who wants to ride west?

[shooplick]

im taking 2 weeks off and am planning to ride to the grand canyon and surrounding areas (vegas?).. trip will be very simmilar to Jammins report  of colorado and utah. but i plan to take 14 days instead of 10. dates July 18th through august 1st.
plan to stay at camp grounds and inexpensive hotel.
 
this is an open invitation for any one to join me.

I am open to sugestions, tips, advice ect. since i have never planned any long tips before.

[FZ1 Matt]

Southern UT. Goooo! Search Grand Esclante hwy 12! Go do Hwy 95 from Hanksville to near Blanding. Vermillion Cliffs. Page, AZ. Monument Valley. North Rim Grand Canyon. Take your time and ride around the roads and do a loop.

I can't go that way for a while. I might not come back.







2 weeks? I would go get myself completely and pleasantly lost out there. The whole thing was pretty much amazing.

[motomem]

If it was in early June I'd meet up with you for a few days. I haven't had a vacation in so long I just can't wait. Beware - during late July and August you will see some serious hot. If something happens and you decide on June let me know.

Good luck on your trip!

[shooplick]

thanks Matt. i will look into those roads. i wont make you come back if you dont want to

Motomem, if the dates do change they will be pushed back into august most likely.

[xsPain]

I've toywe with the idea of gong out that way this August. Have another trip to get out of the way first, and then need to move. Or get a roommate. I hate moving.

[Mark Milanowski]

Ahhhh..... West...

Camping is free in the National forest. Best places are when the road turns rough.



You can find all the seclusion you want.



any where here is good.





Nice stream behind our site and we are at ~9000 ft. The 4th of July time frame and it's cool and comfortable.

[wibornz]

I wish I would have known about this sooner.  In about two weeks, four of us are heading to the Blueridge parkway and the Dragon.  If I did not already have this set up, I would be going with you.  But with a five day bike trip in May and two week vacation with the family in the middle of June, I can not take off again in July.  Work and my wife would kill me.....

[FJR_ski]

shooplick,

I think you picked amazing places to see, I done similar route last year.  The only issue is that it was hot, Utah was 100F and I'm glad we had a cool hotel room.  camping might be difficult in hot areas.  

Did you plan a route yet? Can you share it?

Thanks.

Peter

[shooplick]

Peter, pm sent
 i plan on slabbing it on 80 or 70(if a stl friend comes with) to denver. If i can hit yellowstone i will take 90 to somewhere in wyoming then work my way down through the N.P. then slab it home.
that was the very short version.

[FZ1 Matt]

 camping might be difficult in hot areas.  

If you're in a hot area during the day, there's a good chance it's a cool area at night.

You know like a desert and stuff.

[shooplick]

OK still need some riding company. my wife didn't say i couldn't go by my self. but she also wont promise that i wont have to flat tires when I'm supposed to leave.
help a brother out.

[forester]

How much money you got?  

[shooplick]

$1.32

[mxvet57]

$1.32

i see the wife cut your allowance

[shooplick]

thats double what used to get.

[sleazy rider]

That's not exactly cool weather time out there.    If you said September after Labor Day for two weeks, I'd be all over it.  We were in Utah two years ago July and enjoyed it, but wished for cooler weather.  100* in ATTGATT ain't comfy.

[sleazy rider]

First offer?     Open for negotiations.



List of stops.

[FJR_ski]

sleazy rider,

What program did you use to make that map?

[JimWilliamson]

Can you find any excuse to deviate through Kansas City around lunch or dinnertime??

Lots of Fantastic BBQ choices...

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Can you find any excuse to deviate through Kansas City around lunch or dinnertime??

Lots of Fantastic BBQ choices...

[shooplick]

First offer?     Open for negotiations.

first route offer good
BBQ always good

[FJR_ski]

You picked great places, but I think you might run into a problem where you will be riding so much that you wont have much time to see places and really enjoy them.  

[shooplick]

i was thinking the same thing. i would like to be able to camp for two nights in one place at least once and ride around the area, sight see. i did not want every day to be 600 miles. i like sleazy riders route but i would skip mt rushmore and most the places north of denver. saw mt rush 4 times already, still the same 4 dudes right?

[Breadman]

but i would skip mt rushmore and most the places north of denver. saw mt rush 4 times already, still the same 4 dudes right?

Yes.  Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  

On second thought, It's Paul, John, George, and Ringo.

[kawrider67]

Dont rule out a solo trip, when you only have yourself to think about it is kinda nice. I was out that way a few years ago by myself, it was so nice to just go at my own pace. be sure to bring WATER dont mess around out be safe.

[JimWilliamson]

be sure to bring WATER dont mess around out be safe.

Water - who'da thunk it. BTDT when I headed west a few years back. If you find yourself getting unusually tired / fatigued or having above normal headaches - the body's nudge it wants water.

