Going south P.1

I'm going south.

How far south?
How long will I be gone?

Dunno....I'm just going south until I turn around (after which, I'll be going...... 'north'..).

This Going South trip has been brewing in my mind for years and years, and then last April it went and brewed itself right into reality. I've been prepping ever since, with the plan to leave in October and follow the warm weather south.

Why am I doing this?

When I was a little child, my family lived on a small farm. On that small farm  was a large house that my family lived in, a small home that my parents rented out, and two good sized barns, mostly filled with animals.

So there I was, living on that small farm, and one summers day when I was probably around 6 or 7 years old I was out exploring our farm. And in one of the barns and I found some cardboard storage boxes. And, well....kids being kids I was nosing around in those boxes and came upon a stack of girly mags, I don't know who they belonged to, but it was likely whoever was renting the small house at the time. Now, mind you this would be in the early 60s so the 'porn' would be much milder than today regardless, when I saw the pictures I remember being grossed out! LOL...  But for some reason I kept turning the pages, curiosity I suppose. And then......... I came upon a story in one of the magazines!
(The stories....everyone gets those magazines for the stories right?....)

I read the story, then re-read it, then a few days later I went back out to read it again, but.....the box was gone!

But even though I didn't see it again, and I SURELY didn't dare ask anyone about it - I was hooked! On porn? Nope, I was hooked on the subject of the story.... and what was that subject?
It was of a man who was in a bar with his friend, they somehow got into a conversation about riding on a Go-kart around the world! They made a bet between them and the protagonist went out and did just that, rode a go-kart around the world.

I don't remember a lot of details, but I do remember he visited Japan, Italy, and I believe France. But what I remember the most is that from that moment on I have had a burning desire to go  'Round the world. At that time of course I wanted to ride, just like the hero in the story, around the world on a Go-Kart! A few years later the Go-Kart turned into a pickup truck, then a jeep, even a sailboat while I was in college, and finally for the last 20 years or so, it has morphed into a motorcycle.
That burning desire has mostly been held in check while Bev and I raised our children and made our contribution to furthering our society.
And, then, retirement snuck up on me and lo and behold....that burning desire reared its adventurous head once again!

And so......

I'm going south.

If I reach my ultimate goal for this trip I will make it to Ushuaia, Argentina. But, as yet, the farthest south I've ridden is the tip of Baja, Mexico, so any place farther south than that is the first goal. The second goal is Panama, City, and then once I get into South America (most likely Cartagena, Colombia) the ultimate goal is merely another 6,400 miles away.

I hope to update this blog at least a couple times a week, but I understand the wifi coverage in the south is spotty at best, however I'll do what I can so Bev can know where I'm at.

From our home to Ushuaia is about 11,500 miles...depending on the route, side trips, and getting lost occasionally. Of course that makes the round trip 23,000 miles, give or take a few feet...  :)

The total journey should take me less than 6 months, I hope to be home in 5 months.

Part of getting ready included finding a way to secure my luggage. I have BUMOT cases and they are lockable, but I also have for this trip three hard cases for extra luggage space. I can strap them onto the BUMOTs but security is a problem. So I thought I would get three cables and lock them over the hard cases.

The next problem was finding a place that makes a cable to the correct length. I first went to the local Mom and Pop hardware store but they told me their crimper was broken. They suggested a lock smith a few miles away, I went there, they suggested another lock smith 'a few miles away'....I went there....and on and on, until I was at Grainger Ind. supply and a customer suggested this place, and gave me directions to get there.

(the name on the building, not the truck)

I walked in and the guy behind the counter was on the phone, but he made eye contact and said, 'be right with you'.... 'Ok' I thought, 'I'm in a good place!'

Then moments later, another employee came in and started to help me - I pointed to my bike and explained what I wanted and he asked, 'what bike do you ride?'

Yes! Then I KNEW I was in a good place.

A short time later he had me all set up....at a much lower price than I had anticipated.

On one of my trips into the garage to pack the bike I saw this fellow...I was able to snap a quick pic. Maybe I'll see more of him (her?) and his friends on this trip....

All loaded and ready to go...well, add some riding gear....

We hosted Bernard, from Belgium, for a few days while he was riding around the U.S.  He is returning home the same day I'm leaving on my trip!

We did some sightseeing then took him to the airport.

Then it was time for my departure.

Spent my first night in Tuba City, Arizona. Home of the World War II Navajo Code talkers.

The next day I went through Winslow, Arizona and visited the famous "corner".

On the road again - literally -... I was nodding off so much I decided I needed a nap, but when I stopped I didn't double check the kick stand and.... crash! My bike took a nap instead!  

A naked Super Tenere is a heavy pig, but a fully loaded S Ten is like an immovable object....  Lucky for me these two Gents stopped and helped me get the bike back up.

Both were stand-up-guys...(ahem).. and for me they saved the day!

And finally I make it to Tuscon, where Bev has reserved a condo for a week.
She's my huckleberry and will fly in and we'll spend the week touristing around Tuscon, then she will fly home and I'll be on my way south.

First we visit Tombstone

When I saw this hat I had to buy it; it was as if it spoke to me and knew my name..

(actually Bev got it for me...)

A good place to be.

Then on to the Pima air and space museum, which is an incredible place! If you are a plane buff you should go there, if you are a plain buff you should dress up nice and then go there!

Very rare! A shoulder fired 30mm gatling gun....(pay no attention to the warthog beside me)..

