My Epic October Western Motorcycle Ride Trip Report

[Big Bend]

Part 7 of 9

Monday October 22. I packed up early. Decision time.. would I head to the Grand Canyon South Rim or the North Rim? Either way was a major commitment and would define my final journey back home. At the last minute I decided to go North. I hadn't made it to Canyonlands NP earlier in the trip, and being able to ride thru Utah again was gona be great fun. From Vegas I rode out to Grand Canyon National Park (#9 on this trip). The North Rim was a ghost town tho, everything was closed, only a few tourists were there like me. Apparently they shut down all services in Mid Oct. It was weird, but I liked it being empty. Quite beautiful, an American treasure! What a view...





I'm hoping to return there Summer 2008 and backpack across the Canyon with my older son. I learned that I'll want to start down on the North Rim and hike back up the South.. since the North is a much higher elevation. Just beautiful, words can describe how epic GC is. After that I rode thru Navajo country in Northern Arizona. Again, incredible vistas! That night I camped at Lake Powell. It had been a long day as I pulled into camp right at sunset. Slept great! The next day I made my way back into SE Utah, then visited Canyonland National Park (#10). It was worth the ride getting back there, just like our Durango friends said it would be several weeks before. Some of the best motorcycle roads in the country.













That night I stayed in Monticello UT, not exactly sure which way I'd head in the morning. I loved having a plan each day that said "ride where you want, have fun". A great way to travel!


Wednesday Oct 24. I decide to make my way SE towards Mesa Verde National Park (#11 and counting). I had been there before but it had been like 20 years. Its a great place to visit, seeing the cliff dweller houses where the Anasazi people lived some 800 years before. Quite historic, a very unique national park..







When I was leaving Mesa Verde that afternoon, I was originally thinking that I would head back to my uncle/aunt's house in Albuquerque. I knew that Colorado had gotten some snow the week before. But looking North the mountains were so beautiful, my GPS weather said the high temp in Ouray was 63 degrees. Surely the roads would be clear. I decided to head up the West side of the San Juan mountains, check out Telluride, and maybe make it back to Ouray before it got too dark. This turned out to be a great ride, crisp blue skies, incredible mountains. I loved it!







It was dark when I got to Ouray. I ended up staying at the Cascade Falls Inn again, the same place Jeff and I visited some 3 weeks previously. The nice lady running the place was glad to see me again and amazed at the adventures I had had. If you are in the area I highly recommend staying here. That night I returned to the bar for dinner and drinks, and Game 1 of the World Series had started. The locals tho were not happy when the Red Sox stomped on their Rockies. As a Houston Astros fan, I could certainly relate.



There were piles of snow beside the roads, it got Very cold that night... but it was great being back in Colorado one last time on this adventure.


to be continued....

[Big Bend]

Part 8 of 9

Thursday Oct 25, I was looking forward to heading back South on the Million Dollar Highway. But boy was it COLD that morning! 20 Degrees! There was lots of ice and snow on the side of the highway. It was too cold to stop and take pictures, and I was afraid of ice cause I saw some wet patches on the road. But I pressed on and really enjoyed the ride, tho I was glad the road conditions weren't a problem. There was an hour delay tho at one point due to road repairs.. but still it was a great day. I love those mountains!





Back in Durango I headed East for awhile to Pagosa Springs, then South back to Albuquerque, taking a more scenic route. Back in New Mexico, I suddenly saw Echo Amphitheater. When I was a kid my family stopped there for lunch one time while on a road trip. I hadn't been back since, like 35 years ago. But I instantly recognized it, the memories flooded back. I stopped to visit, and took a much needed nap. It was a nice unexpected surprise.



That night I returned to my uncle/aunt's house. They too enjoyed hearing about all my travels. So much had happened since the clutch cable was repaired. It was all good. What an adventure! The next morning I'd begin the final leg of my journey.. with a few more parks to visit along the way.

Friday October 26.. I left my uncle/aunt's house early that morning, and decided to head down to the Roswell NM area. I didn't see any aliens, other than all the stuff in tourist shops I drove by.. only stopped for gas. Afterwards I decided to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park (#12 on this epic journey). I had visited this park earlier on road trip #1, but since I was in the area this time too, why not visit again. Its always great to see this amazing cave. My cave pics suck but we try... These are alot better. Seriously, try to visit this park if you can, you'll be truly inspired by how incredible this cave is.





