RIDE REPORT During Covid, 13 States & Some Spectacular Riding

[DK Custom Products]

We've never ridden the 14 before.* It looks good on the map, and this sign is very promising!



From the get go we're climbing, the road is curvy...



...and the views are great!



It feels like we're nearing the summit...



...but we just keep climbing and enjoying the curves and the views. This is one of our new favorite roads!



It's got the magic 3- Elevation changes, curvy, & scenic!



Summit at 9910 elevation.



Soon after the summit the landscape changes...



...absolutely stunning high meadowland. Gotta know this is covered in snow during the winter!



What is this off to the side of the road???



More in next post.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Crazy! Up here, on the top of this high meadow, are lava fields!



And Lakes!



This road bears a longer, more relaxed ride & exploration. We're well past 8 hours riding so far today, and have another 1.5 before getting back to camp. So we are scooting right along. We hope we'll be back here soon.

Started down the other side now...



...oh yeah, this side is even more...



...fun than the other side coming up.



Came around a blind curve and there is a deer in the middle of the road, some more on the side, and a car coming from the opposite direction...



...habit kicked in...looked in my rear view to make sure I would not get rear ended, and pulled it down from 50 mph to 5 mph almost instantly...all the while hoping that the car did not hit the deer sending it our way.



Wow, it sure looked closer in those few seconds than it looks in these gopro screenshots!



I always ride on high alert, but especially when hitting the blind curves at speed. We have a lot of critters in our neck of the woods, so I get some pretty good practice. There is no time to think in situations like this...it all has to be habit and happen instantly, without conscious thought.

Well, that was fun. We took a minute and watched the deer make their way up the side of the hill.

The 14 is the bomb. We gotta come back. At the 89 now, and turning south toward camp.



Riding back toward camp on the 89-amazing riding in these parts.



That's it for Utah! Tomorrow we take off for Arizona and 3 days of riding that Kurt has organized.

*

Kevin

[ol' school]

Awesome reroute Kevin! Crazy seeing the lava there!

[bikerbillone]

Thanks Kevin, always those lovely pictures.

[flyswatter]

Enjoying the ride with your pictures and commentary...tks for sharing...

[Zammy]

Another great ride along Kevin & Mary, I did not know about those lava fields, interesting.

[hogcowboy]

Nice picture tour. But I've always wondered if the lava in Utah can be at all connected to the lava in California or YellowStone. From a geologic point of view I would think it's possible but my geology has it's shortcomings at best. But the lava pools deep down I could see as being connected with tunnels too. But for that distance? Or are they all considered connected because of the earths core anyway?

[Dave59]

Awesome pics Kevin, thanks for sharing!!

[DK Custom Products]

Awesome reroute Kevin! Crazy seeing the lava there!

Nice picture tour. But I've always wondered if the lava in Utah can be at all connected to the lava in California or YellowStone. From a geologic point of view I would think it's possible but my geology has it's shortcomings at best. But the lava pools deep down I could see as being connected with tunnels too. But for that distance? Or are they all considered connected because of the earths core anyway?

Glad you guys are liking the report.

We're really happy for the reroute...don't know when/if we would have discovered that road (14).

Regarding the lava...there are big sections of it that come right up the the road we were riding....Mary took hundreds of photos that day, and I just did not choose one of those for the report. But here is one right now. It was taken as we were riding by. We saw hundreds of acres of stuff like this, right along the road.



Regarding the geology of it, I am ignorant, other than what was on the sign....AND, I don't want to be near any of it when it is molten!!!!

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Awesome pics Kevin, thanks for sharing!!

Another great ride along Kevin & Mary, I did not know about those lava fields, interesting.

Enjoying the ride with your pictures and commentary...tks for sharing...

Thanks Kevin, always those lovely pictures.

Glad y'all are liking the pics. Amazing places to ride in Utah, PLUS the big surprise of the lava.

Arizona is coming up soon!

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Headed out of our campsite in Utah...



...to Arizona. Kurt has organized three days of riding for a bunch of us Trikers. Gonna be a blast!



Well...that's a sign of the times.



A look back at Utah...



...this really is a different kind of traveling. Carrying our home with us and riding in all the great spots.

[DK Custom Products]

We take a little detour and visit some ruins at Wupatki National Monument.Then headed over to Sunset Crater National Monument......walked around one of the lava fields.There are hundreds (thousands?) of acres of lava fields and cinder cone fields.Last night we stayed here.More in next post.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

Out for a morning walk before heading on to meet up with Kurt.

*



Had to stop here...



...for a couple of pics.



Another little detour to check out the Petrified Forest National Park. Well worth it if you have a chance.



Pulled up to the BLM land in Alpine, Arizona. Kurt was already there.

[DK Custom Products]

Camp set up. Trike unloaded. Some folks stop by this afternoon. Tomorrow we ride!



View of moon rising at camp.



Riding into town to meet up with...



...everyone going on todays epic ride that Kurt has planned.



Off we go, headed out of town!



Will post more as time allows.

Kevin

[ol' school]

Looks like a fun time Kevin!

[DK Custom Products]

Looks like a fun time Kevin!

Oh Yeah! I think Kurt is planning another get together for this fall. Be cool if you could join us.

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

What an epic ride today is.* (Mary took 1008 photos.* I'm sharing just a small fraction of them)

Climbing into the mountains...



...a look back.



Up in the trees now...



...another look back.



Some deer along the way.

[DK Custom Products]

Pulling over for a little break at Hannagan Meadow.



Back in the wind, and there is this ONE OF A KIND sign. 60 miles of fun ahead!



The curves and hills begin...



It's like flying...



...and it gets even better!



More in next post.*

Kevin

[DK Custom Products]

This section of road we're on is the 191 between Hannagan Meadow and Morenci, aka Coronado Trail. If you like elevation changes and twisties, look it up on google maps, and try and make your way out there.

Another Sign, pretty much guaranteeing Fun Ahead!



YES, we're on the road. It's that twisty!



Same here, tight turn with big, fast elevation drop. Love it!



This road is a blast...



...that's the kind of sign I like to see.

[DK Custom Products]

Coronado Trail...



...I'm glad Kurt brought us here today...



...I would have never guessed this gem of a road...



...would be found in Arizona.



Absolutely Amazing!



More to come as time allows.

Kevin