The Desert is Calling Me! (Arizona Trip May-2019)

[ribbert]

Again, great write up and pics Alan. I love a trip report.

I'm with you on the hot shower and warm bed after a day's riding, particularly if it's cold and wet. My idea of "roughing it" is a 2 star motel.

Noel

[Firehawk068]

This trip is finally coming to an end............

Day-7
I was in the final stretch toward Home.

After a glorious night's sleep in the hotel bed, I went downstairs to get some breakfast (offered free for occupants) and coffee.
Then I packed up my gear, loaded up the bike, and set out on the road.

It was a beautifully sunny and crisp morning.
I stopped to take a couple pictures at Recapture Reservoir, with the Abajo Mountains in the background.





I continued on northward, and eventually grabbed a couple pictures of "Church Rock" with the La Sal Mountains in the distance.





My first planned stop for the day was "Wilson Arch".



I hiked the short trail up to the Arch. While I was there taking pictures, various cars, RVs, and motorcycles came and went.















I made my way back down to the parking-area. A couple of Harleys pulled in. They asked me about my bike, and conversing with them I learned they were from Germany. They rented the Harleys in Las-Vegas and were touring the West. They had ridden through the same nasty-cold-wet weather that I had the previous day.
I also struck up a conversation with a married-couple who were riding a fully loaded Triumph Tiger. They were visiting the USA from the Netherlands.I think the guy said they were on a 3-week tour?
Motorcyclists generally seem to gravitate towards one another at rest-stops, and It is fantastic to meet people from all over the world while out riding.............Awesome stuff!

I continued north, then made my turn onto Hwy-46 and headed east towards Colorado.
I got a few shots of the La Sal Peaks.







It wasn't long before I was crossing the State-Line.



I made my way through the tiny (3-building) town of Bedrock, and turned up this dirt-road that is simply named "Y-11 Road"



I had wanted to check it out because it winds its way through the Dolores, and then San Miguel River Canyons.







Up on the rock walls, there are remains of an old "Hanging Flume", built in the late 1880's, that was once used to bring water to where mining operations were.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Flume





They re-constructed a short section of the original Flume to give people an idea of what it once looked like.





Eventually I exited the Canyon, and came upon this old bridge that crosses the San Miguel River.
The road once traveled across it, but it has since been deemed unsafe and is blocked at either end by some large boulders. The road now continues another two miles further down the River.
Cars will no longer fit through, but an Adventure-Bike?  Easily!
The Highway I was trying to reach is just on the other side of this bridge....................



It is definitely in disrepair, but a quick test-walk confirmed it is "Solid enough" as long as I avoid the spots that have fallen through...............



Top structure looks a little twisted, but it was no problem.



I headed north on Hwy-141.



Those of you who came to the Colorado Rally in 2016 or 2017 might remember this stretch of awesome-twisty road.



I wandered off the main road down a short bit of sandy two-track to a turn-around and an overlook of the river-canyon below.







At first I thought to myself "This would be an awesome place to Camp"...........................that is, if it weren't for the stench of the rotting Cow nearby.



Further up the Highway, I spotted a curious structure down off the side of the road.
I rode over to check it out. I later learned it was once a Charcoal Kiln.







I made my way through Gateway, and then continued on towards Grand Junction.



After a short break for some food, it was an uneventful ride on I-70 back to Denver.
I managed to avoid any bad weather on the final day, and made it home safely.
Total miles for the day's ride was 443-miles.



The next day I cleaned all the road-grime and bugs off the bike, and safely tucked it in with the FJ.



This was before I cleaned the garage out of most of the useless stuff that was piled in there.



Total mileage for the 7-day trip was 2250-miles



Hope you enjoyed tagging along on this journey.
There will be some more to follow in the near future.  

[PaulG]

Had to get out a thesauras to find some adjectives that would describe this post....

Great 
Fantastic   
Magnificent   
Splendiferous   
Absolutelyfuckingawesome   

Kinda surprised that last one was in there 

[Firehawk068]

Had to get out a thesauras to find some adjectives that would describe this post....

Great 
Fantastic   
Magnificent   
Splendiferous   
Absolutelyfuckingawesome   

Kinda surprised that last one was in there 

Thank you Paul.
Glad you enjoyed it