Why not?

I'm suffering from PMS, which as all motorcyclists know stands for "Parked Motorcycle Syndrome"...yep I've got it bad. Maybe even worse than I had realized, because when I mention to Bev that I'm thinking about going south for a ride, she immediately says "Yes! You should go and have fun...."    (hmmmmmm)

So ok that's settled. The only place I can get a condo that is near enough for my time frame is Lake Havasu, so just like that everything is settled and waiting for me to go.

Bev says, "It might be bad weather, I wish you would trailer down".  So I get the trailer ready and sure enough the morning of my departure there was 3 inches of snow on the roads.... whew! So I have a warm and comfy 571 mile drive to Havasu.

I had put a post on the Tenere site asking if anyone in that area wants to do lunch. Garry (who winters in Arizona) gives a positive reply.  Garry and I did the same thing last year in Tombstone, Arizona.

Sweet! We'll meet in Why, Arizona

Garry and this guy were waiting for me when I arrived. Garry had beat me there by about a minute...pretty funny that we arrive a minute apart when you consider the distance we rode to get there. 250 miles for me and 160ish for Garry.

The white building in the back is Grannymacs kitchen where we ate.

The next day I take a short ride around Lake Havasu and onto the island.

The London Bridge

A few of the many lighthouse replicas on the Lake Havasu island

Next day I ride to Oatman to do some Christmas shopping...and have good success finding a couple gifts.

Then on the awesome road that goes to Cool Springs (RT 66) and stop at the equally cool museum for a cool drink!

I spot this shiny thing as I'm riding toward Cool Springs. It is a ways off the road and looks like a memorial to someone's departed friend or family. It is kind of different, but loaded with personality. RIP whoever you are.

And its time to go home.
I pack my stuff and load the bike on the trailer and make the 571 mile drive home.
This was a good trip, and Thanks Bev for 'making' me take the trailer!

Spur of the moment ride

Thursday 11:55 am I'm enjoying a cuppa and a bagel....when I suddenly think, 'why don't I take an  overnight bike ride?'  A few minutes later I make a phone call and get a kitchen pass.

20 minutes after that I'm rolling out of the garage on the bike.

Since I started so late, and the winter days are short I only make it to Circleville before darkness starts closing in.

I've stayed here before, but they have new owners since July....and the place, nice to start with, is MUCH improved and more energized.

I had a nice meal and a comfortable stay overnight.

The next day takes me through Panguitch..

Then to Red Canyon...

and into the banana belt...  Tropic, Utah.

After Escalante I turn off of SR 12 and ride Hell's Backbone, which takes me back to Escalante after 40 miles of mostly nice dirt, with a couple 'seat clencher' moments just for fun...

I spend my second night in Salina, then head for home.

Gunnison's Veteran's memorial.

It turned out to be a nice spur of the moment ride, 650ish miles and fairly decent temps...

Motorcycling is good fun!

So Ut jaunt

I take off for Southern Utah and maybe some Nevada on a Wednesday.

The plan was to stay for 3 maybe 4 days, but when I call home the first night Bev is quite ill so I get up the next morning and head for home. I can't really do anything useful to help her, but its not fun to be sick and alone.....so we hang out watching TV.

The shows we watched weren't that great, but the company was good! :)

But back to my 'trip'.

I ride through Milford, a small and nice, quiet town of friendly people.

A stop at Parawan Gap to see the petroglyphs is in order.

Drawings on both sides of the road...

Then to Kolob Canyon, part of Zion National Park.

And I grab a hotel, then book it home the next day.

Quickies can be good too.....this was a nice ride!

Lunch in Kansas

I'm in the mood to have a burger run. 

EricV lives in Missouri so I pick a spot halfway between us on the map. 

Then I notice the little town I've picked has a motorcycle museum in it! 

Bonus! 

The Kansas motorcycle museum in Marquette, Kansas.

So...the burger run is on. Eric and I meet on a Wednesday, have lunch at City Sundries a half a block away from the museum, and then go visit the excellent Kansas Motorcycle Museum.

The museum honors home grown champion, Stan "the Man" Engdahl.

Stan was a National Champion 5 times and raced for 60 years. He raced dirt track and road racing.

Stan was a tv repairman besides a champ moto rider.

I got to Marquette with my reserve light flashing, but there is not a gas station there, so after the museum visit, I ride to Lindsborg 10 miles away to fill up.

And then ride southwest to Dodge City.

This was the second of three days of ice cold winds from the north.

I'm in the middle of BEEF country, so I have some pho to warm up...

Day three of brutal winds....but still having fun.

Museum in New Mexico....finally its merely breezy, not crazy windy!
Yes!!

I ride the "Singing Highway" in Tijera, New Mexico.

"God Bless America"

(with a uke and swaying hips accompanying)

Heading north now....

My last fuel stop is in Green River, Utah 181 miles from home.
From Green River to Price, Utah there is nothing but 64 miles of two lanes and scraggly sage brush... 
So I leave the gas station and 19.2 miles later I see an Indian Scout parked on the other side of the road. The female rider indicates STOP when I give the 'thumbs up/thumbs down' question...so I U-ey and stop.

"I'm out of gas" she explains....  No problem, I have a gallon on the back of the bike. We put the gas in her bike and she is soon on her way to Green River to fill up.

And 172 miles after the road side gas stop, I'm home!

2600 miles in 6 days...

Cold, windy, scenic, fun...Life is indeed GOOD!