Into Glory Ride

Sunset in OK...

Just to close the lid on this trip I’ll post this wrap up thread, but not too much really happened from New Mexico to PA. We ended up riding from Albuquerque, NM to Cincinnati, OH over 36 hours, stopping only for a 90 minute nap in a rest area in Arkansas (or maybe it was Tennessee). There wasn’t much to take pictures of, and once the terrain became familiar again we really just started burning for home rather than looking for photo ops.

We made it back to south-west PA on Saturday afternoon, and I made it to Bethlehem around midnight that night.

Thanks to everyone for watching the site. We’re planning more trips for the (near) future, so if you’re interested in coming with us, please let me know. I’d love to ride with you. It’s not nearly as expensive as it seems, and it’s probably more fun than anything else you’re thinking of doing.

Stay tuned for a gear analysis and news about future trips.  We’re thinking South Dakota (Mount Rushmore) before the end of the season…

I like to be here when I can.

I just got into Bethlehem a few minutes ago, and I wanted to let everyone know that both Vargo and I made it to our homes safely. I’ll be posting some photos, gear analysis, and a synopsis of the end of the trip sometime tomorrow. Now, however, is the time for sleep.

Mojave - Malibu - Grand Canyon

Check out the new pics.

There are way to many ways to die at the grand canyon, and they feel free to tell you all about it! So beware if you go to the grand canyon, YOU WILL DIE!

Disclaimer ( You will not die at the grand canyon if you take proper precautions.)

So camping less then 10 miles from the grand canyon was one of the coolest parts of this trip. After setting up camp in a national forest We settled in to cook some canned pasta and reflect on the days events. After a few hours of talking we decided to call it a night. We decided to douse the fire as the ground was covered with dry pine needles. Using most of our water we doused the flame and embers. As if on que as soon as the fire was out we heard a coyote baying at the moon maybe 200-300 feet from where we were. This was rather unsettling. We looked at each other and headed as fast as we could to the tent. I was laying there with my little pocket knife at the ready and ken had a trusty e-tool at his side. Moments later we heard the baying again, this time it was answered by others, it became clear that it was not alone. Luckily nothing came of it and we never even saw the coyotes.  The only evidence that we saw of their existence was coyote prints over our tracks as we left the camp. The prints were no more then 50ft from our tent. Scary indeed, yet kind of cool at the same time.

Wow, is it Wednesday already? Ok.

We left Vegas for LA on Monday, and rode up the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica through Malibu and to Oxnard. We started heading east and spent the night in a ‘discount’ hotel in the middle of the Mojave desert (in the town of Mojave, no less). Tuesday we went back through Barstow and headed east on 40 until we came to the Grand Canyon where we camped for the night. (I’ll let Vargo post the details on that one). Today has been relatively uneventful: we spent the morning at the Grand Canyon National Park and then headed east. We’re currently in a motel in Albuquerque, NM; washing our clothes and taking the first showers we’ve had in days. (gross)

In non-shower related news, one of the lids to the hardcase saddle bags on the touring bike blew off and slid under the wheels of an 18 wheeler, but when we circled back to pick up the pieces it miraculously survived save some scrapes across the top. The Motorcycle Gods are indeed smiling on us.

I’ll be posting a lot of pictures before the evening is up, so check back for that.

We’ll be on the road again in the morning, and we should be hitting the Pacific by about 2pm. Pics and happiness to follow. Then we’ll begin the long trek to the east. We’ve adjusted the route to head back through the middle of the country rather than the top. We can hit the northern states during the Alaska run, and we can clean up the south on a trip to New Orleans. So for now we’ll be heading back through Oklahoma, Tennessee, and the like.

Thanks to the Billers for letting me shack up with them for my last night in Vegas. Next post will be from Cali or Arizona with some tasty pics (hopefully).

FYI – we haven’t had Internet access for the past few days since none of the hotels in Vegas offer free wireless. We’ll resume regular postings when we get on the road again.

After waking up in Golden  CO, Everything was 5 by 5. Putting the cold and rain behind us we hit the Rockies. It was quite possibly the coolest sight i have ever seen, but there is the Pacific yet to come. The weather was amazing for a ride, we burned up the road for near 750 miles, putting us at near 18 hours before reaching Vegas. Riding in to the ocean of lights the fatigue of the road melted away and we road parallel to the strip with new vigor. This was by far the best day of riding I have ever seen. See some of you later today in Vegas! Oh and take Ken’s advice on the Rockies… you won’t regret it.

I can’t express to you how awesome and beautiful the Rocky mountains and the desert badlands in Colorado/Utah are. There is nothing I can say that could make you feel how I felt as I passed through the snowcapped peaks and burning basins. These pictures are the best I can do and even they don’t do it justice.

Before you die, you must:

• fly to Denver in the late spring/early summer
• wait for good weather
• rent a fast convertible
• leave at 7am
• drive west on 70 then south on 15 through Utah.

Bring snacks and lots of water.  There is a section of 110 miles without any services.

The Rockies and the Badlands