Well, it was a delightful visit at the MCB&B in Show Low, AZ, but now it was time to ride home to CA, only now I was taking the more scenic route riding through southern Utah. I couldn’t miss a couple of photo opportunities along the way. The last time I was in Show Low, I passed this scene and thought to myself, how cool would that be to park the bike on the tracks and take this very shot…well, parking on the tracks did make me a bit nervous, so I pointed and shot and didn’t get as good a photo as I would have liked but you get the drift!
You can view the route here. The ride from Show Low to Torrey, which was where I was spending my first night, was L O N G, but gorgeous. I had intended to stay in Bullfrog and leave the following day to ride the entire Burr Trail, but I didn’t take into consideration that there is an hour time difference and arrived too late for the last ferry to Bullfrog. Once I regrouped, I decided I’d be riding this end of the Burr on another trip and for now, needed to get to Torrey to overnight. I did make it, but daylights saving time was nearing its end and it was dusk by 7pm.
I made a couple of quick gas/camelbak fill stops as the desert between Show Low, AZ and Bluff, UT was one HOT journey. The area is all American Indian reservation country and there is little to see and less places to stop. You make every mile count in this area and calculate your gas mileage very carefully. I wanted to ride the Moki Dugway, so I did a final fill up in Bluff knowing I’d make the ferry and Bullfrog, but since things didn’t quite work out, I knew that I’d make Hanksville, a 150 mile trip from Bluff with absolutely nothing in between for petrol.
I have ridden the Moki Dugway three other times, but I enjoy the road and the views every single journey.
As you can see you ride right up into the clouds!
The entire trip north looked like it was going to pour at any minute, but somehow I lucked out not hitting any moisture, but as hot as it was, the wet would have been welcomed.
I always like shooting the bike from this perspective…you can’t get a bad shot.
The Moki Dugway is an interesting road in that the straights are all dirt and the corners paved. I was told by a local that a mining company struck a deal with the government to pave the corners, and the mining company would pave the straights. Well, they went bankrupt before that ever occurred so what you see is what there is, dirt straights and paved corners!
Look at that gorgeous sky!
Here’s a paved corner…
This is when you reach the top, a very nice road that runs to Natural Bridges NP.
Between Natural Bridges NP and Hanksville is some of the most beautiful desert scenery especially around Lake Powell.
The roads are fun as well!
Hanksville where someone has a sense of humor!
It’s just out of Hanksville en route to Torrey, that you enter Capitol Reef NP.
When I arrived in Torrey, I went straight to the Capitol Reef Inn and Cafe for a room. It’s a great old vintage motel, that’s reasonable $49 plus tax with an excellent onsite restaurant and wifi (albeit not good wifi). The steak dinner was to die for…EXCELLENT!!! I had a nice Shiraz to accompany it, and I went to bed completely content, well almost. 😉
I was out early the following morning as in on the road by 8am, which for me is E A R L Y! There were cows all over the roadway as I made my way to Boulder so that I could ride the paved section of the Burr Trail. The night before the skies has opened and poured as well as lighting the sky with a ton of lightening. It was a lovely storm to watch from inside. I was thinking it was probably best that I missed Hall’s Ferry as the dirt section of the Burr Trail would have been a horrid muddy mess. Even the paved section has some washed out areas. As I rode down into the slot canyon, I thought what it must have been like for early settlers to have discovered this route. Wow…
Descending into the Burr Trail
Don’t miss this route, if you are in the area!
Working back up to the top.
I stopped for water and a snack and to call my friend, Suzi from Tropic, UT and met this rider from San Diego, traveling for two weeks in the desert with his Buell Ulysses.
I love exchanged friendly conversation with other riders. This is such an amazing sport!
One of the tunnels near Red Canyon.
I spoke to Suzi and we decided to meet at IHOP in Cedar City. It was about one hour for her to ride and about 1.5 for me riding over scenic Hwy 14. IHOP was easy to spot since they had a sign that was placed about 40 feet in the air!
Hwy 14 with an ongoing cloud cover and spot of rain.
After a quick salad at IHOP, Suzi and I decided to ride east, and she’s drop off about 50 miles east and head back to St. George. It was not only fun seeing her, but great to get a chance to ride with her as it’s been a while! Her skilz have most certainly improved as she notches miles on her belt.
Love this shot!
Once we parted, I headed to Caliente, NV and my route over the ET Highway 375. I was hoping to reach Tonopah, NV before nightfall. It was another LONG day of over 500 twisty miles, except for the last 100 or so.
Caliente, NV
I did get a tip from a local as I filled up in Caliente. There is another gas station in Ash Springs 50 miles west of Caliente. You do have to stay on Hwy 93 for four miles to reach it and then travel back to the Hwy 375 exit, but that can make alot of difference to those of us that are somewhat mileage challenged. I don’t know if I could have made the distance or not without this final topping of gas.
The ET Highway is indeed quite the lonely route.
Absolutely had to stop at the Little AleInn…had to!!
I believe I must have been affected by the alien! What a tiny little head…
I made Tonopah just before dark, yet again, but I had absolutely no interest in going out to eat solo, so I grabbed my bottle of Glenfiddich and some crackers and cheese and called it good. I had an early night, needless to say. 😉
I left Tonopah around 9ish regretfully, knowing that the descent into the Sacramento Valley would be a hot one! Oh well, it was my final leg home and my morning ride over Hwy 6 and 120, was delightful and cool. I did encounter several NHP on Hwy 6 which surprised me, but I must of been living right, as I passed a rider coming toward me, he signaled me to slow WAY down, which I did immediately and then passed three NHP along the road. I have to assume it had something to do with the tragic shooting at IHOP in Carson City the previous day. Hmmmm
I can never pass highway graffiti.
Hwy 120
I flipped a coin on what pass to take back to Sacramento and Sonora Pass won, which was awesome, since I have not ridden it this season. It was amazing with newly resurfaced tarmac!
Descending into the Sacramento Valley was indeed warm, in fact it was 102. I put *bucks into my GPS and promptly directed my bike to the location in Sonora.
Ahhhhhh
From there I took Hwy 49 and found Paloma Rd and Pardee Dam,but then got immediately lost, even with the GPS! I ended up taking the long way home, even though I truly had no interest in extending my journey!
The final shot of the day, was taken in the garage at home as I took stuff off the bike. Under my alternative jacket, was this scene…everything a female rider needs while away from home. ; )….well almost everything.
My final mileage for this journey…2525. I LOVE motorcycling!!