RIDE REPORT During Covid, 13 States & Some Spectacular Riding

[DK Custom Products]

Thanks Kevin. I've done the MDH 3 times but never during "colors". WOW! What scenery. And the almost total absence of guard rails is sure obvious in your pictures. High pucker factor..... Jim

Hey Jim,

Yeah, we've been here a bunch and never seen colors like this. But we've never been here this time of year. Crazy.

I think your long wheelbase GW eat this road up.

Lot's more pics to come.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Headed back toward Silverton...

...a different perspective...

...Silverton is a great town to visit...

...there is a really interesting museum on the far side of town...

...but today the purpose of our visit is to stop into the Worlds Highest Harley Store. No motorcycles, just that other stuff...BUT, they do have some coolant!

After grabbing a couple of little bottles of coolant we headed to the big parking lot behind this gas station...

...where I drained all the coolant out of the system, then filled it up and bled all the air out.

Look for the video in a post or two down for the details on what I've learned...how to do it right. Yesterday I did Not do it correctly.

Ok, got that done and she is running like new! On to Molas Pass.

Looking back as we climb out of the valley that Silverton is in...

...and a look ahead as we climb out of Silverton.

More in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

The scenery climbing up to Molas Pass is absolutely...

...Stunning!

Pulling into the parking lot at the Molas Pass Scenic Overlook...

This is the first time we've been here when the mountains weren't capped with snow.

Taking a pic of Mary taking a pic.

Leaving out of Molas Pass overlook...

...toward Durango to eat up some more curves...

...the colors are just insane.

After riding the best part toward Durango, we turn around...

...that's better, with the sun behind us.

More in next post.

*

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Riding back toward Ouray the scenery is amazing!

BUT, I think the curves and cambers of this road...

...for me, are the most fun. I don't know why, but hitting it in the curves is just as much fun now as it was 50 years ago!

Shadow Pic!

The road at 60 MPH. I'm having a blast!

Mary is great at capturing photos on the fly- to the right and down, showing where we've just ridden...

...and this is to the right and back, showing where we've just come from. We're doing about 60 mph here. Dunno how she does it.

Now we're getting to the really fun stuff! The pictures just do not do this road justice.

Soon after this is where I pulled over and attempted to get the drone up for some video and photos of us riding thru a series of S curves. It did not go well. Below is a video of our Malfunctions on the Million Dollar Highway today. (Coolant issue & Drone Crash)



Here's a ground-bound photo of where I attempted to get the drone up. lol

Even with the two malfunctions, it has been a great day of riding.

There is a little more of our ride back to camp that I will get posted up as time allows.

*Kevin

 

[Red sport.]

RIDE REPORT During Covid, 13 States & Some Spectacular Riding

Subscribing to this, Pictures are just beautiful, really like the fall colors.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Spectacular pictures, Thanks Kevin:clapping:

 

[Dave59]

Hey Kevin, a lot of Mary's pics look like they could be calendar pages. Thanks for sharing.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Subscribing to this, Pictures are just beautiful, really like the fall colors.

Cool, glad you're enjoying. Much more to come.

Spectacular pictures, Thanks Kevin:clapping:

Hey Jack, more to come. Thanks.


I have had zero issues with migration since installing the primary vent, which is now standard on all the M8's. Video below-

Good idea on adding the coolant check, AND carrying it in the can. Key is to not let it get low. That is when air can get in and cause the problems.

Hey Kevin, a lot of Mary's pics look like they could be calendar pages. Thanks for sharing.

Glad you're liking them. Amazing place.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Yeah, she does it on 2 wheels too...but only above 25 mph, and yeah, sometimes it takes a bit to keep the bike on track.

She is an excellent picture taker AND riding partner. She does know to not move around on 2 wheels when going slow or stopped.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

btw, we have a lot more to go on this trip, and I wish I was updating this thread more quickly. Been busier than a 1 armed paper hanger this last month.

More coming soon.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Wrapping up the day, riding the Million Dollar Highway back to camp-

There are fantastic curves...

...and amazing scenery...

...even More Fun Riding...the curves just keep coming!

And then you have stuff like this. It is hard to overstate...

...how much fun this road is. It just begs to be ridden...

...BUT, you gotta stay ON the road...

...so ride it at a brisk pace and enjoy the photos later, or ride it twice, once for the joy of the road and once for the scenery...

...this is one of the sections that get folks nervous, it's a long way down if one does not stay between the lines!

And just like that, we are descending down into Ouray.

