I'm not a Geologist, but living here inspires one to chase natural wonders in the deserts at ~5K feet and evergreen forests at 7K+ feet.
Translation: Excuses to ride and hike in scenic places I could never take for granted.
And so it goes. At least for a few days. I packed for 2 nights.
Destination: Escalante, UT to serve as base camp.
Some of you will recognize a few gems.
DAY ONE
Breakfast of Champions
Followed by attention to the two things I'll miss before I'm 10 miles out.
My wife...
... and my manic, crackhead dog.
OK. I'm out of here.
Leaving town passing Navajo Lake.
Yes, it's usually this quiet. Easy trout picking, too.
Same lake. Messing with camera settings.
A few miles down the road is another uncrowded fishing spot favored by locals.
Very alpine-like.
And then there is this one off a State highway just enough to be missed by tourists.
Nice place to stretch the legs and burn one.
I was in his bird-bubble and he was giving me the stink eye.
So, I left.
Zipping through Red Canyon toward Bryce. Post Memorial Day traffic was next to nothing and tourists were few.
Normally by this point I'd have seen at least 3 German men wearing capri pants with fanny packs.
Not like there is anything wrong with that.
Finally: Dirt-like terrain. OK. More like groomed gravel, but I'll take it.
The loooong way around Bryce Canyon begins with several miles of this.
A stop a Tropic Reservoir, about 7 miles East of Bryce - a great camping and swimming spot.
Alas, more back roads normally used by ATV riders...
... and deer-a-plenty.
Gas at Tropic, UT, and an indoor Harley Fest. They were riding to eat or eating to ride.
Or something like that.
Nice bikes.
And there was this girl sweating it out in the back of a Land Rover.
She was wearing the same eye liner as my boy back home.
Onward...
... through the metropolis of Henrieville...
...where it's easy to return videos.
And finally Escalante, the cultural Mecca of South-Central Utah.
Good deals on used swimsuits if you can get by the cat.
And if you miss the swim suit deal, that's okay. Calm yourself by walking Main Street where the City of Escalante
plants an array of wild plants and shrubs with special recognition given to -that's right- cats.
A roadside chalk board maintained by Mormon kids with a new message daily.
See the chopper welded to the top? File that to memory.
File this one, too.
In fact, if one is off the bike long enough, the metal work can be seen all over town.
Sometimes it's subtle, sometimes not.
So who is behind the artwork?
Introducing The Desert Doctor. The only 24/7 bike rescue/retrieval within ~100 miles.
I can only tell you this:
Doc's house. If seen in person, it probably means you have motorcycle problems.
While he is a nice guy, be careful what you touch.
Heed the signs and you'll feel as though you're entering a Holy place...
...with endless tales of motorcycling...
...from around the world.
Let's not get too deep. Time to unpack.
Welcome to Escalante Outfitters where home is a one-room cabin.
Everything you need, nothing you don't and seriously comfortable.
It's smart to bring a book.
End day one.
Translation: Excuses to ride and hike in scenic places I could never take for granted.
And so it goes. At least for a few days. I packed for 2 nights.
Destination: Escalante, UT to serve as base camp.
Some of you will recognize a few gems.
DAY ONE
Breakfast of Champions
Followed by attention to the two things I'll miss before I'm 10 miles out.
My wife...
... and my manic, crackhead dog.
OK. I'm out of here.
Leaving town passing Navajo Lake.
Yes, it's usually this quiet. Easy trout picking, too.
Same lake. Messing with camera settings.
A few miles down the road is another uncrowded fishing spot favored by locals.
Very alpine-like.
And then there is this one off a State highway just enough to be missed by tourists.
Nice place to stretch the legs and burn one.
I was in his bird-bubble and he was giving me the stink eye.
So, I left.
Zipping through Red Canyon toward Bryce. Post Memorial Day traffic was next to nothing and tourists were few.
Normally by this point I'd have seen at least 3 German men wearing capri pants with fanny packs.
Not like there is anything wrong with that.
Finally: Dirt-like terrain. OK. More like groomed gravel, but I'll take it.
The loooong way around Bryce Canyon begins with several miles of this.
A stop a Tropic Reservoir, about 7 miles East of Bryce - a great camping and swimming spot.
Alas, more back roads normally used by ATV riders...
... and deer-a-plenty.
Gas at Tropic, UT, and an indoor Harley Fest. They were riding to eat or eating to ride.
Or something like that.
Nice bikes.
And there was this girl sweating it out in the back of a Land Rover.
She was wearing the same eye liner as my boy back home.
Onward...
... through the metropolis of Henrieville...
...where it's easy to return videos.
And finally Escalante, the cultural Mecca of South-Central Utah.
Good deals on used swimsuits if you can get by the cat.
And if you miss the swim suit deal, that's okay. Calm yourself by walking Main Street where the City of Escalante
plants an array of wild plants and shrubs with special recognition given to -that's right- cats.
A roadside chalk board maintained by Mormon kids with a new message daily.
See the chopper welded to the top? File that to memory.
File this one, too.
In fact, if one is off the bike long enough, the metal work can be seen all over town.
Sometimes it's subtle, sometimes not.
So who is behind the artwork?
Introducing The Desert Doctor. The only 24/7 bike rescue/retrieval within ~100 miles.
I can only tell you this:
- Heck of a nice guy.
- Will not reveal his real name. Ever. Nor will his wife.
- Originally from Chicago (so he says).
Doc's house. If seen in person, it probably means you have motorcycle problems.
While he is a nice guy, be careful what you touch.
Heed the signs and you'll feel as though you're entering a Holy place...
...with endless tales of motorcycling...
...from around the world.
Let's not get too deep. Time to unpack.
Welcome to Escalante Outfitters where home is a one-room cabin.
Everything you need, nothing you don't and seriously comfortable.
It's smart to bring a book.
End day one.