Utah – June 2008 – page 4
Tuesday morning brought rain. I was on the road by 7:30 looking forward to the Colorado border. For some reason I thought the minute I crossed over the state line the scenery would immediately change and I would be in awe of the fantastic scenery.
It was going to take a few miles before “Colorful Colorado” was going to any colors other than gray and brown.
I honestly don’t know what I was expecting. Much of Colorado is pasture. From the entrance on I76 at top Northeast corner all the way down to the Denver area there wasn’t a whole lot to look at. I remember thinking at the time that at least the run from Ohio to Nebraska had farms and machinery viewable from the highway. I had something to look at. Here, was nothing.
Eventually, the skies began clearing and I could just make out the outline of the Rockies way off in the distance. Denver to the South-
When traveling along a major highway all day long you start to pass the same truckers over and over. Their fuel capacity is equal to or greater than the weight of the entire bike so they don’t need to make the fuel stops I do. I pass them, eventually stop for re-fueling, and they pass me. This rotation goes on all day. I had started this interstate dance with a trucker hauling pigs back in Nebraska. I remembered him because that first encounter coincided perfectly with the MP3 player queuing up Pink Floyd’s Pigs. Each time I had passed him there was at least one snout sticking out of the container. This last time we met was just before entering the Eisenhower Tunnel on I70. This time, there was a snout out one hole and a tail out another. Sort of like a magician performing a “Watch me saw this porker in half” type of trick. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the camera ready in time to capture the shot.
Entering the Eisenhower Tunnel was like driving into a giant meatlocker. The temp immediately dropped and the white tiles on the walls reminded me of the old walk-in coolers I use to service.
Finally through to the other side, I found the Colorado I had been waiting to see.
From my posting to the forum that evening-
This stretch of I70 was an absolute blast. It’s got great scenery,
curves ( keep in mind that these were the first turn I’d seen since PA ) and trying
to take pictures at 70 mph at the same time is a bit tricky.
curves ( keep in mind that these were the first turn I’d seen since PA ) and trying
to take pictures at 70 mph at the same time is a bit tricky.
Racing alongside the Colorado River. 
The farther I got from the Rockies the more the terrain started to look like high desert. By the time I hit the “Welcome to Utah!” sign I could tell this wasn’t in Colorado any more.
The cross wind had been increasing in its intensity as I left the Rockies and my elevation dropped. It was not steady, instead it would hit you unexpectedly and push you across the road. Some of the gusts were quick while others lasted for five to six seconds. I remember negotiating one long sweeping right-hand curve while the bike leaned to the left (try explaining that to a new student in your rider education class). I didn’t ride the bike through the turn, instead I varied the rate at which the wind blew me through the turn. This was an exhausting game I played with mother nature all the way to the turn off to Rt. 191 that would take me south to Moab.
Route 191 is where the rocks and soil started to turn red and the scenery began to look like the pictures I had been studying for the past few months.
When I arrived in Moab I rode through the town to try to get the layout. I stopped at the information center and checked out the campgrounds
that were close. I was ready for a good meal and beer but wanted to setup and unloaded before heading for a restaurant. The first two places I tried were booked. My negotiations about taking up “very little” space were apparently not persuasive enough. I ended up at Moab Valley RV Resort. Being a tent camper I usually shy away of all campgrounds that call themselves “RV Resorts”. I’ve spent too many sleepless nights listening to generators and watching the RV windows flash from the light of the TVs. I was getting a bit desperate. I checked in and was sent to site T34. I have to say that they had a cool setup for tent campers. Each tent site had a canopy over it keep the sun off. Nice touch.
that were close. I was ready for a good meal and beer but wanted to setup and unloaded before heading for a restaurant. The first two places I tried were booked. My negotiations about taking up “very little” space were apparently not persuasive enough. I ended up at Moab Valley RV Resort. Being a tent camper I usually shy away of all campgrounds that call themselves “RV Resorts”. I’ve spent too many sleepless nights listening to generators and watching the RV windows flash from the light of the TVs. I was getting a bit desperate. I checked in and was sent to site T34. I have to say that they had a cool setup for tent campers. Each tent site had a canopy over it keep the sun off. Nice touch.
I setup, cleaned and lubed the drivechain, took a quick shower and headed back into town for some food and a beer. I walked into the Moab Brewery and enjoyed an awesome meal and some local brew. Unable to try all the differnt brews, I’d have to come back the following evening too.
After returning to the campsite I took the laptop into the office for a better wifi signal and worked on that evening’s ride report for the forum. While there I talked to the owner and asked about the best time to get some pictures in Arches National Park. “Sunrise or Sunset”, he said. Already past the sunset opportunity I would hit the park the next morning.
Next – Arches and Canyonlands
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