After that it was time to re-enter my beloved Texas, I had been gone for 4 weeks.



I then made my way to Guadalupe Mountain National park (#13). I've been to Big Bend like 30 times, and Guadalupe is only another 3-4 hours past it.. but in all my travels I had never been to this park. It was great to finally visit it. I now know what I've been missing, and I really want to return again soon for more hiking and camping. I managed to get one of the last campsites in the park when I arrived at sunset. It was a wonderful night, camping in Texas again. I was getting close to home.









Saturday morning I packed up and made my way towards Big Bend, the final park on my journey, a triumphant return to an area I love so much.. This would be the first time to ride there on a motorcycle tho. Taking scenic back roads just north of Alpine TX, I suddenly saw Mitre Peak. That brought back a ton of memories.



Back in my college days, my friends would love to make a road trip to "Mount Chi-Chi" as we called it (a reference to a part of a woman's body the peak looks like). I have a friend back then who had gotten his pilot license, and he flew 4 of us out to Alpine where we hitchhiked out to the mountain, climbed it, spent the night on top, then hiked back down the next day and hitchhiked back to town before flying home.. That was a fun weekend! I hadn't seen the mountain since, in like 23 years. And there it was! What a pleasant surprise..


to be continued....

[Big Bend]

Part 9 of 9

Saturday October 27. I arrived at Big Bend National Park, my home away from home, the 14th and final national park I would visit on this journey. 14 Parks Woohoo! I'd say I got my $$'s worth out of the park pass. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I've now been to many other national parks, but BBNP will always be my favorite. Its so huge, out of the way, incredibly beautiful, with mountains, the river, desert landscapes and much more. If you want to be alone, truly alone, out in a huge wilderness, you can do this at Big Bend. When I die someday my ashes will be scattered in the park. I love it out there.





I made my way down to Rio Grande Village in the park and setup camp there that night, then relaxed the rest of the day.



Sunday morning I decided to move up to the Basin campground, inside the Chisos Mountains. Yes we have some mountains in Texas. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]









I had a tasty lunch at the Basin Lodge, took a nap in camp, then went on a nice ride in the park around sunset. An awesome day...













Monday morning, October 29. It was time to pack up and really start heading home.



As I'm leaving the park tho, I see a GS with a sidecar carrying a dog heading my way.. Its Beemerchef and his dog Spirit! I love reading his ride reports, and I truly admire his style of adventure. I made a quick u-turn and flagged him down, we had a great visit, a super nice guy. It was the perfect way to leave the park, making a friend I want to meet again someday on the road.



I ended up riding to Kerrville TX that night in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.. a very popular area for motorcycle gatherings and rides.. But I needed to get home. I got up early Tuesday Oct 30 and finished the journey by arriving in Houston that afternoon, right before the kids got home from school. It was great to be with my family again, after being away almost 5 weeks. This was the first vacation I'd ever had that was truly long enough, and I was very glad to be home. I spent the next day Halloween unpacking, doing laundry, resting, spending time with the family, going trick-or-treating with my younger son and handing out candy. The next day Thursday November 1st I returned to work. Exactly two weeks before I was at the Pacific Ocean for sunrise.



Since then I've felt like a new person, more relaxed and peaceful and healthy than I've felt in years. I really needed that trip!

Can't wait to go on another one soon. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Special thanks to -

My wife and kids, who did a great job getting by without me, supported my trek, and just wanted me to get home safe. I made it [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
All the great folks at i-bmw.com and bmwsporttouring.com who provide so much excellent advice. I wouldn't be the rider I am today without these resources.
My friend Jeff who helped kick this trip off in style. Lets do it again someday! He was also very helpful getting me started in motorcycling last year. Thx again!
My coworkers who gave me this opportunity to get away, truly away, for over a month. This was Much Needed! Work is much better now.
All the friendly motorcycle riders I met along the way. There are alot of good people in this country. Its great to get out and see the world on a bike.
And BMW, for making the perfect bike of my dreams. May my GT last for many years, hopefully longer than I can ride it. I love this bike!

Take care ya'll.. Allen

the end

[Shilly]

Very nice TR--glad you averted disaster. I've never had any desire to own a motorcycle, but this thread has piqued my interest. Well done!

[Jim Kuhn]

Thanks for the great trip report! I hope to make a very similar trek in a few years.

Thank you,

Jim Kuhn
Catfish4u
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