Kawasaki Concours Forum

Riding => Rides and Stories => Topic started by: Stubby on August 31, 2012, 06:56:36 PM

Title: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: Stubby on August 31, 2012, 06:56:36 PM

So had time off from work ( waiting on a job to start ) and talked a friend into going for a UT/CO trip for a few days and here is how it went.
Day 1
Leaving the wasatch front is a little boring for awhile so we get to Moab and find this sweet little gem of a road on our way to Grand Junction
On our way
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-DsBCPrz/0/L/i-DsBCPrz-L.jpg)
 
HWY 128 from Moab headed to Grand Junction
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-Lhpwfpp/0/L/i-Lhpwfpp-L.jpg)
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-TNBcsX7/0/L/i-TNBcsX7-L.jpg)
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-4ZWF534/0/L/i-4ZWF534-L.jpg)
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-PQR4x8v/0/L/i-PQR4x8v-L.jpg)
 
Leaving Grand Junction the next morning we take Hwy 133 out of Carbondale headed for Lake city
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-KkbpKQP/0/L/i-KkbpKQP-L.jpg)
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-XnQxbRp/0/L/i-XnQxbRp-L.jpg)
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-Tkb9ktw/0/L/i-Tkb9ktw-L.jpg)
 
The town of Lake City At 8700+ ft and surrounded by 6 peaks at 13800+ its quite the little old town
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-m5LxxFw/0/L/i-m5LxxFw-L.jpg)
 
The next morning we go from lake City to Ouray ( down Hwy 149 and up Hwy 550 ) it's only 20 miles as the crow flies but on the roads it's 270 miles of the sweetest mountain roads I have ever been on. On this day we cross 6 passes two over 11000 ft and the other four over 10700 ft what a day!
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-Tn9FBS3/0/L/i-Tn9FBS3-L.jpg)
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-8GsHf7p/0/L/i-8GsHf7p-L.jpg)
A great little stop for breakfast
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-SQswdWg/0/L/i-SQswdWg-L.jpg)
What a view
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-D6LdtwV/0/L/i-D6LdtwV-L.jpg)
So just were does this road go?
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-p2tCHB2/0/L/i-p2tCHB2-L.jpg)
Some of the peaks surrounding Ouray and I do mean surrounding.....
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-49q7j8v/0/L/i-49q7j8v-L.jpg)
 
Next day we leave the Rockies
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-Vz9L2wB/0/L/i-Vz9L2wB-L.jpg)
and head back to UT after a so so ride to Blanding we hit the scenic Hwy 95
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-MM5Q27q/0/L/i-MM5Q27q-L.jpg)
The Colorado as it heads for Lake Powell
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-CC7z9vs/0/L/i-CC7z9vs-L.jpg)
A slot canyon under Hwy 95

(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-Hxw8NMs/0/L/i-Hxw8NMs-L.jpg)
 
After a night in Hanksville we head for Canyonlands Nat'l park on our way home
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-TC9r2ct/0/L/i-TC9r2ct-L.jpg)
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-Wz5bSsw/0/L/i-Wz5bSsw-L.jpg)
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-CnhBW3B/0/L/i-CnhBW3B-L.jpg)
 
We were going to hit Hwy 12 on the way home but the rain was coming so we saved it for another day
(http://www.daveturnerimages.com/photos/i-FKDHddQ/0/L/i-FKDHddQ-L.jpg)
 
These photos do not show near as much as I wanted to let me just say the roads are so so sweet and I will be going back soon.
 
Dave

Title: Re: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: SteveJ. on August 31, 2012, 09:44:34 PM

There is just no photography that can capture the grandeur of the west. Hy 128 is pretty awesome, eh? The largeness of it all makes me feel quite insigificant. Wait till ya ride UT 12. And do it in both directions. I spent I think three nights in Torrey at the campground/hostel in '05. Next time try to catch the sunset at the scenic overlook just west of Capital Reef NP.

Title: Re: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: shreveportSS on August 31, 2012, 10:07:20 PM

nice.

Title: Re: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: postrucks on September 06, 2012, 10:15:39 AM

Very nice, love southern Utah. thanks for sharing

Title: Re: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: Gumby on September 06, 2012, 12:43:24 PM

I think I just found my road trip for next year. Great scenery.

Title: Re: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: ZG on September 06, 2012, 01:16:52 PM

Very nice!  :thumbs:

Title: Re: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: Stubby on September 06, 2012, 01:27:13 PM

Thanks guys it was a blast and the road I missed last week? Well the GF and I are spending 2 days down there this weekend.

Tom V if you want the route I took PM me and I can get you the info

Title: Re: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: Roadhound on September 06, 2012, 04:31:23 PM

Nice Pics, Thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: Gumby on September 07, 2012, 04:14:26 PM

Thanks Dave, this just may turn into the Vaughan 2013 ride (3,431 miles). It's either this or up through Canada to Alaska. Hmmmmm, choices  :-\

(http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll112/tomdvaughan/2013%20ride/Vaughan2013ride.png)

Title: Re: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: Stubby on September 07, 2012, 05:50:36 PM

Tom it looks like your missing hwy 12 ( in UT ) on that map its a must do. I will give a report about it next week. ;D

Title: Re: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: Bosco on September 07, 2012, 07:47:59 PM

Nice trip. I went through the San Juan Mtns from Durango to Ouray and then Telluride this last summer also. Great scenery.

Title: Re: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: txfatboy on September 09, 2012, 08:16:20 PM

Yup, there is no denying how incredible the scenery is in that part of the country. I have ridden some of those roads when I visited my Dad in Salt Lake (Ogden actually). Remember, the National rally is in that neck of the woods next year.

Title: Re: Utah/Colorado 4 1/2 days
Post by: stevewfl on September 10, 2012, 07:12:44 PM

Great pics, I love railing Utah!