Fantastic report Mike 
You're certainly whetting my appetite
You're certainly whetting my appetite
Delta blues...
- Thread starter MikeO
- Start date
Most enjoyable Mike as usual. The armchair adventure rider in me has been stirred. I is now excited enough to take my bike out for another run today. Twice in one weekend 
Keep it coming and safe journey.
Keep it coming and safe journey.
Sorry, I missed the bus earlier but just caught another one and finally caught up with you. I'm now up to date with your travels thank you.....carry on when ya ready. 
26th June 2016
The Adv is looking a little dusty after a week or so on the road...
So I ride over the road to the car wash and give her $5 worth...
Now when the lights are on, some light will escape - before it was like turning on the Bat-signal...
Filled up with fuel, fluids checked and ready for tomorrow...
Incidentally, when I asked Rosita at the reception desk, she was more than happy to supply some old towels to clean the bike. I have stayed here before and their attitude is one of the reasons i choose to take a day off here...
The Adv is looking a little dusty after a week or so on the road...
So I ride over the road to the car wash and give her $5 worth...
Now when the lights are on, some light will escape - before it was like turning on the Bat-signal...
Filled up with fuel, fluids checked and ready for tomorrow...
Incidentally, when I asked Rosita at the reception desk, she was more than happy to supply some old towels to clean the bike. I have stayed here before and their attitude is one of the reasons i choose to take a day off here...
26th June 2016 (Cont)
So - I've been wanting to extend my garage into a double for a while. In the months up to my leaving I'd gone through the extensive (and expensive) process of getting planning permission and - with the aid and guidance of my neighbour Nick - found a builder to do the work. When Curly, the builder, first came over to discuss it, we spent a good ten minutes talking about dogs when he met Marnie - I liked him immediately. He offered to get the building work done during my time in the USA, and to make the garden 'dog proof' in time for my return (and Marnie's parole from kennels).
On the Friday I left, he was knocking down the wall around my garden at 0900
I have also arranged for the fence to be replaced and for some work to be done inside the house (decorating mainly). This meant some major preparatory work before I left. I managed to foster out my Adv and toolbox to another mate (thanks Darren ); my R80RT is with Kevin at KRF being serviced prior to sale when I get back; Nick and I transferred the entire remaining contents of the garage to my garden shed (on one of the most humid afternoons this year - I don't think I've sweated more, even on this trip).
News is that the foundations are in (despite having to go down 1.5m in one corner) and approved by Breckland Building Inspector - the walls should be being built as I type. The UK has had some foul weather whilst I've been sunning myself over here, which has probably slowed things up, but Nick tells me Curly is confident that the garden will be dog proof for my return...
It's a very satisfying way to get work done - last year I returned to my house which had the dining room & kitchen knocked into one, then completely refurbed with a new kitchen, and my bathroom completely re-modeled. This year, the interior work is restricted to some repainting (replaced all the interior doors earlier in the year and they and the frames need painting) and some minor tiling in the kitchen (living with a room for a year makes you realise where dirty dog paws can get...
).
In the final week, my housekeeper Sarah is going to come in and blitz the house and do a proper spring clean.
Those are the plans - we'll see how it all works out...
So - I've been wanting to extend my garage into a double for a while. In the months up to my leaving I'd gone through the extensive (and expensive) process of getting planning permission and - with the aid and guidance of my neighbour Nick - found a builder to do the work. When Curly, the builder, first came over to discuss it, we spent a good ten minutes talking about dogs when he met Marnie - I liked him immediately. He offered to get the building work done during my time in the USA, and to make the garden 'dog proof' in time for my return (and Marnie's parole from kennels).
On the Friday I left, he was knocking down the wall around my garden at 0900
I have also arranged for the fence to be replaced and for some work to be done inside the house (decorating mainly). This meant some major preparatory work before I left. I managed to foster out my Adv and toolbox to another mate (thanks Darren ); my R80RT is with Kevin at KRF being serviced prior to sale when I get back; Nick and I transferred the entire remaining contents of the garage to my garden shed (on one of the most humid afternoons this year - I don't think I've sweated more, even on this trip).
News is that the foundations are in (despite having to go down 1.5m in one corner) and approved by Breckland Building Inspector - the walls should be being built as I type. The UK has had some foul weather whilst I've been sunning myself over here, which has probably slowed things up, but Nick tells me Curly is confident that the garden will be dog proof for my return...
