Good night what a great adventure and spectacular photos

[Stichill_imp]

Riding Day 2 - Wednesday Mid-Morning - Moki Dugway

After re-grouping at the exit of Valley of the Gods road, we turned north onto UT 261 (visible here) toward the imposing cliffs of Cedar Mesa.


The Moki Dugway is a steep, 3-mile level graded gravel section of UT 261 that was carved into the cliffs in 1958 for trucks to carry mining ore from Cedar Mesa down to Mexican Hat.


Sign at the bottom of the Moki Dugway.


That's actually me, looking like an ant, heading up the middle incline in this pic.






Valley of the Gods down below.

[Frulk_imp]

My stomping grounds. Been over that stretch many times on various bikes. Lot more exciting when it’s wet and turns to gumbo. Looking forward to more pics.

[Stichill_imp]

My stomping grounds. Been over that stretch many times on various bikes. Lot more exciting when it’s wet and turns to gumbo. Looking forward to more pics.

Yeah it was a pretty easy ride on a sunny day. It's very wide actually and there are no washboard sections, sand, or big rocks to contend with.

Riding out West is such a different vibe for us easterners! Really exciting!
Riding Day 2 - Wednesday Mid-Day - Muley Point & A Fork In The Road

When you reach the top of the Moki Dugway, there's a 5-mile sand / clay / gravel road on the left that leads to Muley Point, overlooking the San Juan River Canyon. To Frulk's point about rain-soaked "gumbo", there was a sign that said the road was impassable in wet weather, i.e. don't get caught in the rain on the other end! It was hard enough to ride on when dry.










We lingered a good, long time at Muley Point. It's a meditative spot.

Finally it was time to head back to the bikes.


And Then There Were Three

It was at this point that our buddy riding the GS decided he couldn't continue on the front tire he had on the bike. He was rueful that he had not replaced it before leaving home in Colorado Springs. He thought it had 1500-2000 miles left on it, but the abrasive "chip seal" pavement we'd been riding on in Utah was chewing it up and it had entered the soft compound. It was at that point where the tire can suddenly be on the cords in 150 miles. It had gotten into his head and he wasn't enjoying the ride as a result.

His phone had no service, but my Verizon phone had signal. "Can you hear me now?" He called the few bike shops in the area for a tire - no go. He finally found one back in Grand Junction at the BMW dealer. So the plan was made for him to continue north with us on UT 261 to the junction with UT 95, where he would head east to Grand Junction and we would stay with the ride plan and turn west & then north toward Lake Powell. He would get his tire replaced and then meet back up with us on Day 3 somewhere in the Fremont, Utah area.

Fork in the road at UT 261 & UT 95




The Cheese Weasels have a club motto: Leave No Man Behind...Unless It's Time to Go!

[redbirds_imp]

Love the photos and write up. Sparky and I honeymooned in the Southwest 42 years ago and have only been back a few times. Need to go again.

[Stichill_imp]

Riding Day 2 - Wednesday Mid-Day to Mid-Afternoon - Around the North End of Lake Powell and Back Down Toward Burr Trail Road

When we were stopped at UT 261 & UT 95, we checked our odometers and found we had gone about 100 miles since filling up in Mexican Hat on our way back from Monument Valley. It was 168 miles to Boulder, Utah - seemingly the next "big" town on on the route we had chosen. Since all of us had perhaps a 180- to 190-mile range before hitting reserve, the question became, "Where's our next fuel stop?"

We had issues with phone service out there. My TomTom GPS said the closest fuel was in Blanding. That meant turning east on UT 95 with our GS buddy and riding with him to Blanding, about 32 miles one-way. Not the greatest option, since we would only net about 50 miles of additional range after burning the 32 miles back to the junction of UT 261 & UT 95.


Suddenly my son-in-law got signal and his phone said there was a Sinclair station 56 miles up the road along UT 95 toward Lake Powell. There was some risk in this...what if the station wasn't there, or was closed? It looked like it was literally in the middle of nowhere on the map. In the end, we decided that this is an adventure! Worst come to worst, maybe we could bum some gas from a guy in a jeep with a jerry can. So, off we went in search of the Sinclair, a potentially mythical desert petroleum oasis.

Into the expanse...


The ride up UT 95 was breathtaking. A series of white canyons paralleled the road on the east side for miles and miles. I don't have any pictures, because it was one of those "in the zone" moments that would be spoiled by stopping. We just rode on and took it all in.