I'm in Fort Collins CO - if you need a hand (breakdown) or wish to grab some floorspace for a night - give a call 970-219-0004.

[sleazy rider]

   on all the sage advice.  The lower part of the route out to Death Valley and back to Utah is my must do stuff.  The rest is just going home, something I really won't want to do.    If you'd rather camp a couple days in Utah or Grand Canyon, I'm good with that.  500 mile days out west are not that big a deal.  With the higher speed limits, a couple tourist stops a day are not too hard to accomplish.  My usual pattern is to rise early, break camp, go 100 miles-ish and stop for breakfast.  Target the first attraction, spend a couple hours there, light lunch, ride to second stop, repeat to include dinner, ride another 200 miles and camp.  Campfires are a must, s'mores are optional, but highly thought of.  

Water is packed in the morning and used liberally.  At least one bottle per gas stop and squeeze bottle in tankbag for going down the road.  This is where a modular helmet shines.  

Time to head for work.  I'll check back this evening.

[shooplick]

sounds good. death valley, grand canyon north or south rim, independence or monarch pass, zion np. and lots of utah roads and camp sites. i was checking with work to change my vacation time to the week of labor day and the week after. is lake mead the place where the gov. tests crashed ufos or where the rocks move by themselves?

[sleazy rider]

Lake Mead is a National Recreation Area that also supplies water generated electrical power to much of the surrounding region.  Think Hoover Dam's retention basin.  Area 51 aka Dreamland is where the "UFO testing" is supposed to take place.  For those that know and care, it's actually where our Air Force develops and tests our advanced prototype aircraft and high tech weaponry.  We could skip Death Valley and head down to Roswell, NM if you're interested in UFOlogy.  Death Valley or Joshua Tree NP are more interesting.   

[shooplick]

groom lake = ufo thats what i was thinking of, maybe i don't know anymore. once we get down there the world is our oyster. wait i cant eat oysters pick some other food and thats what our world is.

[sleazy rider]

Thoughts?

FYI, I bought a National Parks annual pass earlier this year.  It allows free admission to all National Parks for up to four bikes.    From the chart, we'd have to hammer out a couple/three big days to get out west, then slow down and smell the flowers and desert.  One day spent in Las Vegas would include a loop out to Death Valley.  Also included is a day spent at the Grand Canyon just to put our feet up and suck down some cold beverages while enjoying the scenery.  Lots of time spent in Utah sightseeing parks and there's a couple high passes included in the route.  All the motels are Econolodges because I get a good rate from them being retired military.  

[FJR_ski]

sleazy rider,

I visited Colorado and Utah last year, it was an amazing time.  We went in July.  Yes, it was hot. :-)  But, I would go back anytime.  

Can you provide that spreadsheet as attachment?

Thanks.

Peter

[shooplick]

i like the plan would it be possible to leave on satuday instead of monday? then we could get back home on sat.  and sleep all day sunday before returning to work. how does that sound.
list of those interested are
Shooplick (jai)
sleazy rider
fjr-ski

i think that 4 people would be the max. i hate feeling like im riding in a parade.

[FJR_ski]

I really like that plan.  It's difficult to see the speadsheet, maybe someone can attach it or email it to me: pakuchn@yahoo.com

Thanks.

Peter

[sleazy rider]

You've got mail.

I was out west in 2007, toured all of eastern Utah and western Colorado.  Hey, I even enjoyed Nebraska off the slab.  One morning, my buddy and I decided to go to Four Corners from Moab and then back up via the Million Dollar Highway.  We left early, before all the rest woke up and got back for dinner.  There were a few slackjawed expressions when we showed them the pictures.  hehe

[sleazy rider]

i like the plan would it be possible to leave on satuday instead of monday? then we could get back home on sat.  and sleep all day sunday before returning to work. how does that sound.
list of those interested are
Shooplick (jai)
sleazy rider
fjr-ski

i think that 4 people would be the max. i hate feeling like im riding in a parade.

I work retail and there's no damn way that start date would change.  Labor day is huge sales.  I'm planning on leaving after work on Monday and camping in La Salle, IL at the KOA that evening, if this comes off.  My preference for group size is actually three people.  It tends to get unwieldy after that.  Later this summer, we could actually get together in person and chat about it.  I can ride out there for lunch and plotting.

Sleep?  How old are you?     I'll turn 52 on the ride back.  

Sorry, we could push it back one more week and do the entire two weeks, though.  Leave on Saturday, September 12th and back on the 27th for a full two weeks.

[shooplick]

let me see if i could push it back one more week. 3 more days added would make things better. when does snow start to close roads in the mtns?  three be the number of the count, and the number of the count shall be three. four shall not be counted and five is right out!