Not quite a full moon, but still some nice visibility for a dirt ride in the dark tonight.

Since I'd visited with old friends at the Canyonlands Motor Classic, and the temperature was climbing quickly towards 100F, I thought I'd head north toward cooler air.

Not unusual conditions for early June in Utah.

Snow on the side of the roads and ice still on the higher elevation lakes.

One of the activities at the Canyonlands Motor Classic is tech day. Riders are encouraged to bring in their bike and perform needed service or modifications. Here is a Kawasaki KLR rider from Salt Lake City getting assistance from Fred, owner of Arrowhead Motorsports, in installing a new "doohickey" in his engine.

Canyonlands Motor Classic

A quick ride to Moab was in order to take part in the Canyonlands Motor Classic. The CMC is one of the oldest gathering of dual sport motorcycle riders in the U.S. The Classic was originally called the "Utah Get Together" and attracted primarily Kawasaki KLR riders. I don't recall when I first attended, but it was 199_.

The CMC has evolved from a small event where everyone got to meet everyone, to a more well attended affair (about 150 riders) and now back down to about 50-60 people.

Arrowhead Motorsports sponsors the CMC now and served dinner to us tonight.

Packing list from 2009 trip on the Trans-America trail.


Backpack
Frogg Toggs jacket
Monkey Butt powder
Roll charts
Maps
Spare gloves
Powder Gatorade
Voile (Wally) straps
Air pressure gauge
Baby wipes
Rok Strap
TP
Clif Bars, tuna fish, Powerbars
Benchmark atlas
Empty 55 gal. trash bag
spark plug
clutch cable
throttle cable
sunglass case
cell phone
camera battery charger
sunscreen
1 oz. bottle Dri Wash 'n Guard w. microfiber towel
Aerostich triple digit raingloves
100 oz. hydration bladder (fits in backpack)
toiletry kit
water filter
20 oz. motor oil in MSR fuel bottle
Cruz tool kit (Econokit M1)
First aid kit
AA batteries
latex gloves
chain lube
head lamp
1 gallon gas jug
Lowe camera bag (chest pack)
fleece jacket
long underwear
thread locker
Cruz tools Outback'r M14
safety wire
Roadgear coconut socks
Dave Wach's oil bottle tool carrier
chain masterlink
duct tape
Leatherman
zip ties
CO2 cartrides
CO2 inflator
hand pump
tow rope
Nikon D40 with 18-55 lens
dry bag
wide brim hat
microfiber bath towel
Hennessy Hammock (Explorer model)
tent ground cloth
sleeping bag
SPOT satellite messenger
sheepskin ( to make tarmac sections more comfortable)
Garmin Emap GPS
Rear tube
Front tube (packed with tire irons in front fender pack)
Giant Loop luggage system
Flip flops
Matches

We did a nice ride yesterday to the Toroweep overlook of Grand Canyon national park. Check it out here!

On the way to Baker, Nevada for the annual Grappa Groupo Gathering, we were passing through Delta, Utah and saw a friend at the gas station. He had just endured some muddy conditions in the area and was content to ride tarmac with us to Baker.

BeemerFest/Eurofest

Come out and support this worthwhile event! There is a rumor that special points are being awarded to motorcycles of Italian origin. Check out the museum after you eat a great brat for lunch! If you don't have a European motorcycle, show up anyway!

Natural Bridges, UT to Sedona, AZ.

Moki Dugway, UT.

Visits today included Goosenecks state park, Monument Valley, Navajo National Monument, Wupatki NM, Sunset Crater NM and Sedona, AZ. Our group had an invitation to participate in Sedona Scooter week.
What an exciting couple of days it would be. The first order of business was to install new handlebars on a Suzuki Burgman for Scooter Doug.

Camping near Natural Bridges National Monument

Burgers at Ray's Tavern in Green River, UT. Navajo tacos in Bluff, UT. Camping in what is considered to be the darkest place in the 48 U.S. states. Not a bad day...

Road Less Traveled

Some guy did some filming while riding the Trans-America Trail. He will be doing a presentation near Salt Lake City, UT. I'll go check it out. Call and speak with Chad about tickets.