It's a very satisfying way to get work done - last year I returned to my house which had the dining room & kitchen knocked into one, then completely refurbed with a new kitchen, and my bathroom completely re-modeled. This year, the interior work is restricted to some repainting (replaced all the interior doors earlier in the year and they and the frames need painting) and some minor tiling in the kitchen (living with a room for a year makes you realise where dirty dog paws can get...
).In the final week, my housekeeper Sarah is going to come in and blitz the house and do a proper spring clean.
Those are the plans - we'll see how it all works out...
Fantastic report Mike,
Keep it coming and ride safe
Keep it coming and ride safe
excellent - subbed
this time next week ill be in basel ready to go to schlumpf - via eindhoven
wont be anything like your trip but ill try
this time next week ill be in basel ready to go to schlumpf - via eindhoven
wont be anything like your trip but ill try
27th June 2016
After a great night's sleep (following a very lazy Sunday), I'm up with the lark and ready to travel. It's forecast to be another hot day today - 100 deg F in Salt Lake City, my target for today, so I decide to make an early start. I'm up, showered, shaved and packing before 0630...
I make myself some fresh waffles at the breakfast buffet and have a brief chat with Steve, one of a bunch of Aussies and Kiwis who are on their way back to Vegas to return their rental bikes before flying home...
I pack the bike and I'm on the road at 0730...
...noticing that the lovely old DeSoto Suburban - which to my knowledge has been for sale since 2004 - is still looking for a buyer...
I head north, towards Moab, on the 191...
The town is just waking up (as much as it does)...
I'm soon out in the 65mph zone, using the limit as a guideline...
It's a glorious morning, still relatively cool, but without a cloud in the sky...
When I reach Church Rock...
...I take a left turn towards Canyonlands National Park, some 34 miles distant...
A great little road - with a scattering of minor bits of roadwork being done - but no traffic, so the flag man (or woman) just waved me by...
It's pleasantly cool in the shade...
...but definitely warming up whenever I come back into full sun...
I keep a steady 45mph or so through the approaches to the park...
Some of the spectacular hoodoos and buttes are appearing on the horizon...
Ranger Frankee...
...checks my National Parks Pass, gives me a map and wishes me a good trip...
...and I enter the Scenic Drive...
Can you spot Wooden Shoe Arch?
All too soon, it seems, I am coming to the turnaround at the end of the drive...
...and I start heading back...
It's lovely to have the place to myself like this...
Fairly soon I am approaching the 191 again...
...and pressing north towards Moab...
...passing Wilson Arch...
...and once again failing to stop at the Hole in the Rock...
I see a few riders - mostly on Harleys and Gold Wings, heading south...
I ride into Moab and fill up with fuel - I have already done 158 miles...
...then have an early lunch - I have another 220 miles to do and I've decided to do it in a single hop...
Onward!
I ride north out of Moab, passing a clutch of Harleys and Gold Wings at the entrance to Arches National Park...
...and then set a steady 75mph cruise towards Interstate 70...
Wise words.
I join the Interstate and set a cruise at the speed limit (plus a small margin of error)...
Although there's a reasonable amount of traffic about, I didn't get held up at all and make good time...
Turning back onto the 191 towards Salt Lake City, the road is initially unmarked, but pretty soon I come across the dreaded Pilot Car...
In this case, the flag-man (who was showing every sign of having lost the plot completely), waved me and three other bikes to the front. Shortly afterwards the Pilot Car appeared and, after about ten minutes waiting for southbound traffic to clear, we set off...
After then, it was just a case of cranking the Adv up to 'quite fast' and cruising there. I filled my Camelback with ice at the motel, and I'm drinking constantly from it...
Katy Perry Centre...
At length, I turn up Route 6, towards Soldier's Summit. Some cloud has started to form, but it's still seriously warm - even here at 7000ft or so - it's going to be like a frying pan down towards Salt Lake City...
I join the continually busy freeway through Provo and towards Sandy - spotting this old F86 Sabre on a pylon - a Utah Air National Guard base...
At 1445 I pull up outside the Super 8 at Sandy - 228 miles on the trip - 386 mile day...
I'm quickly checked in, move my luggage into my room using the trolley and turn the AC to absolute zero...
Good day...
After a great night's sleep (following a very lazy Sunday), I'm up with the lark and ready to travel. It's forecast to be another hot day today - 100 deg F in Salt Lake City, my target for today, so I decide to make an early start. I'm up, showered, shaved and packing before 0630...
I make myself some fresh waffles at the breakfast buffet and have a brief chat with Steve, one of a bunch of Aussies and Kiwis who are on their way back to Vegas to return their rental bikes before flying home...
