Utah on Motorcycles: Bittersweet, or just bitter.

Sunday September 19
Total distance: 243 km
Maximum speed: 151 kph

We are tired from the long day of riding yesterday and even though the Eastern Contingent made a plan to get up early and go to Arches to see the sunrise, none of the Western Continent are commital. I want to go and wake up early in the morning, notice the clock reads 5:00 a.m. and think that all I have to do is wake up at 6:00 a.m. and I am gone. However, I go right back to sleep and wake up about 8:00 a.m. The Eastern Contingent have gone, seen the sunrise and returned before any of us even gets up. It is too bad because we don't actually get to spend too much time in Arches and it is a disappointment.

We are still working on getting Les's bike home and learn this morning that the insurance company is not going to cover the expense of shipping the bike. Cathy has been trying to find a trucking company and has been calling one big outfit with a local number but they REFUSE to answer every time she calls. Not sure what they have against any of us. I decide a different tact and look up local motorcycle shops and find Arrowhead Motorsports
http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/

I pick this place because they specialize in KLRs, which is my other bike and anybody that likes KiLleRs must have something going for him. And the parts guy's name, Fred, appears on the webpage. I call Fred and explain the situation to him. He says of course it's possible but it will be expensive and gives me the name of a friend of his that can transport the bike, Jim. I call Jim and we have a discussion about the price. Fred is right, it is a lot of money however, Jim can get the bike to Idaho Falls before us as he is going to tow it on one of his trailers directly there, so we don't have to worry about it being crated, somebody having to sign for something somewhere and picking it up after we have left the U.S. it is 444 miles so it will be a long day for him. I call the storage place in Idaho Falls and let them know to keep an eye out for Jim. Jim comes by the motel to lead us to his shop and Bob and I follow him there, drop the bike, make an inventory of the stuff Jim is going to take and shake hands, still not quite knowing how I am going to get the money to him.

The day is half done and NoNo has to be at the airport by 2:15 p.m. as she is flying home. We decide we are going to get Subway, go up to Arches as a group to have a picnic and then Tom and I will take NoNo to the airport. Bob and Cathy elect the Balancing Rock as our destination - not too arch-like - but a great spot for lunch. There are over 2,500 known arches in the park though most of them require a hike and that is not a luxury we can afford this day.

NoNo says her goodbyes and we take her to the airport.

Amazingly, the runway is paved. Security is the ticket agent/gate attendant/baggage handler. I think he wanted to frisk NoNo but Tom and I both gave him the Evil Eye, indicating that we were Nan's security detail. We hang with NoNo for about a half hour and then she lovingly shooes us on our way. It is a very bittersweet moment: Nan has had fun but is ready to be off the bike and on her way home to her house and her animals. For me, it's just bitter because riding two up with her has made the trip for me. It has been great travelling with old friends and new but having her there right with me, sharing each moment, talking about what we see and like, don't like, where we want to go or where we want to avoid, all real time, has made this trip so much more that I could have imagined. I understand that motorcycle riding is not for everybody. The reality is that there are risks and we have seen it this trip first hand; people have to make their own decision about whether or not to get on a bike but it is clear for those who do that the attraction might be in motorcycling. Sharing it is tremendously special.

Tom and I head off to Dead Horse Point State Park. It is a sad story how it got its name, a legend really as nobody knows for certain that it is true but it seems some wild horses were corraled up there in the 1800s and died of thirst, though they could see the Colorado River 2,000 feet below. It is a beautiful spot and the view is vast, stretching for many miles in three directions and like we have seen in several spots, it is a plateau with a severe cliff dropping a long way to a very old river or valley.

From there, we to to Canyonlands National Park, which is on the same bluff but further out than Dead Horse. There are some very twisty roads and I video Tom from behind as he rides the curves. It is a hot day and though the sun is going down, it is a great time to be riding curves.