Lounging Around Town....Torrey XV Style

I make no bones about the fact that if I can somehow ever make it work from a life career point of view I will live in Torrey. Because of this dream, I always look for places to live there.


This house really has me hooked because it is far enough off the main drag for my liking along with some views that are amazing. Maybe someday I will make the plunge and get up there.


It still is cold enough for ice to get generated in the mornings. No Socks and I set off while the gang is still asleep and look around some more.





This sheep has the system figured out. While the other dumb schmucks in the flock are eating grass, he discovers that the ice has provided enough weight for the branches to sag giving him a gourmet meal!


Finally getting the kids up for breakfast, we are lucky to be joined by two real gas passers. Chris on the right in yellow is a doctor who makes sure you really go under…


Richard is the kind you first thought of when you read the above passage.


We take riding in groups seriously. Whip is the captain of this team of folks and wants to make sure they know what the rules are.

I have been going through a phase where I like to ride alone or with only one or two people I am used to riding with. Not sure if it is the new GT or just my desire to avoid parades. Either way, No Socks, Barry, and I decide we will just go for a short ride for coffee.

The Kiva Koffee House is about 70 miles over Boulder Mountain and the Escalante Staircase. We are on our way in a few and soon enough we come upon the parade of a riders being led by Larry.


Larry is great at setting good rules about staying together and going at a smell the roses pace. He is a preacher who gets his flock to stay within his rules.

I last of all of 4 miles before I have to pass. My addiction to speed is getting the better of me as I go up through the ranks. There is no doubt that the people on radios are telling each other the mad kraut is coming up and in a few minutes I am passed what seems like 10 riders. Larry gives me a wave and I know if he could he would be with me hooning it up.
Man the road is PERFECT. Dry and cool and full of twisties. My rhythm on the GT sets in. Going higher and higher up to 9000ft my moto is hugging the corners and I pass only 4 cars in about 30 miles. My tires are ok, not stellar, which this road really requires to get the most out of the ride. I dial it back down to about 70 and just enjoy. Why they have a 40mph speed limit must be a mistake in these corners. For the trip in September the GT will have better shoes on it.


The view from the top is cool. I don’t linger long though and down the other side I go.

Rolling to Boulder Utah the weather is getting warm enough to turn off the electrics and crack the shield to let some cool air in. Man it doesn’t get much better then this.


This is a stitched photograph, well really 9 and I am not all that happy with the quality, but it does show the Escalante Staircase and the fact that someone built a road on a the spine of a mountain. It is worthy if you are not afraid of heights. Barry leads on and we get to the Koffee Kiva and wait for No Socks to arrive.




This little gem of a place sits on a ridge overlooking some fantastic scenery. It will become a regular Torrey stop for me going forward. Oh and the food and coffee are worthy.




This is what I am talking about!


My life rocks. I mean I get to spend time in a great place riding fast motos with some great people who I have been lucky enough to meet. No Socks is a Master Volvo technician and Barry is a retired G-man and we spend a few hours talking everything from oil, to motos to good wine. Say what you want about me, but folks I am one lucky SOB to have pals like this.


We roll back the way we come and soon enough Chris passes me and we go up and over the mountain again having a hoot. Did I mention I need new tires? We arrive back in Torrey and see the crew at the local burger joint “Slackers”. A better name for our crew doesn’t exist so I stop in for a drink. This picture is the only one that shows my bike off the trailer.


I love this picture. It has so many different story lines in it. Please take a minute and look at it.

What do I do next? Ah, nap time! And there is soccer to be watched at Bob’s! Tonight we are getting together at the Chuck Wagon as more folks are arriving. It will be a late night I bet.

No Socks can’t sit still. He has to be doing something. This afternoons project is to take the bike he hung up in the garage last year at Bob’s and fix it.


Did you really think for a minute he wouldn’t get it running? The man is a mechanical genius! Seriously, between him, Tim 10ovr, and Richard, I do not think there is anything they couldn’t build. Next Spring I think they are planning to build a nuclear reactor with some of the stuff in Bob’s garage. You wait and see.

No Socks wants to go see the camel and sets off on the bike. I better go make sure all is ok and get some folks who want to see the big fell and we are off to see him.



He trots right up


It is funny to watch these two since they have become such grand friends!


I may be looking for a new sidekick.

PARTY TIME!


I wish I could have one or two with my man Thor. He gets to some great places and is good people.

http://motorradworldtourers.com/ is his site and worth a look!


A friend of the devil is a friend of mine! Trust me that smile hides a impish delight in causing trouble.


Time to come up with bail money… again


The Harley crowd from Salt lake along with Andy and Debbie. Two of the most wonderful people I have the pleasure to know.

