WeeStrom does Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Arches, etc

norcalkid

norcalkid

Well-known member
Just thought I'd do a little write up on my recent trip. Be warned, this report is Wee Strom pic heavy!

It was a bit strange traveling during COVID19. No question it is being handled differently in different states.


Day 1 404 miles

I had planned to ride the Sonora pass but due to the fires and smoke I posted on here looking for alternative routes. I ended up riding up 88 and over Monitor Pass. The ride was great with very little smoke. Got gas at Bridgeport, $4.49 a gallon WTF! The smoke really started at about Mono lake. Mono lake to Bishop was smokey.

I ended up camping about 18 miles outside of Bishop on 168. Not too much smoke in this area. Really nice campsite with cool hosts that ride. Chilled out, had a creek behind my campsite. A bit chilly at night but a nice place to stay.

Can see a bit of smoke on 88.
IMG_20201006_094916 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

Fall colors
IMG_20201006_105450 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

IMG_20201006_105507 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

The real smoke started at Mono Lake.
IMG_20201006_130056 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

My little campsite
IMG_20201006_163333 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

Creek maybe 30 feet from my camp site.
IMG_20201006_182257 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

Smoke wasn't too bad at the campground.
IMG_20201006_181843 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

Morning coffee view
IMG_20201007_073415 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

Not sure how cold it got that night but the little frost indicator and the temp was flashing on the dash after I was all packed up and leaving. Dash said 37 but it was colder earlier. I had all my cold weather gear on with the heated grips cranked up for the 18 mile ride down into Bishop. In Bishop I changed into mesh. It was that much warmer 18 miles away.
IMG_20201007_073139 by Norcalkid, on Flickr


Side Note: Of the 5 or so campsites I saw on 168 3 of them were closed. I was told they are all closed in Mono county (I don't know if that's actually the case). This was the first week of Oct.
 
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berth

berth

Well-known member
That creek looked really nice. Great views of the eastern Sierras.

(But then, aren't they all great...)
 
norcalkid

norcalkid

Well-known member
Day 2 315 miles

Had a nice ride today. Headed down 395 to Lone Pine where I topped up on gas then headed into Death Valley. I thought Death Valley would be hot and miserable straight roads. The ride into the Valley was actually a nice windy road at about 82 degrees. Wearing my mesh jacket it was really nice. The ranger station entering the park was closed due to COVID19. The self serve kiosk was open but no way of buying a America the Beautiful pass(mine expired in Aug). Guy at the little store there told me to go to a visitor center near Stove Pipe Wells or Furnace Creek to get the pass? I never actually saw the visitor center (and am not sure where it's actually located?) but the campground at Furnace Creek had a sign that passes were available at the campgrounds ranger station. So I was able to get an annual pass there, $80.

I saw 101 degrees on the dash at the Furnace Creek gas station. But the rest of the ride was mid 80's through 90's. Very nice ride.

Got through Death Valley and cut through State Line road toward Pahrump. The road kinda runs parallel to Ash Meadows wildlife refuge. From there 160 to Vegas.

Death Valley
IMG_20201007_122750 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

You can see my jacket under the dry bag holding sleeping bag. This is what I have been doing lately. Take a mesh jacket for when it's hot and my waterproof winter jacket for when it's cold. No amount of vents will make a winter jacket comfortable when HOT. Under my sleeping bag the second jacket doesn't take up any of my storage. I don't have a fancy compact sleeping bag. Just a 20+ year old Coleman.
IMG_20201007_134143 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

Stayed at The Oasis at Gold Spike in Vegas. Even did the $5 upgrade to a poolside building room. Total cost was $55 for a decent room 3 blocks from the Fremont Street Experience(I didn't have any reservations or anything). I'm not sure about non COVID pricing but I thought $55 was a good price. This is kind of a young pool party type place with music playing out at the pool all day long.

IMG_20201007_164336 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

Pool was open but with a limit on number of people at once. (there weren't a lot of guests there anyway so it was kind of a non issue)
IMG_20201007_165636 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

I went out and checked out the Fremont Street Experience that evening. Masks are required in Nevada and if not smoking or drinking people were wearing them.
MVIMG_20201007_183434 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

MVIMG_20201007_181924 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

MVIMG_20201007_182340 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

IMG_20201007_185606 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

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IMG_20201007_191320 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

The parking at the Oasis wasn't the greatest. I took all the boxes off the bike and brought them inside.
IMG_20201007_180756 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

When I realized just how much crap I had with me.
PXL_20201008_135859219 by Norcalkid, on Flickr


As for Vegas. The Fremont Street thing was up and running. Looked like not all the street performers were there. The casinos were open though I never set foot in a casino so can't really comment as to what's going on inside in regards to COVID precautions.

The Oasis would be a good location for someone young looking to pool party in Vegas steps from Fremont street. As for with the bike, I wasn't all that comfortable with the parking.
 
