Not sure if it officially counts as what I did "today" but I did just get back from a 1400 mile impromptu road trip.
I have been very frustrated and stressed over some work comp issues and future work uncertainties and some stress over my daughter getting engaged and setting a date...sept 21, 2014
So I will be loosing her too soon {I know not actually loosing her but gaining a son....still hard to think of her not being here}
Anyway, just feeling like it has been dog pile on Kelly lately.
Friday at 1:00 pm FedEx dropped off my new FirstGear 70 liter dry pack bag and decided to test it out. I stuffed a change of clothes and some utensils in my boxes and my tent/air pad/sleeping bag in the dry sack strapped on top of the boxes and hit the road at 2:15 pm Friday. I know, weird time to leave but it just felt like the time. I took all back roads and canyons as far as possible. I road through Borrego Springs, Truckhaven, Mecca, Box canyon Pinto road and sadly I-10 to just past Quartzite Az.
Up AZ60 to a village called Brenda where I road up a dirt mining road a mile or so in the dark and set up my tent and hit the hay.
Got up sat morning and rode into Wickenburg for breakfast and fuel, off to Prescott, Sedona, Flagstafff, Page and got a Motel 6 room for the night.
Sun am rode to Horseshoe bend for some mental refreshment and pics....just stunning. Went to Antelope canyon only to find it was $48 for one person...decided to postpone that tour until I go with my family. Rode over Glen Canyon dam and too some pics and noticed that the clouds that were in the area had socked in really bad. I could see rain all around and the wind was going crazy....I am not a fair weather rider, but this looked bad and I was heading to higher colder elevations...my neck was a bit tired and sore after 700 miles + the hiking and sleeping on a 1.5" air pad....I am just over 1 year post surgical so still trying to get strong and build up my endurance. I decided to stay another day in Page at motel 6...and rest. Good thing, Monday was gorgeous and sat had sleeted and snowed in Bryce and Zion....Monday was perfect.
After Zion I had options to stay 1 more night and leisure ride home Tue....but did not see a route that looked that fun and said bee line it home and sleep in my bed...so I had a 700 mile Monday that included 2 detours on dirt roads, a hike in Zion, lots of photos and a 500 mile straight shot on I-15 and home by 8:30 pm...a couple of threads to come with pics and a review of the bike and my perception after such a big and varied stint. ::021::