Coconut Socks

I'm always looking for ways to pack a little lighter when out travelling. I'm also on the lookout for new and innovative products that are better than anything else I've previously used.
Are you looking for the perfect gift for the motorcycle rider that has everything?
This is what you need, socks made from coconut!
I've now been using the socks for 6 months now. I was a skeptic when I first heard of them, but am a believer in them now. The coconut makes it so the socks have properties that keep odor to a minimum. You really can wear these things for 5 days without being offensive (maybe longer, but I haven't tried yet). Just by setting them in the hot sun will "freshen" them up. If you wash them in a sink, they will dry quickly. The wicking properties are excellent.
As for packing lighter, I now just ride with the one pair of coconut socks that I'm wearing.
And yes, coconut socks are very comfortable. Buy them, try them, and if you are not sold on them, send them back for a refund!

Greater Utah Touring Society

The first meeting of the Greater Utah Touring Society didn't turn out quite as planned. Read about the adventure here.
In short, even thought the day was warm and dry, winter had arrived in the high country a few weeks previous.

Rabbit Valley riding

A few of us spent Halloween afternoon riding at Grand Junction, CO. We rode the 27 1/4 road riding area at the west end of the airport. Dinner was at the Ale House in Grand Junction. I was ready for a nap when we arrived at the Super 8 motel in Fruita that night.

The following day, after picking up sandwiches and drinks, we trailered to the Rabbit Valley exit on Interstate 70. We rode between Utah and Colorado throughout the afternoon. Dinner that night was across the street from the motel at El Talpatio mexican restaurant. Good food, but a little pricey.

Drove home on Sunday with a stop at Groggs near Price, UT. As you can see from the photo above, Carpenter Mike always looks forward to a meal at Groggs.

Little Cottonwood Canyon, Albion Basin summer road.

Stansbury Front trail

Mike showing how to do a "pop-a-wheelie".


Rode the Stansbury Front trail today. Started at South Willow canyon and went south from there. No mud or snow yet.
A few more photos here.

Big Cottonwood Canyon

It was late in the afternoon and no riding had been done today, so it was decided that a quick trip to the top of Big Cottonwood canyon was in order. A few colored leaves still on the trees, but the temerature was cool. Packed slush in a few shaded areas of the road.

Crab leg run

It has been a busy last couple of weeks of riding and the blog needs updating.
Enjoy this link to the latest ride, a run to Sedona, AZ for all-you-can-eat crab legs!

Antelope and electric motorcycles

Wanting to listen to a some auto racing on the radio, I mounted the SIRIUS to the bike and went riding for a couple of hours. Not wanting me or my bike to end up like Alfred or his bike after hitting an antelope, I pulled off the road to watch some of them cross the road. I've seen many antelope while out riding and have some photos of them, but no photos of one with the Wasatch Mountains in the background.
Reminded me of last summer when Dave Glenn gave me 3 pounds of antelope jerky as I was passing through Lander, WY.
I was in Lehi, UT. and a riding on a red Kawasaki Ninja went by. On the rear of his bike was lettering that spelled out "Electric". I didn't think much of it. After all, my bike has electricity going on it as well. Without it, I wouldn't be listening to the radio. A minute later and the bike is opposite of me at an intersection. I noticed that something was different. We pass, and I realize that it was an electric motor in place of the gasoline engine on this bike. I turn around to try and catch the rider and check out this contraption, but I never found him. A google search found his website though. Check this out!
More about converting a Ninja to electric here.
If I can get some more garage space, maybe I'll have to build one of these electric motorcycles.

Duchesne Ridge

Bob and Sam invited me along for the afternoon adventure in the Uinta range. While dining in front of the Maverick convenience store in Heber City, UT., we ran into Glenn who related a little about his travels in Africa by motorcycle, earlier in the year. Glenn owns Rocky Road Outfitters and I probably hadn't seen him since we were in the same program during college.

After breakfast we headed east, over the Duchesne ridge, over Soapstone Pass, and ended up at the Road Island Diner in Oakley, UT. for lunch. Riding conditions were great with a little rain and hail to help keep the dust down. Wrangler Bob treated us with a visit to Camp Roger.

Food at the Road Island Diner today was fine. I had the Rueben sandwich with chips. I'd just as soon not have a television at each end of the restaurant, unless something good is on. Golf was on today. They should have just turned the TV off. I almost had decided not to go back to the diner since the last time I was there and all of the patrons were forced to sit through a lousy sitcom on some unheard of, no-name channel.