SFMCjohn

SFMCjohn

13
awesome ... camping creekside in the eastern Sierras one night to the Fremont Street experience the next. there’s ultra moto-travel style for me. :thumbup:angel

subscribed for moar DL pics ... :ride
 
norcalkid

norcalkid

Well-known member
Day 3 374 miles

Left Vegas and headed to Kingman Az. From Kingman I took historic route 66. This was the first signs I saw of closures due to COVID. There is a Indian reservation on Route 66 in this area. There were big road signs announcing no visitors. There were police checkpoints going into neighborhoods and signs announcing a 8pm-5am curfew. None of this really affected me as I just rode on. Was just unexpected. Route 66 was kinda mahh, I certainly won't be planning a trip across 66 any time soon.

Headed up toward the Grand Canyon. The park was cool and I was able to ride about 25 miles East along the rim to the watchtower before the road hit Navajo land and was closed. I knew this and advance and new I'd have to double back down toward Flagstaff to get to Monument Valley eventually.

My plan was to either camp in the park or at the public 10X campground. That didn't really work out. The in the park campground was full and 10X was closed. Though online it said open until Oct 15 and even the park rangers were recommending it and were surprised when myself and other campers told them it was closed. Anyway, with nowhere to stay I set the Garmin to show dirt roads and headed to the national forest just South of the park. Headed down a gravel road and then down a fire road and found a campsite. I knew this could happen and was kinda watching the national forest when riding in earlier in the day looking for backup camping options.

Route 66
PXL_20201008_170735332 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

PXL_20201008_171601053 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

Grand Canyon NP
PXL_20201008_211742773 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

PXL_20201008_204902258 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

Gota have the selfie.
PXL_20201008_205635468 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

PXL_20201008_214931909 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

CLOSED
PXL_20201008_210745006 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

My free national forest campsite.
PXL_20201008_235510554 by Norcalkid, on Flickr
 
norcalkid

norcalkid

Well-known member
Day 4 275 miles

I left my camp site in the Grand Canyon and had to double back to Flagstaff due to the Navajo Nation closing the road through it. I did look over the dirt routes but couldn't figure a dirt route out. In Flagstaff I hit Walmart and picked up some sweat pants and a top to sleep in. I had been cold the first couple nights in the tent.

Rode up to Monument Valley from Flagstaff and found a crappy $10 campsite that night. There was almost no shade but the sunset and evening was great there.

The ride to Mexican Hat
PXL_20201009_203319482 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

PXL_20201009_203331825 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

PXL_20201009_204105621~2 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

Mexican Hat rock
PXL_20201010_150104984 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

My camp site. I don't recommend this place, no shade.
PXL_20201010_000751459 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

The view from camp. Awesome view at sunset but I didn't get any pics.
PXL_20201009_213708639 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

PXL_20201009_212741826 by Norcalkid, on Flickr
 
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oobus

oobus

Dirt Monger
What were the night time temps?
I've been thinking of doing almost the same exact ride, but have a friend who travels to Blyth quite often and was going to put the bike in the back of her truck in an effort to avoid the slabbage.
 
berth

berth

Well-known member
norcalkid said:
Rode up to Monument Valley from Flagstaff and found a crappy $10 campsite that night. There was almost no shade but the sunset and evening was great there.

The ride to Mexican Hat
Click to expand...

Nice photos, the postcards sell themselves.

Having no shade isn't surprising, given it's a desert, and can be a windy one at that.

A gazillion years ago, when I was in Monument Valley on a school trip, in February, it was quite cold. It was also quite windy.

Most of the students on the trip crammed in to the vans for the night, but I parked my sleeping bag next to one of the sorta-shelters they had at the camp (kind of like the covering in the picture above, but it had a wall as well).

It helped block some of the wind, but it was a lot better than being sardined with the rest of the folks.
 
norcalkid

norcalkid

Well-known member
oobus said:
What were the night time temps?
I've been thinking of doing almost the same exact ride, but have a friend who travels to Blyth quite often and was going to put the bike in the back of her truck in an effort to avoid the slabbage.
Click to expand...

Depends where I was. A lot of the trip was at high elevations. It wasn't that cold but I have a crappy 30 degree sleeping bag that's over 20 years old. I actually ordered a new Nemo Forte 20 degree bag this morning. I'm sick of being cold at night. Bishop Ca was the coldest place I camped in the low 30's. My banana was half frozen in the bear box by breakfast. I decided not to camp at Bryce Canyon because it was around 60 mid day and windy. Thought I'd freeze at night.

The daytime riding weather was perfect. Probably a total non issue with a better sleeping bag or if staying in hotels. I wasn't ever really cold camping, it was 3-5am waking up cold. I wore my mesh jacket about half the trip.
 
H

hardy1506

Active member
Nice shots, I wish i could do a good write up like you. ��
I was there before 2 weeks, I coundt find any campsite in neddles ( Canyonlands NP ) and I was told Arches is more busier NP, so no chance of a campsite

I heard multiple times that Cal-wild fire made lot of traffic into Utah NPs, hope that is not the case anymore but please be aware of it.