The Bumblebee, worlds smallest flyable bi-plane. Wingspan is 6.5 feet, length less than 10 feet range?....20 miles.

A KC-97. The USAF began operating the KC-97s in 1950 eventually purchasing  a total of 811 from Boeing. The Utah Air National Guard was the last USAF unit to exchange the KC-97s for the 'new' and improved KC-135 in 1978

And now its time to do laundry and repack preparing for her flight home and my...going south.

Stay tuned....

Ride to eat, eat to ride...swinging style - p1

We hear about a Steakhouse in Southern Utah called the Swinging Steak Cafe located in Mexican Hat, Utah. 

Google maps tells me Mexican Hat is about 357 miles away (a nice days ride)....and off we go....but we take the 'bikers shortcut' and so we are able to get there in only 476 miles (and two days riding...).

We stop near Price for fuel for the bike and snacks for us, and run into this Minister and his wife. They chatted us up; she shared quite a few stories then eventually they asked if we wanted a bike blessing? "Yes, of course!" I replied.

It was nice of them to take the time to talk to us and leave us (and the bike) with their blessings.

Back on the road, we go east on US 6 which used to be one of the most dangerous roads in the US. But the DOT has made a lot of improvements and now it a nice ride. We make it to Green River and then stay on the freeway past the first Moab exit and go to the Cisco exit then ride to the ghost town of Cisco.

We didn't see any ghosts, so then we follow the beautiful SR 128 to Moab.....

....at Moab we turn left onto US 191 for the ride to Monticello where we have an uninspiring reservation for the night. But the next morning we go to this nearby B&B for a very nice breakfast!

Fat and happy, we leave Monticello intending to ride to Cortez, Colorado - then cut back over to Utah again, but.....on our way I notice the Hovenweep National Monument sign. I realize Beverly hasn't been there (She has been to Cortez) so I turn my head and start to ask if she wants to go to Hovenweep. I say, "Do you wa..." and she says, "Yes!"

Ok...so that's settled. We ride some tiny backroad back into Utah and stop in at the Hovenweep National Monument.

Wikipedia indicates that the Hovenweep Valley was peopled from about 10,000 years ago to about 200 AD. After that several different groups occupied the area, and presumably the structures until the 14 century.

Its a HOT day so we take the shortest hike, a mile loop around the site.

Then on our way again, we grab a bite to eat at the excellent Twin Rocks Restaurant. We've stopped here numerous times and always left happy.

Sufficiently fueled we ride a few miles to the Sand Island Petroglyphs site....and work off some of our lunch looking at the numerous petroglyphs there.

And there are thousands of them, but they are faint and hard to photograph...so all you get is the sign...

Annnnd on the road again we make it to Mexican Hat about 5:00. We have time to clean up before we go taste test the swinging steak!

The Swingin' steak was delicious....but expensive! We also stayed in the hotel that is part of the cafe and it was clean and quiet. They are seasonal, closing sometime in October..I'm not sure what month they open again.

(Looking south from Mexican Hat.)

(Leaving Mexican Hat in part 2)

Ride to eat, eat to ride...swinging style - p2

Early the next mid-morning we leave Mexican Hat and go briefly south to this place for breakfast. I originally parked the bike next to that truck and then I looked up....and immediately moved the bike to the other side of the parking lot.

After a pretty good breakfast we ride north, we go over the Moki Dugway, then go to the Bullfrog Marina.

The Moki Dugway is part of SR 261 and includes 3 miles of steep (11% grades) climbs and tight switchbacks. The road is carved on the face of a cliff and raises some 1200 feet in less than the three miles. It was constructed in the 1950s as a way to haul ore from the Happy Jack mine to the mill near Mexican Hat.

At the Bullfrog marina and there is a ferry that goes across Lake Powell to Halls Crossing. The ferry leaves Bullfrog on the even numbered hours...and we get there shortly after 12 noon... Darn it! We have a loooooong wait. Bev goes for a walk whilst I make some shade and take a nap.

We met these guys when we first arrived at Bullfrog. We exchanged names but it was noisy at the time and I didn't catch them. They are from Australia and riding around the western United States. I believe they were on their way back to L.A. to return the bikes and fly home.

The ferry ride is scenic and fun, but was made even more enjoyable by chatting with these three Adventurers. I hope they enjoyed the US and had a great trip!

Two of their bikes.

Off the ferry we stay overnight in Torrey, Utah. The next morning we are riding for home.

Bev hasn't seen the UFOs at Vaughn Reid's home so we make a stop there. We intend to only stop for a few moments and a couple of pictures, but Vaughn and Ellie invite us to come in, which of course we did, and they gave us an incredible tour of their place.

Vaughn is extremely creative, and a master machinist; combine those two talents and you get an amazing yard and house full of one of a kind art.

This old boiler was used to power the belts and pullies in his Dad's sawmill. Vaughn hauled it to his house and uses it for heat in the winter.

A machine that does nothing...  

So much history and art and interesting stories.....

After our tour we sat on the Reid's porch and chatted about anything and everything. But then we finally had to leave...Vaughn and Ellie are amazing, wonderful people!

We rode the few miles into Castle Dale and had lunch at Fatty's, I had a lamb burger and Bev had a Sparten. Both were super! 

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And then homeward bound.... Beverly and I both felt like this was one of our better trips and we have had a LOT of super trips!

About 1000 miles of beautiful scenery, good food, and good company!
Now..... I need to get ready for the next trip!