The trip was a walk in the park. Or not. Actually, There were two occasions that I gazed upon rock strewn trails heading up a steep incline where, whatever good sense I have remaining called out and said " hell, lar, you'll bust a hip for sure if you try that crap". So, being old and smart (er) I rode the alternate dirt road. 3500 miles and no real gliches (no flats with six bikes). Some real great stretchs of desolate/beautiful country. I've never before ridden 65mph on a dirt road. Mutliple water crossings with one memorable submarine surfacing routine (is the water supposed to come up into your helmet?). We had only one rainy night and the mud in NM is not to be taken lightly; you will goop up, slow down and fall over. My hip hurt like hell every afternoon by 200. Damn bear knocked over our bikes in/near Steamboat Springs Co. trying to snatch an apple from one of the guy's saddlebags (the bear won).When it was over, I was very glad to put the DR on the trailer and send it home.