Sunday, March 16, 2014

Mr. Gadget goes on a Burger Run.


I've posted about several Burger Runs, and most of them end up at Hoovers, near Marysvale, southern Utah. However this one went to Panguitch, Utah, which is just a little bit more southern Utah.

Eight of us meet at the Crossroads Chevron in Lehi. We will meet two riders from Arizona, and one from Nevada in Panguitch.

This is Doug.
Doug rides a V-Strom 650.
I call Doug "Mr Gadget" can you guess why?




 Doug's a great guy!

Original plans had us meeting at Henries Burger in Panguitch. However when we arrived we found out they were closed to to the owners death a month prior.
 So we go around the corner to a pizza place. The customer service was very good, but I found my Navajo Taco barely mediocre.
The out of state riders; two Arizona guys John, and Howard (standing, middle of room), and Mike from Nevada (black shirt).

While eating, Ken (standing in the corner) tells me of a hot springs that is only slightly out of our way on the return trip. Luckily I had tossed a swimming suit in the bike before I left home.
We find the springs and have a nice soak.... and discover that not everyone in southern Utah is conservatively minded.... ;)
I did have a suit, but no towel, however it was so windy I was mostly dried off  before I got back to my bike...

The ride was windy, cold, and some freeway, but I had a good time riding with and visiting friends! 
480ish miles.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Falling boulders can ruin your day.

The map of my route;
A - Home
B - New Harmony Cemetery
C - Cedar City
D - St George (approx)
E - (transit)
F - Bryce Canyon National Park
G - St George
H - Pahrump, Nevada
I - Front Sight compound

Another trip to southern Utah is in order. I leave on a Tuesday March 4th, I need to be in New Harmony to meet the the Mayor of that town by 2:00pm to get the final OK to put a headstone on my Great-grand fathers grave.
I pass through Kanarraville on the way.
Mission accommplised, I meet the Mayor, Joel, and have a great chat. He gives the OK and helps me measure, and gives me the names and addresses of the local headstone suppliers.
Thank-you Mr Mayor!
I leave the cemetery and ride back north to Cedar City to this place.
I meet Coby who is SUPER to work with! We discuss what to put on the headstone and Coby will work up a design and email it to me in a day or two.
Back on the road to St George where I stay two nights.
The next morning I'm off on a day ride through Zion National Park, then to Bryce Canyon National Park.
On my way to Zion I pass this (former) house. A huge boulder fell off the cliff that this house was built way to close to and landed smack on the house. The two people inside were killed instantly.
On the other side of Zion I ride on highway 12 up Bryce Canyon.



....and into the Park.



It's not as warm as it looks, so I'm soon on my way back to St George...again via Zion NP
I get back to my lodging as darkness falls, and immediately make my way to the hot tub to stop my shivering. 
The next morning I'm on my way to Pahrump, Nevada where I will take a firearms training class, along with two my sons. I check into the motel, and still have enough daylight left for a ride over to Death Valley National Park.
I pass the Amargosa opera house.
 And finally make it to the park. I didn't see much in the park as I was hungry and running out of daylight.
On my way back I stop at one of my favorite eateries, the Crowbar, in the tiny town of Shoshone, California.
Back to the motel and wait for two of my sons, Jacob and Will to arrive.
 WAY to early the next day we are off for the Front Sight compound.
No...this isn't the weapon I took for the class...haha.. This was in the Crowbar Saloon.

Lots of shooting... Here are targets of "Jojo the crack head"...
 They also have an awesome rappelling set up.
One of the instructors giving pointers.
 On the 4th day we have a 'shoot off' competition in sets of two shooters.
 My relay buddy, Randy wins the competition, and gets a Front Sight coin for his efforts. Nice!
 Randy on the left, a mother and 17 year old daughter on the right.
Front Sight has several classes to build different skills. I took the 4 day class with a fifth day for Nevada concealed carry testing. Jacob and Will took the 2 day. I have to say they do a super job and I found it VERY worthwhile.
As the Declaration of Independence states, we have certain unalienable rights. One of those rights would be to defend ourselves, our families, and our freedom. I strongly believe proper observance of the 2nd Amendment is paramount to our continued freedom.
Sermon over.
 Meanwhile Gen waits patiently for me in the parking lot.
On day 5, after taking the shooting and written tests for the Nevada CCW I depart Pahrump for my return trip home. I stay over night in St George again and make the COLD super slab ride home, arriving 8 days after leaving.
1624 miles later I pull into my garage and quickly make my way to a hot shower!
If you too believe in maintaining your freedom and wonder where to get the training, contact "Front Sight" (search on google)
I think you'll find you money is well spent.
Thanks for reading!