When it got to be around the noon hour, we pulled off UT 95 at Farley Road and enjoyed some nice views while we munched our trail food.








We found the Sinclair station just off UT 95, inside the Hite National Recreation Area that is "located at the top of Lake Powell, adjacent to the confluence of the Colorado and Dirty Devil Rivers" according to its website. Here's how the entrance looks according to Google Maps. Interesting that there's a fuel truck in the Google photo!


Momma didn't promise you the gas would be cheap, though!


We continued north on UT 95 and crossed over the Dirty Devil River at Hite Crossing Bridge, then swung around and pulled off at the Hite Overlook for a view of the confluence with the Colorado River.




For some reason, in my mind I thought that Hite Crossing Bridge was the northernmost point of our loop around Lake Powell. In fact we had to go another 15 miles north of Hite Overlook to the junction with UT 276 where we could finally turn south. Perhaps it was the extra 30 miles (15 up and 15 down), or the heat, or me getting tired, or the food I just ate, or the less interesting scenery on this side of the lake, but I recall the ride down UT 276 as boring to the point of feeling like I might fall asleep. I had to keep opening my visor to blast my face with air, stand up on the bike, sing out loud, yell, shake my head...anything to prevent myself from nodding off.


It was such a relief to stop the bikes and get off for a stretch at the entrance to BLM 1200, which leads up to Burr Trail Road.

[GoldOxide_imp]

My stomping grounds. Been over that stretch many times on various bikes. Lot more exciting when it’s wet and turns to gumbo. Looking forward to more pics.

Yeah it was a pretty easy ride on a sunny day. It's very wide actually and there are no washboard sections, sand, or big rocks to contend with.

Riding out West is such a different vibe for us easterners! Really exciting!
Riding Day 2 - Wednesday Mid-Day - Muley Point & A Fork In The Road

When you reach the top of the Moki Dugway, there's a 5-mile sand / clay / gravel road on the left that leads to Muley Point, overlooking the San Juan River Canyon. To Frulk's point about rain-soaked "gumbo", there was a sign that said the road was impassable in wet weather, i.e. don't get caught in the rain on the other end! It was hard enough to ride on when dry.










We lingered a good, long time at Muley Point. It's a meditative spot.

Finally it was time to head back to the bikes.


And Then There Were Three

It was at this point that our buddy riding the GS decided he couldn't continue on the front tire he had on the bike. He was rueful that he had not replaced it before leaving home in Colorado Springs. He thought it had 1500-2000 miles left on it, but the abrasive "chip seal" pavement we'd been riding on in Utah was chewing it up and it had entered the soft compound. It was at that point where the tire can suddenly be on the cords in 150 miles. It had gotten into his head and he wasn't enjoying the ride as a result.

His phone had no service, but my Verizon phone had signal. "Can you hear me now?" He called the few bike shops in the area for a tire - no go. He finally found one back in Grand Junction at the BMW dealer. So the plan was made for him to continue north with us on UT 261 to the junction with UT 95, where he would head east to Grand Junction and we would stay with the ride plan and turn west & then north toward Lake Powell. He would get his tire replaced and then meet back up with us on Day 3 somewhere in the Fremont, Utah area.

Fork in the road at UT 261 & UT 95




The Cheese Weasels have a club motto: Leave No Man Behind...Unless It's Time to Go!

I had no idea you were going to Mars.

[Frulk_imp]

Man. You guys rode past some great non technical slot canyons accessible from the road. Again I wish I could have been there to help you with a locals point of view. In 2006 I kayaked the Dirty Devil. Dragging the yak for the first 20 miles or so until the canyon walls constricted and there was enough water to consistently float. Basically it was almost 100 miles of quicksand in close to 6 days. I’m still flossing sand out from between my teeth.

And like the Cheese Weasels the Hite pumps saved old Frulk a number of times.

[Stichill_imp]

Man. You guys rode past some great non technical slot canyons accessible from the road. Again I wish I could have been there to help you with a locals point of view. In 2006 I kayaked the Dirty Devil. Dragging the yak for the first 20 miles or so until the canyon walls constricted and there was enough water to consistently float. Basically it was almost 100 miles of quicksand in close to 6 days. I’m still flossing sand out from between my teeth.

And like the Cheese Weasels the Hite pumps saved old Frulk a number of times.

There's so much to do out there! We knew we were bypassing all kinds of great stuff, but of course we didn't know all the local secret places!

