May 28. Day 3. Durango, CO to Mexican Hat, UT.

"Was not able to post due to a poor internet connection in Mexican Hat.  We are now in Escalante, UT on our way to Bryce Canyon, UT.  Dennis wrote up another synopsis of his day and I have included it below.  So here is his report, with my commentary and photos in quotes."

Day Three of trip with Joe Baker:   ("Click on my name to go to my Facebook page.")  Our trip on this portion was from Durango, CO. to Mexican Hat, Ut, about 250 miles and the country is getting more beautiful. WE left out about 8am and headed west on Hwy 160. The first part of the ride continued through the mountains and then started dropping down into desert country. We passed Mesa Verde National Park which was the beginning of seeing the large desert escarpments and buttes. The rock formations were huge and you wondered how they could stay standing with some at least a 1000 feet tall. We were headed towards the famous Shiprock area but then we turned, still following Hwy 160 headed to Four Corners. Now we were truly in solid desert country but a great road and little traffic. However I would call this highway "Beer Bottle Hwy" because there were thousands of beer bottles all thrown on the sides of the road. Since the road was raised you didn't notice it that much unless you noticed them and kept looking. Just miles and miles of them.  

Well about 3 hours of riding we finally reached Four Corners (note that it's $3 to get in) and I guess it just one of those places you say you've been to. It was basically a “plaza” surrounded by a lot of stalls for the local Indians to sell crafts.

"REMEMBER, CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE."

"Myself and Dennis at the entrance to the Four Corners.  It was pretty underwhelming to say the least, but we can check it off our list."

What I enjoyed better was dropping down into the valley just before it and crossing the San Juan River. The valley there was sort of a mini Grand Canyon (a small taste of what was yet ahead). Out of Four Corners we rode desert for a long time and again found ourselves riding into strong crosswinds. The thing that amazed me was “how can people even live out here?” and yet we’d come across some trailer or small house sitting out a quarter, half or even a mile off the paved road in the middle of ………nothing. And then things started to change once again.

First I started to notice taller rock formations just jutting up out of the desert. Or a long shelf of huge rocks swelling out of the desert sand at a slanted angle like someone had just tilted everything at some point and running for miles. (of course the was evidence of a huge tectonic upward plate shift but seeing it in so stark a setting in such magnitude was eye opening. Then in the background you start to see very, very large buttes and incredibly shaped formations again just jutting up out of the earth as if a huge hand just shoved it up through the surface from below. This was heading into Kayenta, AZ. (we had been heading SW now into AZ from NM and CO).

As we turned onto Hwy 163 I began seeing unbelievable formations thinking this has to be Monument Valley where we were headed. We headed up a rise out of town (heading NNE now) and upon reaching the top the vista ahead of us left me speechless and in awe of the beauty. I felt like an ant in the valley of giants.

 

"Headed up Hwy 163 north."

 

 

 

The color, the contrast with the desert, the incredibly beautiful blue sky with puffy white clouds. I felt like I was looking back into the day of creation when the earth was formed with mountains. I thought of the timeframe all of this must have taken, of the enormous pressures, of the hand of God “to beautify the earth”. Now I’ve been to the Grand Canyon, Moab, through the Rockies, Yosemite, all of which are breathtaking and I didn’t think I would be impressed again like I was. I thought how much I wish my family was with me to see this, how to convey to friends so they could experience it for themselves. And I wish they could know what it would be like to do it on a motorcycle, to feel almost a part of the landscape, the air around you, the sky your only roof over your head. Unbelievable.

"From Arizona into Utah"

It turns out the “actual” Monument Valley is sacred place for the ancient Indians and still sacred to them today. It is a valley off the main highway with a visitors center on a bluff ($5 to get to) overlooking the bluff.

"These two photos taken from the visitors center observation deck."

 

"As I was in the Monument Valley Visitors Center I thought this was a pretty cool photo to take. Looking thru the window by the check out counter.  The window frames the monument so well."

 

They have special open tour vehicles that take you down through the valley to show you some of the incredible formations. Some however are off limits to the public and remain sacred areas to the Indians only. This we didn’t do because to tell you the truth as we continued on there was so much to see I don’t think anything in “the Valley” could top it and from the highway and it was all free!. We continued on Hwy 163 to Mexican Hat, Ut. where we stayed at the San Juan Motel and Trading Post. As Joe mentioned in his post, as we left the Monument Valley area we passed a film crew which we learned later was working on the next movie “Transformers 4”.

"Monument Valley"
"Looking behind us as we departed the valley, headed to Mexican Hat"

 

Our little motel was on a bluff above the San Juan River and had a restaurant with some pictures of different stars who had been there while some movie they were working on was filmed locally. One of my favorites was on the wall….William Macy of Wild Hogs who I identify most with when it comes to riding a Harley! As the evening wore on more bikes started rolling in and just in time as a dust/wind/rain storm blew through.

 

"Here is William Macy from the movie Wild Hogs, whom Dennis fancies himself as... "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdQcKCyqbHc  

 



"Our stay in Mexican Hat"

 

Another great day. Joe has done an awesome job on his route choice. I am greatly blessed.

Some additional photos and captions...



"Here I am, showing off how to be in four states at one time, Four Corners."

 

"Dennis showing me the better way to do it, by using just four fingers."

"Geographical marker. Which I understand is not in the correct location.  Oh well."


 



"Dennis washing his socks he loves.  He pulled off his boots later that evening and oh my Lord...I said time to bag them Dennis."