It stinks to ride all day and then keep searching for a campsite

Good luck and keep sending good shots
 
norcalkid

norcalkid

Well-known member
Day 5 274 miles

I was under the impression Valley of the Gods was closed due to being on Indian land. Turns out it's BLM and the couple in the campsite next to me drove it the day before. The turn off was only 5 miles from my campsite so I headed to the Valley in the morning.

Then headed north through Moab and checked out Arches NP. Arches was cool but packed. Had to wait to get in, lots of traffic in the park etc. Actually all of Moab was packed, tourists everywhere. I tried to get a hotel but no rooms available. Finally I just said F-Moab and headed south and got a hotel in the little town of Blanding Utah. Turns out it was a dry town (not that I drink just surprised me). Anyway, back at the hotel a big firework show started across the street. No idea why but it was a big professional show. I watched the show and went to bed.

Valley of the Gods
PXL_20201010_155238835~2 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

PXL_20201010_152245126~2 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

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PXL_20201010_155916092 by Norcalkid, on Flickr
 
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norcalkid

norcalkid

Well-known member
hardy1506 said:
Nice shots, I wish i could do a good write up like you. ��
I was there before 2 weeks, I coundt find any campsite in neddles ( Canyonlands NP ) and I was told Arches is more busier NP, so no chance of a campsite

I heard multiple times that Cal-wild fire made lot of traffic into Utah NPs, hope that is not the case anymore but please be aware of it.

It stinks to ride all day and then keep searching for a campsite

Good luck and keep sending good shots
Click to expand...

The Moab area was a total shit show. You would have no idea there is a pandemic going on. I didn't stay. The only area I visited that was packed with tourists.
 
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norcalkid

norcalkid

Well-known member
berth said:
Boy that's a winner.

How did the Wee like that washboard road?
Click to expand...

The Wee is totally fine on this kind of stuff. I could always find a smoother line. Gravel roads, decent fire roads, roads into camp sites etc it's fine. It's the tighter slower stuff where the weight gets you and the bumpier stuff where the skid plate gets hammered. IMO this is the kind of "adv" riding the Wee is built for. The occasional decent dirt road. Not really much more than that.

If I were looking for a bike for a lot of dirt the Wee wouldn't be my first choice. If I wasn't on a budget the Wee wouldn't be my first choice. But on a 5k budget looking for a bike to travel on, can do 74-75mph all day long, can do some light dirt, does better in the twisties than a lot of the more dirt adv bikes. I don't think there is a better bike for under 5k to do this style of travel on. I paid $4500 for my bike and got the top box used off ebay, have rode it as far north as Jasper Canada, Glacier, Yellowstone, all over the Western US. Had planned to ride to Alaska in May/June but the world shut down.

IMO the shortcomings of the VStrom. LOW, OK in the twisties but there are certainly better, no cruise control, wish it was a little bigger on the 75 or 80 mph speed limit roads, not great in the dirt, fuel range when totally loaded for camping is 165mi max(huge reduction in mpg when loaded up to travel and going 74 mph). I would love to have a 1200GS. Better on every one of the shortcomings I have listed. But a 20k bike even used is twice the price I could get for the Wee. I really like riding the twisties and don't want a more dirt orientated bigger front tire like a lot of the adv bikes have.
 
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norcalkid

norcalkid

Well-known member
Day 6 521 miles

This was the best "riding day" of the trip. I almost immediately turned onto highway 95 which turned out to be amazing. 100+ miles of 2 lanes, almost no traffic and sweeping turns. Started out in the high desert and ended up going through red canyons in the Colorado river area. Lots of dispersed camping all along 95. It was a great motorcycle road.

I got to the little town of Torey Utah, got gas and headed down 12 toward Bryce Canyon. 12 was unreal riding too. Cool mountain pass in the trees then the top of the world. My pics don't do it justice. It was kinda similar in a section to going around Emerald Bay in Tahoe where your on the very top ridge of the mountain. Only this went on for miles with a AMAZING view. Was a truly awesome road to ride.

The road passes through Capital Reef NP before arriving at Bryce Canyon. The ride through Capital Reef was nice, but honestly I felt Bryce was a bit underwhelming. I decided not to camp in this area and after riding to the dead end in the park I gassed up and rode on toward Zion. I had planned to camp in the Bryce Canyon area but it was too cold and windy to camp.

Zion NP was awesome, for sure my favorite of the trip. It's a smaller NP but IMO a must see. Totally awesome place. It's a ride through park with the road being about 13 miles long through the park.

From Zion I headed through the St George area and got a hotel just across the Nevada border in Mesquite Nevada. Got dinner and headed across the street to the gas station where there was a Dairy Queen and had an ice cream for dessert.

Highway 95, Not a technical ride, just big sweeping turns with beautiful scenery.

PXL_20201011_135145551~2 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

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Highway 12, my pics don't do this road justice. Google it, highway 12 scenic byway. The road is amazing, twists its way through Dixie national forest and over a pass that's amazing.

Pics don't do this road justice.
PXL_20201011_173817117~2 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

PXL_20201011_174027873~2 by Norcalkid, on Flickr

Bryce Canyon NP
PXL_20201011_200501854 by Norcalkid, on Flickr
 
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