I did a long post at the Adventure Rider website. I'll compress that version and give you the run down.
My ambitious plan was to leave early on Thursday, find a campsite and check out a trail that I had done on my mountain bike before called Western Rim.
The next day I would ride the Kokopelli trail to Moab. The Kokopelli trail is about 100 miles or so of dirt trail and road. Once in Moab, I would meet up with everyone and do whatever they were doing. Then on Sunday I would ride another long trail in Canyonlands National Park called White Rim. Sounds good.
So I did leave on Thursday around noon and after a stop in Glenwood for gas and food, I got in to Fruita and called Debbie. They hadn't quite left yet. I bought a spare inner tube and headed to the campsite area. I had good cell service and there were lots of spots, so I went to check out Western Rim.
To make a long story short, I got on the wrong trail, got stuck and spent several hours dropping the bike, picking it up and trying to get back out of there. If I was on the mountain bike, I could have just picked it up and carried it to the right trail. I guess I should have been riding with someone else. When I finally got out of there and was heading to the campsite I noticed that the bag with all my camping stuff and clothes was missing from the back of the bike. I backtracked a few miles and found it on the side of the dirt road. I finally arrived at camp and everyone was sleeping except for Debbie. I had some food and went to sleep. I wasn't so sure about my ambitious plans now.
The next day I bypassed Western Rim and headed down Kokopelli. The ride was great! Beautiful views and I didn't drop the bike or get stuck once. About 35 or so miles in it felt like my back brake wasn't working very well. I had new boots that were very stiff and I thought maybe I was just missing the pedal. I stopped to have a closer look and the rear brake line had broken off. There was brake fluid all over the rear tire. I was at a paved road when I discovered this and wisely decided to take the pavement the rest of the way into Moab.
I was just in time to meet everyone for lunch. After that I went to a couple of motorcycle shops and bought the parts I needed. I fixed it in their parking lot and headed to Gemini Bridges where everyone else was. When I arrived there everyone was just walking back to the cars. No rest for me. I feel like I've been going non-stop the whole time.
We found a great campsite and then went to Canyonlands tourist areas to check out the views. It really is amazing there. Back to camp for some spaghetti dinner and then I fell asleep on a large flat rock.
In the morning my phone was dead and I tried to charge it on the motorcycle, but it didn't seem to be giving it power. I went to get the tools to fix it that were strapped on to the front of the motorcycle and realized they were gone. They must have fallen off on the Gemini Bridges dirt road. When we were leaving I rode back down the road looking for them, but I was never to see them again. I almost felt like crying. It seemed like I was having so many problems this trip. I guess I was learning a lot though.
Next up we went to Arches National Park and hiked around in the Fiery Furnace. It was beautiful and amazing in there and I took tons of pictures.
We left there and headed to the Colorado River for some rafting. About 15 miles east of Moab I realized I would have to go back to Moab to get gas before heading home. I didn't want to drive too much in the dark if I didn't have to so I decided not to go rafting. After everyone else left on the raft, I rode back, got some gas and some ice cream to make myself feel better and headed toward home. I figured I would stop on the way to see if they were out of the water yet and sure enough, they were getting out just when I arrived. I missed out.
It was a somewhat difficult trip for me because I was trying to do too much. Live and learn I suppose. I still had a good time. One day I will return to finish the Kokopelli and White Rim trails. I will come back more prepared though.
Today also just so happens to be my Half Birthday! I am dangerously close to 30! But it's all good!!! :o)
My ambitious plan was to leave early on Thursday, find a campsite and check out a trail that I had done on my mountain bike before called Western Rim.
In the morning my phone was dead and I tried to charge it on the motorcycle, but it didn't seem to be giving it power. I went to get the tools to fix it that were strapped on to the front of the motorcycle and realized they were gone. They must have fallen off on the Gemini Bridges dirt road. When we were leaving I rode back down the road looking for them, but I was never to see them again. I almost felt like crying. It seemed like I was having so many problems this trip. I guess I was learning a lot though.
We left there and headed to the Colorado River for some rafting. About 15 miles east of Moab I realized I would have to go back to Moab to get gas before heading home. I didn't want to drive too much in the dark if I didn't have to so I decided not to go rafting. After everyone else left on the raft, I rode back, got some gas and some ice cream to make myself feel better and headed toward home. I figured I would stop on the way to see if they were out of the water yet and sure enough, they were getting out just when I arrived. I missed out.
