simplybrad

I departed in the morning and it is already heating up, it is suppose to be 114F again. I am sent off by all and thankful for the hospitality and seeing my other brother and his family.

Getting out of Phoenix is a lot easier than getting out of SoCal. I am heading north on 87 to Payson and then onto 260 east to Herber. Going through this area is gorgeous. I am now getting back into some woodland areas, temperatures are cooler and there is a lot to look at. his area is part of the Mogollion Plateau area. I pick up 277/377 to Holbrook. Somehow along this route my sleeping bag jumped shipped. Fortunately I was able to recover it easily. Using Carter's GPS is kind of nice. It is one of the smaller ones but it does have roads and exits noted. I programmed some of my major stops along the way and it gave me estimated times of arrivals and much more information. Very cool. Though I never got lost (except for the SoCal incident), it was reassuring that the feedback from the GPS confirmed where I thought I was.

At Holbrook I sit, motor off, waiting for the freight-train to move. Left or right does not matter to me, just not over the road I want to get through on. I can see the I-40 in the distance. After a half-hour I get moving again.

Hopping onto I-40 to run up to Chambers so I can get on 191 north toward Moab. This road runs all the way through the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation. During this part of the ride you cover a lot of ground that starts out kind of looking like the Martian landscape. The further north I travel the more you start seeing rock formations and the gorgeous red coloration in the rocks and dirt. I came across many guys walking along the road with either a backpack or bag, smiling and waving as I go by. All of them seemingly happy.

As I get towards Moab, the rock formations are prevalent and I make a few stops to take pictures.

Outside of Moab I take 128 east. This road follows the Colorado River for most of it's length, only leaving it's side for a brief climb out of the canyon and across the top to I-70. This is a great ride as I wind through the canyon, checking out the muddy, reddish flowing waters, counting rafters as I go. Arches National Park is on my left, Manti la Sal National Forest ti the right. It is late afternoon and the sun is lighting the scene spectacularly. I am enjoying what unfolds before me too much to stop and take pictures.

Picking up I-70, I head east and into Colorado. I get into Rifle by nightfall and stop to gas up the bike and grab a sandwich. Heading further east, I forgot how amazing this road is. Flying through the canyon, my trek somehow becomes almost surreal. Riding in and out of tunnels punched through the mountains, sometimes the west-bound lanes elevated above me and at other times below me. All of this at night, lights streaking past, mountains towering above, I am loving it.

I make a couple stops along the way but all rooms are booked. One camp spot wants thirty-six dollars for the night...to pitch my tent? I think not. I keep heading east.

I make it to Copper Mountain around 11:00 pm. Since this is their off-season, so-to-speak, I get a room and the rate is relatively cheap ($85.00) and by far the best room of the trip. Of course, sleeping under the stars is not included in that last statement. This would be a great place to as a base while exploring Colorado.

Exhausted, I sleep well.