Man. You guys rode past some great non technical slot canyons accessible from the road. Again I wish I could have been there to help you with a locals point of view. In 2006 I kayaked the Dirty Devil. Dragging the yak for the first 20 miles or so until the canyon walls constricted and there was enough water to consistently float. Basically it was almost 100 miles of quicksand in close to 6 days. I’m still flossing sand out from between my teeth.

And like the Cheese Weasels the Hite pumps saved old Frulk a number of times.

A godsend. Turned out there were more stations strung along UT 276 that we weren't aware of.

Man. You guys rode past some great non technical slot canyons accessible from the road. Again I wish I could have been there to help you with a locals point of view. In 2006 I kayaked the Dirty Devil. Dragging the yak for the first 20 miles or so until the canyon walls constricted and there was enough water to consistently float. Basically it was almost 100 miles of quicksand in close to 6 days. I’m still flossing sand out from between my teeth.

And like the Cheese Weasels the Hite pumps saved old Frulk a number of times.

From misery come the best stories!

My stomping grounds. Been over that stretch many times on various bikes. Lot more exciting when it’s wet and turns to gumbo. Looking forward to more pics.

Yeah it was a pretty easy ride on a sunny day. It's very wide actually and there are no washboard sections, sand, or big rocks to contend with.

Riding out West is such a different vibe for us easterners! Really exciting!
Riding Day 2 - Wednesday Mid-Day - Muley Point & A Fork In The Road

When you reach the top of the Moki Dugway, there's a 5-mile sand / clay / gravel road on the left that leads to Muley Point, overlooking the San Juan River Canyon. To Frulk's point about rain-soaked "gumbo", there was a sign that said the road was impassable in wet weather, i.e. don't get caught in the rain on the other end! It was hard enough to ride on when dry.










We lingered a good, long time at Muley Point. It's a meditative spot.

Finally it was time to head back to the bikes.


And Then There Were Three

It was at this point that our buddy riding the GS decided he couldn't continue on the front tire he had on the bike. He was rueful that he had not replaced it before leaving home in Colorado Springs. He thought it had 1500-2000 miles left on it, but the abrasive "chip seal" pavement we'd been riding on in Utah was chewing it up and it had entered the soft compound. It was at that point where the tire can suddenly be on the cords in 150 miles. It had gotten into his head and he wasn't enjoying the ride as a result.

His phone had no service, but my Verizon phone had signal. "Can you hear me now?" He called the few bike shops in the area for a tire - no go. He finally found one back in Grand Junction at the BMW dealer. So the plan was made for him to continue north with us on UT 261 to the junction with UT 95, where he would head east to Grand Junction and we would stay with the ride plan and turn west & then north toward Lake Powell. He would get his tire replaced and then meet back up with us on Day 3 somewhere in the Fremont, Utah area.

Fork in the road at UT 261 & UT 95




The Cheese Weasels have a club motto: Leave No Man Behind...Unless It's Time to Go!

I had no idea you were going to Mars.

[url=http://mdrs.marssociety.org]Almost literally.


Riding Day 2 - Wednesday Late Afternoon - Burr Trail Road and Escalante

The final leg for the day was to ride BLM 12000 north to the junction with Burr Trail Road, take Burr Trail to Boulder, then ride UT 12 south to Escalante for our overnight.


BLM 12000 was a scenic road paved in chipseal.




Once you take Burr Trail Road, you quickly encounter the Burr Trail Switchbacks.










Once up on top, the trail changed back to pavement and went went through this marvelous canyon filled fantastical natural monoliths and wind sculptures. Again, an "in the zone" moment, so so pics until we did stop and explore a slot canyon.










We picked up UT 12 at Boulder and rode south to Escalante. UT 12 is a great motorcycle road! Not too far south of Boulder there is a hogback section with phenomenal views but nowhere to stop and take a photo!

We got ourselves checked in at the Circle D and walked right next door for dinner and a beer.






Back at the hotel, a guy in a pickup truck was scanning the lot for motorcycles. He hopped out to ask us if we had any mechanical trouble or needed tire repair. Turned out he was "The Desert Doctor" who's card I had been given at the motel front office. Apparently he services a 200-mile radius around Escalante. He said he had our GD buddy's tire size in stock. When we told that to our buddy he texted back, "Dang! He needs to get on the internet!"

[the Ferret]

Just awesome stuff Stichill