"It is now May 30th, appx. 6:30 am Mountain Time, and we are in Escalante, UT. Dennis is snoring and sleeping well at this moment. Headed to Bryce Canyon shortly where I saw it was 31 degrees...burr.  Then on up to Provo, UT.  I have some great photos of yesterday's ride and will try to post by Friday.  We have had poor internet connections these past few days and it has become very frustrating and time consuming just to post the little I have."   

 

 



So today is May 28... here is what Dennis wrote, about our ride yesterday of 510 miles or so... along with some photos.  I did this already this morning and somehow managed to delete the entire post!
CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE.

Dennis writes on his Facebook page:

Okay, so to catch up on day two... From Guymon, OK. we left at 8am and rode into a corner of New Mexico and had lunch in Raton. We got into more mountainous terrain all the while climbing in elevation. First out of desert area of Guymon about 25 miles we passed a lone camel in a big range! Joe was focused on the road so he missed it and I didn't get a picture. Ran into a nice couple from San Antonio pulling a horse trailer at a rest stop (see the snake sign pic).

They were headed to Colorado Springs area to family for a few days to do some "cowboying" helping tend cattle and mend fences. We passed a "posted" dormant volcano just off the highway that was pretty cool. Probably about a 1000 feet tall with the typical cone shape and ringed depression at the top. In the same area we passed a small herd of antelope just about 50 feet off the side of the highway. Again, Joe focused on the road so no stopping for a pic. He did say later than he did see them and was nervous they'd run out into our path since they were inside the fence line. I'll bet we could have stopped and got a close up pic. No problem...still got a long way to go to get to Durango. After Raton then we really started into the mountains and took a back road (Hwy 12) from 25N over to 160 west. High country with small, small hamlets (?).

Then up again into higher country and into the San Rafael National Forest. Saw Elk on the mountainside fields (Joe focused on road) and beautiful emerald blue lakes.

Again, almost no traffic. Finally on 160 about 3pm and still about 275 miles to go! 160 had a lot more traffic (Durango/Denver route) and we passed a lot of motorcycle groups. And we were still headed up in elevation and there was snow up in the tops! Put a fleece on to stay warmer as it was getting chilly.

Now we are steadily climbing and the views are incredible and road pretty decent. Small towns and a resort or two for winter sports or summer rafting/mountain biking. I will starting to get pretty chilly again when we made it up into the snowy elevations. There was no snow on the roads of course but still enough on the ground up in the trees. Finally we pulled over at the top at a Scenic Overlook and the large display said Continental Divide. (no wonder I was cold at this point so I broke out the leather over my fleece and heavier gloves and on with the heated grips!. Now we were really into even more beautiful country with deep valleys and drop offs and long vistas. We came down pretty fast in elevations with lots of sweeping turns and came upon one hairpin with emergency vehicles. right on the curve, hard against the concrete barrier was an overturned freight trailer. With no tractor in sight and tire marks up along the barrier I was sure the guy went over. But fortunately a little further ahead there he was hooked up to a big tow smashed on a front side and corner pretty badly. I'm sure the driver had some very drawers after that one! It had to be at least 1000 feet down over that barrier. not sure if he lost his brakes or just too fast but just a few hundred yards before the turn was a "runaway truck turn out". At least he lived to talk about that one. Well on down we went passing a beautiful waterfall (didn't get the pic...Joe focused on the road), and a neat mountain pinnacle that looked like a tall, big chimney with the biggest rock on top. not sure what was holding it up (again, no pic). Well this is getting long winded and probably boring for most of you. Needless to say we covered over 500 miles today and ended up in Durango about 6pm (mountain) and went for an expensive steak dinner at the Ore House Restaurant. Neat old downtown right next to the Durango/Silverton old steam train depot. Steak good, expensive, had to move tables because small child at nearby table was annoying Joe big time. Great service. One note: when checking into the Best Western the lady said no smoking and no marijuana allowed in the rooms! Welcome to Colorado. One thing about riding long distances on bikes...lots of time for reflection. Guess it's that Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance kind of thing. 4:45am. Took at shower and posted. Guess I'll try to get a little more shut eye. Slower trip planned for today. Only about 200 miles planned. Slower pace. good deal.



So here are a few of the pictures I (Joe) did get.  Check out the one with the rocks balancing in the crevices... whoa!

HWY 12 Colorado. Highway of Legends

 

 

Hwy 160

 

 

Dennis showing off.

 

 

Dennis the Menace!!!

 

 

 

Departing shortly for the Four Corners, Monument Valley

and Mexican Hat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day One (Sunday)... 470 miles from Bella Vista, AR to Guymon, OK.  The entire trip across Oklahoma left a lot to be desired.  It was hot, 95 degrees, windy, blowing a gale, and barren.  This morning we head out for Durango, CO, where the temps are much milder and the scenery is great.  Along the ride thru Oklahoma we came upon this road side sign.  Good advice. 

Arrived in Bella Vista, Arkansas yesterday, May 23rd.  Plan a departure this Monday with Dennis Klakring, on our Harleys, to Provo, UT.  Doing so we will ride through Oklahoma, with hopes of no storms, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah.  Our trip should be about 5 days to Provo, spending three days in Provo, then headed back to Arkansas.  Once we depart the state of Oklahoma I have a number of great rides planned, as we work our way to Provo.  More to follow...I hope.  This evening we have tickets to the Crystal Bridges Museum to view the Norman Rockwell collection.  Should be quite a show.  http://crystalbridges.org/   Stay tuned...and hopefully I will be able to manage this Blog as we travel. Below is the preliminary route...click on map for larger image.