Stories about motorcycles and photography.
Day 28 of my 22′ Rocky Mountain tour. I decide, against my better judgement, to ride 750 miles on the last day and just get home.
It rained all night at Bandelier. Hard rain, and a few drops somehow got through my fly and into my tent, but I was still exceptionally dry and comfortable for being in a thunderstorm. I woke up around 5am after most of the rain stopped, and quietly made my coffee and breakfast as the sun was just beginning to rise.
Day 27 of my 22′ Rocky Mountain tour. Planning to try new campgrounds, I end up at familiar territory. Seeing if a reservation was open at two new campgrounds just east of Santa Fe, I see warnings that campground water was not working, and you’d have to bring your own water in. I can boondock … Read more
Day 26 of my 22′ Rocky Mountain Tour. Back on the V-Strom, I mentally begin the ‘home stretch’ of the trip. Debating on the best way to get back to Austin, I start with the following conclusions: I change my route to bounce back into the rockies and head south towards Buena Vista and Salida. … Read more
Days 19 to 25 on my 22′ Rocky Mountain tour. Still on two wheels, just with half a horsepower this time. Bike Week 2022 grew out of an idea from our friends in Fort Collins, to descend upon their house for a week and ride the most epic trails we could until our legs turned … Read more
Day 18 of my 22′ Rocky Mountain Tour. My last day on the motorcycle, before meeting friends in Fort Collins to mountain bike for a week. I woke up at sunrise, had my coffee, and quickly crossed the bridge to catch some epic sunrise photos as they filled the canyon. Cool temps, clear skies, nice … Read more
Day 17 of my 22′ Rocky Mountain tour. “Billy Mays here! I’ve got not one but TWO national parks for you!” I slept well at Yellowstone, meaning no bears investigated my tent. I did carry pepper spray, but I imagined a bear checking me out at night and how it’d really go. This is what … Read more
Day 16 of my 22′ Rocky Mountain tour. A horrible day of riding rolls into one of the best riding days of my life. BAM, well rested, no more rain during the night, and the coffee is going. There was a curious sign on the men’s bathroom door though. My wife speaks Chinese and was … Read more
Day 15 of my 22′ Rocky Mountain tour. Nature sang me a song today. “Thunder, feel the thunder *BOOM BOOM BOOM* LIGHTNING AND THE THUNDER!” Today was a day of learning. The first lesson, if the forecast says 5% chance of rain, that means there is a VERY VERY STRONG chance it will rain hard … Read more
Day 14 of my 22′ Rocky Mountain tour. After doing a day’s worth of Glacier in 4 hours I take on a 5 hour ride around Montana. From Wikipedia: The Last Best Place is an unofficial nickname for the U.S. state of Montana. The phrase’s origin is disputed. The first known use is in Douglas Chadwick‘s book A Beast the Color of Winter, … Read more
Day 14 of my 22′ Rocky Mountain tour. Another long and awesome day full of incredible scenery. I may have gone a bit too hard today… 4:45am, watch alarm goes off. Darkness. I quietly get dress and get my jetboil going to smash that instant coffee and oats I set out from the night prior. … Read more