After getting back to camp we putter around a bit, take a photo of another sunset...

Tomorrow we leave Colorado, headed over to Bryce Canyon in Utah! WhooHoo!!!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

We left out of Colorado a bit late...around noon time.**

It is about 400 miles from Ouray to where we're staying in-between Bryce Canyon Nat. Park and Zion Nat. Park.

So we stopped a little over halfway there.

Just finished up supper and doing a bit of work on the computer...

...this is the sunset from the doorway where we are staying.

Got up this morning and made it to our next stop mid-afternoon.*

Got some more work done, and excited about the ride to and thru Bryce Canyon tomorrow.

Starting out early, Mary In The Mirror...

It's about an hour ride from our base camp to Bryce. The road is fun and it it GOOD to be Back on the Bike!

Whoa! My mirrors are dirty!

Turning off 89 toward Bryce...

Not long before we're rolling thru Red Canyon in Dixie National Forest...

A look back at the tunnel we just rode thru.

At the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park...Free entrance for everyone today!

More in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

We're in the Park now. Mary In The Mirror-

It's about 20 miles from the entrance to the end of the park road...

...since 99% of the good views are on the return side of the road, we are just going to roll all the way to the end, enjoying the curvy road...

...then, on the way back we'll be stopping at all the scenic overlooks. A look back...

...and a look ahead. This is another FUN Road if you like the curves.

Ok, the navigation shows we're almost at the end of the road...

...eek, look at all those people. Nope. Just gonna turn around, don't need to be near that many folks.

Headed back-Now for the sights!

First stop. Did not even have to get off the trike. Just pulled up to the edge of the road.

And still more, right from the edge of the road. Absolutely Stunning!

Will be posting more of Bryce, as time allows.

*

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Bryce Canyon continued...

Got off the Trike for a bit more of a look around...

*

...View caught while riding to the next scenic overlook.

Black Birch Canyon...

...what a view!

Natural Bridge, maybe the most famous of the overlooks...

...no telling how many photos Mary has taken here over the years. She does not get tired of it.

Riding between scenic overlooks. (btw, I am not showing all of the scenic overlooks. There are far better ones available on the interweb via google searches...just showing a few highlights of what we saw that day)

We stopped here along the side of the woods...making this our own private scenic overlook. (plus, we both had to pee. lol )

After taking care of business, we walked out to the edge...

...pic Mary took while I was taking a pic of her.

Will try and finish up Bryce Canyon soon.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Yeah, she is a bit crazy with the camera in her hand. I don't think she would get that close otherwise. lol

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Headed back to the trike from the cliffs edge...

...after 100 yards or so, we can barely see it.

At our next scenic outlook...

...Farview Point...

...there is a bit of smoke in the air...

...but still good visibility.

We stopped at this trailhead, with no bear spray.

Discussed who could run faster...lol...

...looked around a bit more...

...then headed back to the bike for...

More in next post.

Kevin

 

[bikerbillone]

Livin' the dream, good for you.

 

[Allen Clark]

The view looks amazing, and the experience is way different when you go on a road trip with your loved ones. :Santa:

 

[DK Custom Products]

Today we're headed to Zion National Park.

First we head out on a little detour...

...it's a beautiful day, sun has been up for just a couple of hours...

...enough to take the chill out of the air...

...that's Arizona ahead...wanted to see the road we would be taking tomorrow as we head to the Trike Get-Together that Kurt has orgainized.

View from the road as we head back toward Zion...

...Mary in the Mirror...

...this 100 mile detour has been fun, letting it open up with no traffic around.

On the road to the park now...

...a look back...

...and a look ahead. Fun Road!!!

More in next post.

Kevin

*

 

[DK Custom Products]

Here we are at the Park Entrance...

...and at the line to get in. Not so bad...

...we're in. Wow!

And a look up from the bike!

It is a fun road (and a red one)...

..with amazing sights around every curve...

...and there are plenty of tight, blind curves!

Spectacular Views...

...and a fun road!

Mary In The Mirror, on another blind curve.

More in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

The combination of amazing views and a fun road to ride can be a dangerous mix. We're just putting thru.

Coming up to a little tunnel...

...and looking back at it.

At the front of the waiting line to go thru the 1.1 mile long Mt. Carmel Tunnel.

Here we go...

...there are no interior lights in this 1.1 mile long hole in the mountain.

There are some holes cut in the side of the mountain...

...giving the tunnel a few "windows" and some natural light...

...but mostly it looks like this...

...until you get to the end.