On a sad note, the next day, there was an accident Leroy and Sharon Facing me in the picture on the left had an accident coming down Boulder Mountain. They will be ok.


The Chuck wagon always puts on a nice dinner for us and we appreciate it. Here Philly and Al are discussing something totally trivial I bet while Louise worries about Larry having to sell T-shirts while we enjoy ourselves.


He looks like he is having a ball to me so I go back to mingling.


The brains of the outfit


So many great folks here and I am stoked to get to see them all. I do not get to spend as much time chatting with them let alone riding with them as I would like to. This Fall Brian we are riding the GT’s together amigo.


Extra desserts mean…


Happy Englishman!


While I didn’t see Richard kiss a camel, I did see…well never mind.


Sue!!!! Always wonderful to see ya!


We are all together for a love of machines. Beautiful fast machines. Even if they are fickle, expensive to fix, and from a Bavarian outfit. They are glorious!


If you get nothing else EVER from my stories, please remember this last line. It will set you free!


The man is as cool as Steve McQueen. Get him a Belstaff!


We get buzzed by this plane and I think I find my next cool hobby.


You can almost touch them!




Camille and Jacqueline plotting to get us all into some sort of trouble.


The stories go well into the night and I laugh so much sometimes it hurts. A great day and more is still to come!

Unicorns, Goblins and the Road to the East Torrey XV II

(Editors Note: I have added 3 pictures to the end of this Torrey XV I tale to finish the story for the time being regarding Fletcher. So take a moment to go down to the end if you are looking for closure to the first monster story)


Goblins, Mythical Beasts, magic and quests of adventures are always something that capture my imagination. The Geography of Utah has all the makings of a place like Middle Earth or some other out of this world fantasy place. Adding to this is the fact that so often you can go for what seems like hours without seeing a human being makes it a great place to day dream in.

While sitting in the hammock, I quickly determine the best way to forget all about my real life responsibilities is to set off to find the Goblin King, and hand him a serious can of Whoojavascript:void(0)
Publish Postp Ass.


No Socks is game as long as he doesn’t have to be the unnamed dwarf that dies in the 2nd act or have to wear some stupid outfit and speak some non existent lame language some geek from Princeton thought up while secretly wishing he could meet a elfish princess. I agree and also tell him he wont have to take advice from some tree dude that talks. Having no issues with these concessions, we pick up two blondes and off we go towards the mythical Goblin Valley. Hey its my story!



I am not sure that the pass is clear to the East. There could be giant Mechanical Monsters with German Tourists out there, or even worse…Belgians on rented Harley’s!
The Mr. G is not afraid so once more into the breach and we enter the unknown of Capital Reef.





A rider comes from further in the pass. While I do not know his steed there is no mistaking the faded Riding gear. Arizona Al has arrived being followed by the one and only court jester with 14 jokes. Our path forward is clear.




Traffic is not an issue out here.




We come upon an abandoned outpost but there is no sign of life out here. Very cool stuff though in the ground that makes it very much an artist’s dream.


A dead soldier from the past sits as a silent testament to the harshness of the region. Given an hour and some bailing wire, No Socks and Tim could have the thing running like new. But that is another story.




We come to the sign that tells me we are close to finding the Goblin King!


One of the Goblin King's minions. Don’t let the smile fool you. She demands $7.00 and No Socks pays her. She may have used some sort of Jedi mind trick on him.


We come upon the first Goblin. This sentry has nothing to say to us but we all look about now with some additional trepidation not knowing what to expect as we get to the valley.





As we rise over the hill we see them for the first time. They are everywhere and no two are the same. It is breathtaking and other worldly all at the same time.



No Socks has no fear and charges in. We will never see him again…



Kidding! He has a no kill clause in his faithful sidekick contract.



Getting close to the Goblins you see that no simple explanation exists to how they got there and how time has formed them. My fairy theory is still in the running as far as I am concerned.


The sentry’s have nothing to say. Just like the Royal guards at Buckingham Palace.




Even here there is life


I don’t think these two are indigenous to the region though.


Flowers like this one make for some interesting contrasts with the harsh landscapes. I find it funny since no bee would ever be out here unless it got caught in a Winebego with a bunch of Bavarians eating Pretzels.


You would not think there is much out here that can survive


The Three Sisters out there keeping an eye out for Prince Charming.


Another angle of the sisters.




We almost run into this fellow. I think at first he is a Unicorn but his 2nd horn blows that hypothesis out of the water.

We pull out of the valley and head home for dinner at El Diablo. Another great adventure behind us but we were bound to have more in the upcoming days!




Adios for now…