I pack the bike and I'm on the road at 0730...
...noticing that the lovely old DeSoto Suburban - which to my knowledge has been for sale since 2004 - is still looking for a buyer...
I head north, towards Moab, on the 191...
The town is just waking up (as much as it does)...
I'm soon out in the 65mph zone, using the limit as a guideline...
It's a glorious morning, still relatively cool, but without a cloud in the sky...
When I reach Church Rock...
...I take a left turn towards Canyonlands National Park, some 34 miles distant...
A great little road - with a scattering of minor bits of roadwork being done - but no traffic, so the flag man (or woman) just waved me by...
It's pleasantly cool in the shade...
...but definitely warming up whenever I come back into full sun...
I keep a steady 45mph or so through the approaches to the park...
Some of the spectacular hoodoos and buttes are appearing on the horizon...
Ranger Frankee...
...checks my National Parks Pass, gives me a map and wishes me a good trip...
...and I enter the Scenic Drive...
Can you spot Wooden Shoe Arch?
All too soon, it seems, I am coming to the turnaround at the end of the drive...
...and I start heading back...
It's lovely to have the place to myself like this...
Fairly soon I am approaching the 191 again...
...and pressing north towards Moab...
...passing Wilson Arch...
...and once again failing to stop at the Hole in the Rock...
I see a few riders - mostly on Harleys and Gold Wings, heading south...
I ride into Moab and fill up with fuel - I have already done 158 miles...
...then have an early lunch - I have another 220 miles to do and I've decided to do it in a single hop...
Onward!
I ride north out of Moab, passing a clutch of Harleys and Gold Wings at the entrance to Arches National Park...
...and then set a steady 75mph cruise towards Interstate 70...
Wise words.
I join the Interstate and set a cruise at the speed limit (plus a small margin of error)...
Although there's a reasonable amount of traffic about, I didn't get held up at all and make good time...
Turning back onto the 191 towards Salt Lake City, the road is initially unmarked, but pretty soon I come across the dreaded Pilot Car...
In this case, the flag-man (who was showing every sign of having lost the plot completely), waved me and three other bikes to the front. Shortly afterwards the Pilot Car appeared and, after about ten minutes waiting for southbound traffic to clear, we set off...
After then, it was just a case of cranking the Adv up to 'quite fast' and cruising there. I filled my Camelback with ice at the motel, and I'm drinking constantly from it...
Katy Perry Centre...
At length, I turn up Route 6, towards Soldier's Summit. Some cloud has started to form, but it's still seriously warm - even here at 7000ft or so - it's going to be like a frying pan down towards Salt Lake City...
I join the continually busy freeway through Provo and towards Sandy - spotting this old F86 Sabre on a pylon - a Utah Air National Guard base...
At 1445 I pull up outside the Super 8 at Sandy - 228 miles on the trip - 386 mile day...
I'm quickly checked in, move my luggage into my room using the trolley and turn the AC to absolute zero...
Good day...
Nice one Mike.
Utah is one of my favourite places so you're making me envious.
Utah is one of my favourite places so you're making me envious.
Mike If you have a minute?
what and why is the "Pilot Car"
I get you have to follow it but????
what and why is the "Pilot Car"
I get you have to follow it but????
theres no lights on that roadworks so the car nips up and down releasing each side of the traffic
only ever seen it once here in scotland
seen mike describe it before when in us
only ever seen it once here in scotland
seen mike describe it before when in us
Trouble with US roadworks is that they tend to do about 10 miles at a time (unlike the ten metres they do in UK) so you can be hanging around for 20 minutes waiting for the Pilot Car. However, they also tend to have some nice flag ladies who are usually willing to have a chat.
Great report, Mike, really enjoying it. Any chance of you staying an extra fortnight?
28th June 2016
I sleep well until about 0350, when I'm woken by a loud knocking coming from somewhere, I groggily sit up in bed and look around, and the noise stops. I eventually get back to sleep.
I wake again at about 0730 - and I'm straight out of bed and showered, as I need to be at the dealer (ten minutes up the road) for 0830 to get a new front tyre fitted.
I pack everything up and then walk down to the lobby where breakfast is being served. I make myself a waffle, but in putting syrup on it, manage to spill syrup on the table, chair, floor, camelback and hands...
After some quick cleaning, I take the luggage cart back up to my room, load it up, pack the bike and then set off into what is already a warm day...
