After a good nights sleep, it was an early start to another beautiful day. Today I would be riding with Scott, Dr. Rock, and LDF on an 85 mile loop around the La Sal Utah area.
Doc Rock and Francine have already got their bikes prepped to ride as Scott sounds the bell for breakfast.
Scott and Julie in the kitchen. The food at 3 Step is fantastic and substantial. A good breakfast and coffee, and you're good for a long days ride.
A picture of the breakfast bunch before we head out. Great food and smiling faces!
Doc staying busy handcrafting more of his magical "Anti-Hassle Tassels". Truly a multi-talented guy!
Doc and Dingweeds taking an after breakfast break, with Bailey hoping for leftovers.
Scott gearing up for the ride! The shop that Scott has built at 3 Step is well equipped for most motorcycle maintenance and repairs.
My newest DR650 ready for more rocks and red dust.
While waiting for the others to get ready, Francine offered to let me take her newest bike, a WR250R for a ride. I had previously ridden Scott's much travelled WR, and I think that there may be one in my future. They are sure fun to ride!
We were burning daylight, and it wasn't long before the four of us were heading North up Lisbon Valley Rd. On pavement... heading towards dirt!!
A quick 20 minutes later and we were climbing some mildly technical roads that lead us to some great scenery.
As we gain elevation the road becomes more difficult with some challenging stair step rocks and loose sand.
Just enough to keep things interesting.
Doc is doing sweep, while Francine is checking for the best approach. As usual, photos never give the true lay of the land. This is a very rocky area with lots of loose debris.
The pattern here is that Dingweeds and I ride ahead, then slow and wait for LDF and Doc to catch up. It works fine for me, as I like to take in the scenery and get a few photos as we go along.
I think this is a section of road that used to go to an old gypsum mine. I believe that accounts for the greyish color in the soil.
This is the beginning of a steep, long, downhill section with large, loose rocks everywhere. I wish I had taken my helmet cam with me, as this was probably the most technical part of the entire ride. I was following Scott and we were both doing a lot of sliding and dabbing on the long way down.
Everyone safe at the bottom! Nothing like a little adrenaline rush first thing in the morning!! I'm sure glad we came down this section, as going up would have been pretty challenging.
LDF and her WR250R meet the challenge!
I couldn't overhear the conversation. But, I suspect it had something to do with some "Oh, crap" moments coming down that last section. I know I was relieved to not have fallen... Really relieved!!
You know what they say about time flying when you're having fun. The past few days were everything and more than I had hoped for. Getting to ride in beautiful Southern Utah with a great group of like minded people is a good as it gets! At least until the next time!! As my buddy Dingweeds would say, "WaHooooo!"
The Adventure Continues...
DR. Rock, LDF, Dingweeds and (me)Taz9 taking a much needed break. The day was beginning to really heat up, and to say the trail was dusty would have been an understatement. All the things that make riding fun!
Doc and LDF crossing an old steel bridge at the Delores River.
We had been keeping a fairly quick pace, and this was the perfect place to stop for water and a power bar.
Chasing Dingweeds is like chasing the wind. No matter how fast you ride, it's always in front of you!
His WR250R may have 60,000 miles on the odometer, but it doesn't know that.
One last break before we hit the home stretch. On this ride we had encountered about every type of terrain you can imagine. Pavement, large rocks, little rocks, gravel, sand, and more sand! Perfect!
Doc checking out the scenery.
The last few miles on this loop was a combination of forest trails, gravel roads, and dry washouts
filled with deep sand. Enough to keep some tired riders on their toes (literally).
Back at 3 Step, it was time for a hot shower and cold drinks. This was just one of the many rides that are right out the front door. You could do a different ride in all directions, and be gone for a few hours, or for days. The options are almost limitless.
Riding with David, Francine and Scott was a blast. We all had another great meal, and then settled down by an open fire and talked into the night with some of the other visitors who have discovered how great this place is. I had no problem falling asleep, and after an early morning breakfast, Doc and LDF prepared to head back to New York and I packed for my drive back to Colorado, but not before Doc presented me with my own set of Anti-Hassle Tassels. Thanks Doc, much appreciated!
Ride Safe!
-Taz9
A small section of pavement that connects the trails. LDF and Doc following Taz9.
