Saturday BBQ day

We rode up from Cortez via the Gateway Canyon which is always fun to ride through.

There ended up being 11 K1600 riders that showed up for the BBQ. We had smoked brisket and ribs mmmmm.

Gateway Canyon

Some of the guys

The rest of the group minus one late comer

The smoker

Darby slicing ribs

Chowing down

All done mmmmm

1/2 the bikes

The rest

First day

Gooddog aka Clay showed up right on time at 6:00 am and after a little visit we took off for the mountains. We stopped in Flagstaff for breakfast then continued on to Kayenta where we turned North. Clay had never been by Monument Valley or over the Moki Dugway so we figured today would be a good day to do that. After stopping at the visitor center in Monument Valley we headed for Mexican Hat for lunch. Then a photo stop at the Mexican Hat rock formation.

 From there we rode over the Moki Dugway road where I had a slight mishap. While pulled over to look at the view I went to shift into first and one of the linkage screws holding my short shift linkage together fell out and my lever was dangling. Wow that would have been a disaster traveling down the interstate at 80mph. Fortunately I found the screw and with a little time to remove plastic I was able to reassemble everything good as new.

We continued through Blanding and Monticello and on to Cortez where we are holed up in a motel for the night.

Gooddog AKA Clay

Me Arizona Jim

Monument Valley

Clay

Jim

Mexican Hat right out of a Road Runner cartoon, meep meep

Headed for Moki Dugway, where does the road go?

Working on the shift linkage

Clay looking at the valley below

Darby's BBQ weekend

Well I'm off on another putt. This time just a long weekend ride to the Grand Junction, CO area to attend a BBQ put on by one of the K1600 forum members. I'll be riding with a K1600 rider from Arizona as far as Cortez today and then finish up tomorrow. It will be a good time meeting other forum members that I haven't met before.

Day 32 the end

The trip is over. I rode 525 uneventful miles today under mostly clear skies. It did rain a little around Flagstaff but that's to be expected this time of year. 

I had a great time on the whole trip and I'm kind of sad that it's over except the part where I get to see Janet. 

I put almost 7,400 miles on the bike over the past 32 days. Not a great amount but still a nice little putt. 

Thanks to those that followed along and I'll see you all later. 

Jim

    Good bye Rockies sniff, sniff 

    Hello Arizona

    I've driven by these dozens of times and never took a picture. 

Day 29, 30, 31

Had a nice visit with Bonnie and Jeff then took off Friday morning and rode to Paonia for another BMW rally. I bought a new tent at this rally, one that's tall so I don't have to get down and crawl in and out which is nice for these aging legs and knees. 

I'm hanging around the rally grounds visiting with folks I've met before and meeting new ones. I'll ride home Sunday. 

    On Guanella Pass

    

Day 28

I rode 660 miles today to arrive at my cousin's house in Bailey, CO at 3:00 pm. The weather was clear for a change with high temps of 94 F which was better than the predicted 100 F. It did sprinkle a little the last 20 miles but then that's to be expected in the mountains at that time of day.

Bonnie fixed a great evening dinner and we looked at old family photos while Jeff and I talked about everything from politics to fishing.

    Selfie while riding across Kansas

Day 27

Just visiting with Steve and Lisa today and going to Walmart to restock a few supplies. I planned out the last leg of this trip and will be leaving bright and early in the morning with a plan to ride 650 miles to my cousin's in Bailey, Colorado by day's end. It's suppose to be 100 F through Kansas, whew.

Day 26

Steve and I got up this morning and were greeted by 100% humidity i.e.: rain. So we suited up and rode out of it after an hour. It then turned into a 80-90 deg humid ride to Kansas City where I will hang out for at least a day before heading to Colorado and next weekend's rally in Paonia.

Days 23, 24, 25

We spent most of the weekend visiting with K1600 forum members, searching out "stuff" at the vendors, sitting in on informational seminars, eating and a side trip or two. Sunday we all headed home  with Steve and I spending tonight west of Indianapolis, IN.

    A short trip to Niagra Falls.

    Breakfast at a Canadian IHOP with some of the K1600 forum members.

Day 22

We had a strong wind storm last night and several tents, vendor displays and canopies were damaged. My bike blew over and one of the saddle bags got scratched when it hit a tent stake.

Today was mostly walking around all the vendor areas looking for things we couldn't leave without. I only bought some T shirts and tie down straps. Many of the folks who are on the K1600 forum gathered again this evening to visit. The weather is suppose to be clear and cool the rest of the weekend.

    Ouch

    A coffin trailer the owner sleeps in. The lady in the picture is not the owner. 

Day 21

We made it to the MOA rally in Hamburg, NY at around noon today. Some of the guys got here a day or so ago and marked off an area for K1600 motorcycle  tent camping. It should be a fun weekend. 

    The shower trailer across the street 

    Some of the K1600 forum members gathering already. 

   

    My camp

Day 20

Took off this morning at 5:30 in the rain that stayed with me to Peoria, IL. Then off and on all the way to Columbus, OH where I arrived at the motel at 5:00 pm after 625 miles. Steve got there a half hour earlier. We had a burger and a couple beers and are now getting ready for showers and bed so we can be back on the road by 6:00 am. It looks like tomorrow is just a little over 300 miles. 

Our view all day long. 

Day 19

I did nothing except visit with the folks and Mike and Debby Conley

Day 17

The beginning of another leisure day. 

    The quaint motel we are "camping" in near the family gathering. 

Day 18

We drove back to Cedar Falls mostly in rain today. Had a nice visit at tha family camp out. I got to see and visit with some family members that I hadn't seen in several years along with their kids that are growing up way too fast.

Day 16

I Drove Mom and Dad to Wisconsin for our annual family camp out. This has been going on for close to 40 years. I've only attended twice since moving to Arizona. It's amazing how everyone has aged except me 😬.

    Small road side park we stopped at for quick pit stop. 

    Crossing the mighty Mississippi River

Day 15

Had a nice visit in town with friends from High School and ones I worked with at John Deere many years ago. It's always fun to catch up and reminisce about the old days and things we did together back then. It's also sad to hear about those that have passed away.