I ride down one exit on the freeway and arrive at Harrison Eurosports...
...just as they are opening. I book the Adv in and then repair to the sales showroom where I take full advantage of the facilities on offer, namely: Coffee (foul, but free); chilled water (filled up the Camelback); WiFi - (fast, free).
Comfortable chairs...
...with fold out desk space...
I read a pamphlet advertising rider training, which has a fairly sobering statistic on the front page...
92% of motorcycle accident victims did not receive any motorcycle training...
I also have a brief look around what's for sale. I love the colour scheme on this K1200GT - I'm too long in the leg to ride one any distance (plus I'd get disqualified in record time with the performance), but they are great bikes.
This dealer has the contract to service all the LEO bikes, whether local...
...or State...
The Adv soon has a nice hairy new front Anakee III...
...and a top-up of half a litre of oil.
I love these bikes. All that high speed work, high energy off-road work and all it needs is half a litre of oil...
I'm getting kitted up when I notice something...
This chap has fitted a Top of the Line headlamp guard. I have the same bit of kit. I, however, mounted my riding lights on the top of the mounts - anyone see a problem with the way he's done his?
Hey-ho...
I'm off, heading north to begin with, by 1000. It's already really hot...
I'm going to be retracing some of the route I covered earlier - heading back up to Wendover...
I stop to refuel with 100 miles to got to Wendover...
A bunch of middle-aged 14yr olds - the North Nevada Camaro Club - are refuelling before doing donuts and screeching off down the road...
I stop for an early brunch at the Denny's across the road...
OK - let's get to it. 220 miles to do on a stinking hot day. I'm well rested, the bike's in good fettle and full of fuel...
The limit's 80mph - I stay within a reasonable distance of that figure...
Fairly soon I'm in familiar territory - crossing the salt lake...
Passing the odd bit of artwork halfway across...
Did I mention it was warm?
Eventually I arrive at Wendover, then take a left and head towards my target for tonight - Ely...
Nobody does long, straight, featureless highways quite like Nevada...
I set up a cruise of about 80mph, and watch the mileage tick down...
After a while, I enter some low hills and the road becomes almost interesting...
...but Nevada is just toying with me...
There's some interesting cloud activity to the left of the road, over the hills...
...which gets more interesting the closer I get...
The main effect it's having is to raise the humidity - it feels warmer (I didn't think that was possible
)...
I drag my speed down at the approach to some roadworks - chaperoned by a Nevada State Trooper...
I ride past the long line of cars, stopped waiting for the Pilot Car, and am berated by the flag-woman...
Now, just about everywhere, Flag Men/Women have allowed motorcyclists to filter to the front. It costs nothing and means we can get away more quickly. She tells me that she doesn't agree with it and I'm to turn around and go to the back of the queue.
I tell her I'm not going to do that. She retreats, seething...
Eventually we get moving - doing roadwork in these temperatures must be awful - they couldn't pay me enough to work here...
I arrive in Ely, where this old gent guards the VFW club (Veterans of Foreign Wars - a bit like the British Legion, I think)...
...along with this artillery piece (can anyone identify it? It looks more modern - radar laid by the look of it)...
I fill up with fuel at the Texaco station (buying a cold six pack and a sandwich), then ride on towards my hotel, noticing this painted lady advertising herself for sale.
I spot this beauty just as I'm about to turn left towards my hotel. This place is vaguely familiar...
I arrive at Motel 6 at about 1440. I'm swiftly booked into my basic, but adequate room, unpack and set the asthmatic AC to Pluto, before unloading the bike.
I've just realised - I visited this place in 2014 - it's where I had to buy a 9mm spanner (which is still in the tag bag) to tighten the GPS mount up...
Hot day - but it'll be a hotter and longer one tomorrow...
I sleep well until about 0350, when I'm woken by a loud knocking coming from somewhere, I groggily sit up in bed and look around, and the noise stops. I eventually get back to sleep.
I wake again at about 0730 - and I'm straight out of bed and showered, as I need to be at the dealer (ten minutes up the road) for 0830 to get a new front tyre fitted.
I pack everything up and then walk down to the lobby where breakfast is being served. I make myself a waffle, but in putting syrup on it, manage to spill syrup on the table, chair, floor, camelback and hands...
After some quick cleaning, I take the luggage cart back up to my room, load it up, pack the bike and then set off into what is already a warm day...
I ride down one exit on the freeway and arrive at Harrison Eurosports...
