Day 8
August 12, 2010
Bailey, CO to Hays KS: 379 Miles

I debated heading for Sturgis, but decided against it since no one I knew was planning on being there. I think that is a trip better planned with friends. Of course Billy Bartels calls me when I’m gassing up in Denver to ask if I was in SD yet. He had just flown in to pick up some bikes and ride them back to So Cal. He was only at Sturgis for 24 hrs, so we reluctantly determined that our paths wouldn’t cross on this trip.

The large storm system south of Denver encouraged me to head east:

Storms both north and south of me kept me moving east. I watched this rainbow and rain shower for almost an hour before stopping to take a photo.

Again, I missed the rain and stopped long enough in the afternoon to cook up my next destination: Cedar Rapids, IA to visit friends/former co-workers. Although I was up for a couple more hours on the bike, a lighting storm drove me shelter in Hays with this in my rear view mirror:

Day 6 & 7
August 10-11, 2010
Bailey, CO

I spent a great two days with Eric & Rachel. Eric was kind enough to let me set up and work out of his office which allowed me to catch up with work and get caught up with them after 5.

Day 5
August 9, 2010
Grand Junction, CO to Bailey, CO: 245 Miles

Worked in my hotel room until check out time to get caught up and then it was off to Bailey to see Eric, Rachel and the boys.

My luck held today and I dodged several thunderstorms on my way to Bailey. It was a very pleasant ride with lots of photo opportunities.

And my timing couldn’t have been more perfect: I landed in Bailey just in time for dinner!

Day 4
August 8, 2010
Bryce Canyon, UT to Grand Junction, CO: 327 Miles

Lucky to have missed another night of rain, I still got caught in heavy dew. It was 10 AM before my tent was even close to dry enough to pack.  Should have packed it wet. I wasn’t in Bryce Canyon Park more than 20 minutes when it started to rain. I still got a few good shots of  wildlife and several of the vistas…

I got pelted for a whole 3 minutes with rain and hail from this one.

And then a steady diet of the beautiful Hwy 70 to Grand Junction.

Random Rant: The hotel quoted me $15 more for the room than Travelocity and wouldn’t come down. So I booked it with Travelocity. Kind of silly for them to pay someone else a commission to undersell them on their rooms if you ask me. Which of course, you didn’t. But I digress.

Day 3

August 7, 2010

Indian Springs, NV to Zion National Park, UT to Bryce Canyon, UT: 344 Miles

Most ambitious day yet – up at 5 and on the road by 6. Nice and cool for the first two hours. Then it got hot again!

The scenery really got nice enough to keep your mind off it (mostly) around the border. I stopped for these shots in the pass out of NV through the corner of AZ on Hwy 15.

First stop: Zion National Park

I could see going in that it was going to rain. And it certainly was by time I got to the gate around lunch time. With very little in the park, I turned around and headed back into town for lunch. The rain cleared after about an hour, and I spent the next 2+ hours on the bus tour. Chose the official motorcycle boots instead of the workboots due to rain. Upside? My feet stay dry. Downside? No hiking! So I stuck to the bus stops. I really must come back here to hike.

Which brings me to the idea that I require a bigger pack. Function dictates form! The one I have just won’t carry more than computer equipment, photography equipment, and a few clothes. Oh, and a humidor and a flask. Mustn’t forget those.

The rain washed out part of the gravel road and I was advised not to try it on the bike, so I went the long way round and headed to Bryce Canyon.

This is really some beautiful country:

Quick dinner at the local store, and then off to camp to knock out these posts. No interwebs here, but I can upload them when I break for lunch tomorrow.