Fantastic Friday!

This morning we are headed over Boulder to find some Moqui Balls.

Into the Jeep hop Calvin, Louise and joining us today are Richard and Jacqueline.


We stop at the Hogback on the Staircase to get a few pictures..


You seen one amazing vista.....Kidding. It is totally amazing here.


I think Jacqueline isn't impressed with the big drop off here.

We head on down the road and stop off at the Kiva Coffee House.


Now I love this place. Calvin and I always make it a point to stop here.


The view is amazing, and they have the best lemonade in Utah.


And they have treats for Katie even.

From here we backtrack over the mountain again toward Torrey via Posey Lake and get home in time to just do nothing for a while. More of our friends are arriving by the hour and by tonight there will be about 40+ of the Hoons in town for the rest of the weekend.


Mama Hoon (bad cast and all is making the most of her down time. To bad her husband is working election stuff back in CA. Would have loved to have seen my favorite Union Thug.


The boys are having discussions on the "A-Frame" that may or may not be for sale up the street. Ed on the left is about to retire and Larry is convinced that he needs a project to keep from going nuts.


I decide to go take the KTM for a short spin to see who is at the Chuckwagon.

I don't take a lot of pictures for the rest of the day. Seeing all my friends again that I haven't spent time with since September takes me away. We have a grand time though and if you go to BMWST.com and look at the Ride Tales in the discussion group, I am sure any of them that say Torrey will have some to look at.


PHOTO BY MY PAL SEBASTIAN
Me, the New York Crew, and Russell from SFO holding court in Torrey. Russell's pictures he shows me are amazing. I am sure he and I will hook up again in the future to shoot some pictures.

From here we head to dinner at the Rim Rock and go to bed way too late but man o man do we have a grand time.

Discovering Clamato Canyon

AH the smell of Torrey in the morning. That usually means coffee and a fresh pastry, a chat out on the front porch of the ChuckWagon Store with a few of the locals and then maybe a quick adventure to start the day.


We have moved into the cabin now and this will be home base for the rest of the week.

I tell Calvin, I need to moto and he lets me borrow the S Bike. Now the S Bike is amazing. It has more power then my GT and it is bundled in a lovely package that is a lot lighter then my dark blue monster. I do think the speedometer is broken though as I find my self in triple digits and not out of 4th gear.


Did I mention how much I love motorcycles? I mean really, I love them.


I moto on back to Killer's Garage and see that he is taking out all of the dirt bikes. While I can't ride with them this trip, I do get to see them off. They have plans to go and see what trouble they can get into.


I keep thinking of some 80's pop band when I see Sharron in this outfit but I am actually happy that she is in it since it is a pretty safe bet we will find her if she gets lost.


Larry is just riding in the same gear he rides the KTM in. Black and White Baby


The Englishman is ready for adventure!

Calvin, Louise and I decide to go for a hike. I am really excited to go spend time with them since we always have a grand time together. Calvin and Louise have really become dear dear friends and everytime we go out you know that we will have a good time. I am really blessed to have them in my life.


We set off to Go to a place East of the park that is known for slot canyons and some very interesting Geology. We decide to keep the top on the Jeep today since it is a tad bit cool, and we have sunburns.


I think these guys were following us.


We set off down the wash to see if we can find a slot canyon.


It is nice to find shade out here because it is in the low 90's when we get to this spot.


We find the entrance to the canyon but it turns out we need to go over this section as there is a blockage preventing us from moving through it.


PHOTO BY CALVIN CLAMATO MAN
A shot of me getting a shot of Calvin


We decide about here that we are going to head back to the jeep since we are not all wearing the right shoes or have the needed gear to move forward. Another day we will though.

PHOTO BY CALVIN CLAMATO MAN
My double sticks RULE!

After getting back to the car, we decide to gamble and try and get back to Torrey via the back way which has a road that is not maintained. The following pictures are from that road. It is amazing














I am so glad I didn't see this sign until near the end. Ignorance is bliss!


What a great day with two of my best friends. Oh and I forgive them for actually liking this stuff. At least it is lime flavored bud lite.

Tommy

A lazy ride over the Mountain

The week is flying by and I need to head out and get some pictures. My Man Calvin is always up for a little pre-breakfast safari


There is a road near the Fish Hatchery that we are going to take today that goes to Escalante. There is a wetland preserve there that I want to check out too.


We see this guy making the rounds but hear some geese as well.


Sure enough they are clear for landing!


Here they are honking away in the marsh

We decide to head up the hill before meeting the gang for breakfast



We come upon these guys about 9 miles from town just waiting for their pictures to be taken.


As we get into the heavy brush I see a few deer make a run for it. I just am not fast enough bringing my camera up to get the shot.

We need to be back to meet the kids for breakfast


And we just barely beat them to the Capital Reef Inn. Home of the crazy breakfast.


The more things change, the more they stay the same in Torrey. The waitress is stressed and drops Louise's tea.


But we take it in stride getting a good laugh.

After we eat, we set off to see some friends of Janet over in Escalante who are making a beer garden. Instead of going over the paved road, we decide to take the dirt one which is shorter.


The first part of the road takes us up onto the rolling steppes of Bicknell. These are second only to those seen in Mongolia. Or maybe like 54th. I get confused


We do see the occasional wild beast on the road. I guess earrings are in this year.


Soon enough we are over 9000ft and in the pines. This area has a few lakes on it and the scenery is amazing.


A rare self potrait of our hero. It is cool up here still even though it is May.


The Jeep is getting a tad dirty

We next see one of the more interesting things I have seen. As we approach a cattle guard, we spy a marmot (insert Lebowski Joke) off to the side of the road. He ducks under the guard.


No Marmots are curious creatures and he uses the cattle guard like a bunker. I don't have my big camera at the ready again so use my point and shoot to get this shot.


He makes a break for the woods but we are after him now!


Handsome little devil though

From here we head on over to Possey Lake which is a really great place that one can only find if they get off the black top.


Of course I have nothing to worry about. Yet another day without seeing a bear!!!!


I do end up seeing this guy on the water and his bill is amazing.


There is even a pretty cool Beaver Dam here


And some cool lichen too!



We make our way down to the town of Escalante and stop for lunch and wait on Larry, who is taking care of business the old fashioned way.


Just a man on his horse.


Have to love the Gluten Free Truck!


What a rough way to spend the day.