...just as they are opening. I book the Adv in and then repair to the sales showroom where I take full advantage of the facilities on offer, namely: Coffee (foul, but free); chilled water (filled up the Camelback); WiFi - (fast, free).
Comfortable chairs...
...with fold out desk space...
I read a pamphlet advertising rider training, which has a fairly sobering statistic on the front page...
92% of motorcycle accident victims did not receive any motorcycle training...
I also have a brief look around what's for sale. I love the colour scheme on this K1200GT - I'm too long in the leg to ride one any distance (plus I'd get disqualified in record time with the performance), but they are great bikes.
This dealer has the contract to service all the LEO bikes, whether local...
...or State...
The Adv soon has a nice hairy new front Anakee III...
...and a top-up of half a litre of oil.
I love these bikes. All that high speed work, high energy off-road work and all it needs is half a litre of oil...
I'm getting kitted up when I notice something...
This chap has fitted a Top of the Line headlamp guard. I have the same bit of kit. I, however, mounted my riding lights on the top of the mounts - anyone see a problem with the way he's done his?
Hey-ho...
I'm off, heading north to begin with, by 1000. It's already really hot...
I'm going to be retracing some of the route I covered earlier - heading back up to Wendover...
I stop to refuel with 100 miles to got to Wendover...
A bunch of middle-aged 14yr olds - the North Nevada Camaro Club - are refuelling before doing donuts and screeching off down the road...
I stop for an early brunch at the Denny's across the road...
OK - let's get to it. 220 miles to do on a stinking hot day. I'm well rested, the bike's in good fettle and full of fuel...
The limit's 80mph - I stay within a reasonable distance of that figure...
Fairly soon I'm in familiar territory - crossing the salt lake...
Passing the odd bit of artwork halfway across...
Did I mention it was warm?
Eventually I arrive at Wendover, then take a left and head towards my target for tonight - Ely...
Nobody does long, straight, featureless highways quite like Nevada...
I set up a cruise of about 80mph, and watch the mileage tick down...
After a while, I enter some low hills and the road becomes almost interesting...
...but Nevada is just toying with me...
There's some interesting cloud activity to the left of the road, over the hills...
...which gets more interesting the closer I get...
The main effect it's having is to raise the humidity - it feels warmer (I didn't think that was possible
I drag my speed down at the approach to some roadworks - chaperoned by a Nevada State Trooper...
I ride past the long line of cars, stopped waiting for the Pilot Car, and am berated by the flag-woman...
Now, just about everywhere, Flag Men/Women have allowed motorcyclists to filter to the front. It costs nothing and means we can get away more quickly. She tells me that she doesn't agree with it and I'm to turn around and go to the back of the queue.
I tell her I'm not going to do that. She retreats, seething...
Eventually we get moving - doing roadwork in these temperatures must be awful - they couldn't pay me enough to work here...
I arrive in Ely, where this old gent guards the VFW club (Veterans of Foreign Wars - a bit like the British Legion, I think)...
...along with this artillery piece (can anyone identify it? It looks more modern - radar laid by the look of it)...
I fill up with fuel at the Texaco station (buying a cold six pack and a sandwich), then ride on towards my hotel, noticing this painted lady advertising herself for sale.
I spot this beauty just as I'm about to turn left towards my hotel. This place is vaguely familiar...
I arrive at Motel 6 at about 1440. I'm swiftly booked into my basic, but adequate room, unpack and set the asthmatic AC to Pluto, before unloading the bike.
I've just realised - I visited this place in 2014 - it's where I had to buy a 9mm spanner (which is still in the tag bag) to tighten the GPS mount up...
Hot day - but it'll be a hotter and longer one tomorrow...
Yes, as hairnet said, they stop you at the start of the roadworks, then you have to wait for the Pilot Car to escort you through. I'm guessing it is a result of a lot of lawsuits filed by workers who have been hit by motorists speeding through roadworks. Normally the flag chaps/girls are a good laugh - I met a miserable one today. I wouldn't do their job for anything - stuck out in the full sun for hours on end? The hell with that...
Too late now Mike, but if you turn right when leaving moab, If you are heading north out of moab, and before the arches park, there is a fantastic ride along the river (colorado maybe) for about 20 miles, twisting and turning, wonderful place, then a roughish (but drivable) road up to the interstate ........... we were headed towards denver, but just as easy to head towards SLC if you want.
I thought Moab was a wonderful place ........ the sunshine out west really works for english bones.
I thought Moab was a wonderful place ........ the sunshine out west really works for english bones.
Any chance of a map showing the route covered to date?
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