May 31: Little fluffy clouds
(click on the pictures for the high resolution version)
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May 31: Little fluffy clouds (click on the pictures for the high resolution version) |
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Left Cedar City early and headed towards Bryce Canyon National Park. My route went through Dixie National Forest, a mountainous area (+8000 feet elevation - hence rather chilly at 8am) with simply gorgeous roads - no traffic, perfect asphalt, both stretches of fast and slow curves (however, a Lars disclaimer: it seems to be full of road-crossing deer here). And Bryce Canyon was of course quite astonishing (my second visit so I knew what to expect - still it remains impressive)... |
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Met a group of bikers at this vista point (riding from Oregon) - including a woman with a yellow Ducati (an ST tourer). |
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I would then take "one of the most scenic routes in America" according to my Lonely Planet, Highway 12 through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, towards Capitol Reef National Park. The 100 or so miles were indeed strikingly beautiful (and very motorcycle-friendly) - however, I had the pleasure to experience one of these things people (like Lars) warn you about: a desert storm. In the morning I've seen only little fluffy clouds but here the sky turned dark (see pic) and rain was pouring down soon - I had put on my gear in time and had rain covers for the saddle bags and the tank bag so it didn't bother me too much - though the spectacular lightning flashes around me were not too comforting. At some point a large number (20 or so) ATV's (we call them quads in Europe) fleeing the storm were clogging the highway (going 20 mph, no lights, in gushing rain) - cars piled up behind them, but that's where a motorcycle comes in handy (had to take it easy though on the slippery road). |
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The storm was
intense but short. I had a brief encounter with a group of Harley-dudes
and was wondering about their lack of gear (t-shirts, no helmets -
Utah seems to have no helmet law) until I saw their support vehicle;
turned out they were a group of German tourists that had rented Harleys -
Steppenwolf-style - with a guy following them in a van. |
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After Capitol Reef, it's
the desert: miles and miles of straight stretches, surrounded by
badlands. There was some sort of ruin on the side of the road where I
attempted to take an 'artistic' picture... |