Today it seems like the phrase "Adventure Riding" has really become loose. I mean, honestly what does a 500lb motorcycle that stays on the pavement more than 90% of the time have to do with adventure? Of course everyone's definition of adventure is different but I propose that if someone took the time to pave the road then how adventurous could it possibly be?? I know I will catch flak for that statement but HEY, I am not here to please everyone!
Below is my version of adventure!
To get into my head (Scary I know!!) I have to set the scene. If you don't want to be bored, skip to the pics and captions below. I have been working very hard on the business of Highland Cycles for almost 10 years now and it has had many ups and MANY downs not the least of which was last year (2016). We launched our second location in Grand Junction and I can honestly say that it was the hardest and most stressful year I have had to date. I know you all watching from the outside probably think that all I do is ride but all I can say is that I am a very selective Facebook poster.
ANYWAY! Things have been settling down and really coming around recently and I asked my amazing wife if I could take a "mini sabbatical" to Moab for one night to do what really makes me breathe free and clear my head. Ruth Spradling is an amazing woman and she said "Of course!!" So this morning I rose early, made breakfast and headed West! THIS IS ADVENTURE!!!
The Inca inn is my new GO TO place to stay. It is inexpensive, clean and has a great location!
I arrived in Moab at about 9:20 this morning and checked into the Inca Inn. I was early for real check in but they said I could park and unload my dirtbike no problem. So I did just that and bundled up for a brisk ride. It was 26 degrees when I mounted my big red steed!
It was chilly!!!
My big red girl "Maria" has been with me for a very long time and is still the best bike I have ever owned!
I kicked the big girl to life and headed back up valley to the Pot Ash Road and headed along the river towards the pot ash mine and the Schafer Trail. My goal for the day was to get to the White Wash riding area and back to Moab on the most circuitous and fun route I could find, avoiding pavement (and the local constabulary) when at all possible. The road out to the park was uneventful and a nice little warm up (cool down actually, it was butt cold) and I got to the dirt quickly. I haven't ridden in a while so it took a little while to get comfortable but I did and I started having fun and wicking it up. I saw a cool little spot off the road and did some boondocking up to a saddle for a pic.
Maria is such a lovely lady!
Then this guy ruined the view!
After a break to warm the fingers up in the deliriously bright sunshine I rolled on up to the Schafer Trail and headed up hill into a very snowy draw. If you have ever been on this road out of the park you know that it is a very steep, switchbacky road with lots of exposure. I looked up and it was intimidating because of the snow but I figured that my metric ton of motorcycle would find purchase on the planet so I headed up anyway. I was right (this time) and Maria propelled me skyward to the top without any issue!
Little snowy but not problem for the bike with more weight than an aircraft carrier!
After getting to the top of the trail I headed down the slab to get out of the park and head over to Dubinki and White Wash.
No one around!! Weird!
Having never approached White Wash from this direction It took me quite a few "tries" to get to the right road but I was loving my "wrong" turns. So much soft sand and great little ledge drops all over the place. After burning a few quarts of petrol I got to the right road and found the Dubinki Well Rd. I had never been to the actual well so I skidded on over to check it out. What a cool little place. I suggest everyone detours over there sometime. Great little history lesson on the sign too!
The ACTUAL Dubinki!!
Read up! Times have been way tougher than they are now folks!
The sun was warming things up nicely so I removed some of my arctic gear and headed on over to the White Wash area for some sandy fun and some single track. I don't really know my way around over there well but I ended up on the "Enduro Loop" and "Cow Freckles" and had a hoot wrestling the big girl around in the sand. You know big girls try harder and they do a damn good job!!!
MMMMM MMMMMM MMMMMMI like me some BRP!!!
LIttle white lines make it easy to follow even for me!!
The one problem with the area is that the views SUCK!!!!
I was having an "ear to ear grin" kind of time but looked down and realized that I was running a little low on go juice so I took a little different way back to the road. I hit the pavement and headed downhill towards hwy 191 enjoying a few super sweet sweeping turns that just make me giggle like I did something bad. The ride down the hwy to town was actually quite enjoyable. I clicked the big girl into the tall cog and just cruised on down enjoying the sites and the warm sun. When I reached the Inn I rolled in and checked my petrol situation. I cut it pretty close on this one.
Yep, that's close but it just goes bad if you don't use it anyway!!
After I moved everything into my very comfortable room I checked the GPS and found that I had put 126 miles into my fun bank. Not a bad way to spend the daylight hours.
Here is the video!