More in next post.

*

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

50 yards out of the tunnel, this is the view to the right.

We're headed down into the canyon...

...the curves and the views are amazing!

Mary in the Mirror with some jagged mountains in upper right.

Nice curve, can't really tell, but that is a pretty steep drop off to the right.

There, you can see it better in this photo....along with the road, a long ways down there. Oh, also notice how nicely some of the curves are banked.

Many switchbacks later, closer to the bottom of the canyon now.

At the bottom there is a shuttle you can take down a very picturesque road...at the end are the "Narrows". We planned to walk up them a bit, but there is a Toxic Cyanobacteria bloom in the water. So we are passing on that today.

Here is a photo from when we visited in 2016-

This is a LINK to our "40 Days Following The Front Wheel" Ride Report from 2016. Day 12 is the time we spent in Zion National Park back then.

Since the main thing to do in the canyon all focuses around the Virgin River, and we don't want to get near that toxic bacteria, we head back up the hill...

If you look at the center right of this next photo, you will see one of the holes (Window) in the tunnel thru the mountain.

Will post more, as time allows, of our day in Zion, and the crazy 150 mile detour we took, while discovering a new great riding road!

*

Kevin

 

[ol' school]

Absolutely amazing pictures of the awesome scenery around you! Kevin, you and Mary definitely know where to ride. I look forward to seeing your post of your journeys! Thanks for sharing!

 

[DK Custom Products]

Absolutely amazing pictures of the awesome scenery around you! Kevin, you and Mary definitely know where to ride. I look forward to seeing your post of your journeys! Thanks for sharing!

Glad you're digging the pics. This land is absolutely amazing for riding. More to come as soon as I have time to wade thru the photos...Mary took over a thousand just from this one day. Plus I have some video footage from our ride back from Zion that I need to find of a car coming around a corner and almost hitting a deer. :xzqxz:

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Sorry for not posting these more quickly. Been a super busy few months.

Here we go! Headed back up the hill...

...toward the tunnel. Zion is a spectacular place.

Mary in the Mirror as we enjoy...

...the curvy road & the stunning views.

Uh-oh, this is the road we just came up. I pulled a u-turn and parked right next to this sign...

...because we saw this. It is the 1.5 mile long line to get back thru the tunnel!

So we stopped and ate lunch here, watching the line slowly, VERY SLOWLY, creep forward.

We decide to take a different way back, so off we go, back down the curvy hill. Nothing wrong with riding a great road 3 times in one day!!!

We're out of the other side of the park now, eating up some miles at 75+ mph.

Now we're on Interstate 15, headed toward Cedar City to...

...pick up the 14 for a nice, steep, curvy ride.

More in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

We've never ridden the 14 before.* It looks good on the map, and this sign is very promising!

From the get go we're climbing, the road is curvy...

...and the views are great!

It feels like we're nearing the summit...

...but we just keep climbing and enjoying the curves and the views. This is one of our new favorite roads!

It's got the magic 3- Elevation changes, curvy, & scenic!

Summit at 9910 elevation.

Soon after the summit the landscape changes...

...absolutely stunning high meadowland. Gotta know this is covered in snow during the winter!

What is this off to the side of the road???

More in next post.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Crazy! Up here, on the top of this high meadow, are lava fields!

And Lakes!

This road bears a longer, more relaxed ride & exploration. We're well past 8 hours riding so far today, and have another 1.5 before getting back to camp. So we are scooting right along. We hope we'll be back here soon.

Started down the other side now...

...oh yeah, this side is even more...

...fun than the other side coming up.

Came around a blind curve and there is a deer in the middle of the road, some more on the side, and a car coming from the opposite direction...

...habit kicked in...looked in my rear view to make sure I would not get rear ended, and pulled it down from 50 mph to 5 mph almost instantly...all the while hoping that the car did not hit the deer sending it our way.

Wow, it sure looked closer in those few seconds than it looks in these gopro screenshots!

I always ride on high alert, but especially when hitting the blind curves at speed. We have a lot of critters in our neck of the woods, so I get some pretty good practice. There is no time to think in situations like this...it all has to be habit and happen instantly, without conscious thought.

Well, that was fun. We took a minute and watched the deer make their way up the side of the hill.

The 14 is the bomb. We gotta come back. At the 89 now, and turning south toward camp.

Riding back toward camp on the 89-amazing riding in these parts.

That's it for Utah! Tomorrow we take off for Arizona and 3 days of riding that Kurt has organized.

*

Kevin