Monument Valley/ Four Corners ride

Well my next big ride is almost ready to start!!! Can't wait! On March 9 a friend is coming over and on March 10 we will leave from Wickenburg, AZ and meet up with another friend and drive up to NE Arizona. We will tour Monument Valley then the 4 corners area and hit some parks in southern Utah and finally end up in Las Vegas or Laughlin, NV before heading back home.

One of my friends has a 2006 Gold Wing which he just got so is looking forward to his first big ride on it! The other friend will be on a 2011 Kawasaki KLR 650. Even with a Corbin seat I don't envy him the miles in the saddle on that one! But he is in his early 30's so will do OK.

I will try and take lots of pictures!

Better get to work and change my oil and probably final drive oil as well!

Monument valley is amazing! Check out Moki Dugway. On 261 north of the 163/261 intersection IIRC. Switchbacks up the mesa face, but all gravel so beware. I have never ridden it on a bike(truck only) but many do. Incredible views!!

It's beautiful country, especially on a bike. I went through Monument Valley on my way to the Grand Canyon from NM. That was my first extended bike camping trip, and it was incredible.

I'm sure you'll all enjoy it immensely.
Here's a link to some pics and narrative of that trip, in case you'd care to check it out:
http://www.travelpod.com/dashboard/trip/1

Ride safe.

Glenn,

Hope you have a lot of fun on the ride. It's a good idea to change your oil and final drive. How many miles do you think this ride will be? Sounds like this would be a great trip....good luck.

Thanks for the tips guys; will check them all out if I can. Jeff; I am estimating 1300 miles for this trip. Should be OK since we have a 5 day window.

Matthew, can't view your link because I do not have an account with Travelpod. You might consider Photobucket or something next time. Thanks.

SonnyO wrote:

Monument valley is amazing! Check out Moki Dugway. On 261 north of the 163/261 intersection IIRC. Switchbacks up the mesa face, but all gravel so beware. I have never ridden it on a bike(truck only) but many do. Incredible views!!

I rode down it on a BSA 500 in the early 70's. It is a helluva ride, but I don't think that a Silverwing (or a Goldwing for that matter) would be a good choice.

:flower:

www.verlenelson.com has a lot of info about that part of the country. worth a read.

Jon

Sorry about that Glenn. Try this link instead. You shouldn't need an account to view it:
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog/matthewd/1/tpod.html

Better Matthew, thanks! To Jon, this is not a dual-sport trip! We will go where we can and take tours in other areas. But with that said we are all experienced dual-sport riders so who knows? The Navajo offer tours of areas we are not allowed to access so the plan is to take a couple of their guided tours.

Got my oil and Final Drive oil changed; now it is just waiting and praying for good weather!!! I am even 95% packed!

matthew wrote:

Sorry about that Glenn. Try this link instead. You shouldn't need an account to view it:
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog/matthewd/1/tpod.html

Very nice trip record, Matthew. I enjoyed reading the names of the towns you listed. Kim and I also stop at Subway - consistent and generally fresh food.

Blogging at the end of each day spent riding is relaxing and alot of fun.

Glad that link worked, Glenn.

Thanks Dale for the comments. That trip was a while ago now, but it was a really great one for me. We'll see what this year might bring? No plans as of yet.

Matthew was kind enough to permit me to do a painting from the photo in his avatar.



This my interpretation of it.

:flower:

Looks great Jon. Blue sky, red rock, striking southwest imagery.

Nice painting Jon. Great depth in the tones. Textures and shadows are good.
What media did you use?

Thanks Matthew.

I just paint what I see. Sometimes, tho, I don't see what other people see.

:flower:

Nowun -- this is oil on canvas.

more at http://www.joncallihan.com