Earache

This area is high desert, so despite looking warm - it wasn't. Temps were about 45F / 7C. Then headed up over thew mountains to about 9,500' and it got colder. Down to around 38-40F / 4.5C and windy. Was hoping this sign was true or I'd have to back track 100 miles.....

I could have pulled over every 20 miles as the scenery changed to take more pics - hard to force yourself to just continue on ....

This area is an old ocean basin, thus all of the sandstone. After being eroded for millions of years, it leaves a stunning landscape. Barren and awesome at the same time. Even the old west train robbers thought it was cool...

Between truck stops the scenery is just fantastic - everywhere ya look . Shot these as I pulled off the side of the road...

Had the Full American breakfast at one truck stop followed by the Full American lunch at another hours later. Just nothing else to eat out here ....

Long day yesterday - 660 miles across Utah, Arizona and Nevada. Gonna call this the Truck Stop Tour as that's where I spent a lot of time yesterday.....

I knew it wouldn't last

I always thought Ewan was a twat; always bitching and crying about things. Good actor though so what do I know......

I'm sitting on my fat ass in the hotel waiting in the rain to stop so I can go. I don't mind riding in a bit of rain but hate to load up my bike and set out in it. And it's only 45F out as well.

Bag is my stuff - the bike has the wife's helmet, her jacket and boots in it. One side bag has my camera gear in it with a cooler. Carrying stuff for two people does kinda suck. but the wife wanted to fly with a carry on only and didn't have room for riding stuff. Besides, I'm not old enough for a trailer yet.

Today will be different; riding in the desert all day with temps around 95F / 35C. Gonna be a hot one!

Yup - pretty much no one out here except a few trucks. Perfect!

Got my hotel in Grand Junction around 4:00 PM. Nice little ride today. Up early tomorrow to ride across the desert to Las Vegas. I'll be in the pool, scaring little kids and old ladies if you need me. More tomorrow....

Went back down the hill on the twisty roads...

I love that the State of Colorado doesn't waste money on superfluous items like guardrails on their roads. If you plunge to your death then it's your own fault....

This is the Colorado that no one ever hears about - it's not just all mountains. We have lots of desert, too ...

Not a lot happened as I dropped out of the mountains and into the flats of the Western Slope. Temps steadily increased and topped out at about 76F / 25C near Grand Junction. It felt like heaven to me as I finally escaped cold weather on a bike for the first time in a long time. Got to GJ too early to check in to my hotel so I cruised around a bit. Cool to see the ground change to sandstone from the granite and schists like we have at home...

Temps were about 40F / 4C at this point and I was hoping for warmer air...

Got outta town at 10:00 AM today, just before the clouds rolled in and the snows started...

Looks like home!

True! I'm just happy to be riding regardless of what bike it's on.

No- the Gold Thing. Will be riding two up with the wife on a couple of days in Vegas.

So I got off my ass and polished up the Wang today. Hope it stays clean for a bit of the ride...

Vegas looks to be warm with highs around 35C ....

I had planned on leaving for Vegas on Thursday, but then read the weather report for Thursday.... >>>>For the north-central mountains (and front-range mountains), including areas near Eagle, Summit, Grand, ClearCreek, western Boulder/Larimer counties the main rain/snow event will be from 9pm Wed to 9am Fri (heaviest Thu afternoon / evening): 6-12" of new snow mostly above 9k ft, with up to 15" in areas near/along the Cont. Divide: Cameron Pass, RMNP, IPW, Berthoud Pass, Jones Pass, areas near Grays/Torreys, etc will be favored)<<<< Well fuck me runnin' - gonna have to leave on Wednesday morning to beat it outta the hills before the shit storm starts. As we live at 10,000', it's definitely not gonna be riding weather Thursday. Tomorrow's route. Will probably stay overnight at the Colorado / Utah state line just to kill some time. Wife is flying into Vegas on Friday and I don't want to get there too early...