Monday 23rd July

It seems impossible to think that we left the Island just a week ago, or that this journey only began one week before that.

Woke up to another cracking Colorado morning.


We were heading for Holbrook, Arizona, so Kevin could stay at the WigWam Motel.


True to form, we didn't get on the road before late morning. 


We stopped at an auto parts store to try and match the master cylinder seals, but they only had suitable O rings, not cups. Kev bought some black silicone to try and repair his 12 volt iphone power adaptor. Eventually he succeeded - subject to testing, of course.

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We went to Burger King for brunch and to check the route, again. The Donut shop must have been closed, because this bike's ride, had to eat at Burger King!

Fed and amused, we hit the road towards Cortez from Durango. It was an alright road but didn't have enough traffic to keep me awake. Here are some pics of the first bit of our journey. Good roads for Kev!

These were taken in Ute lands, in South Western Colorado.

In the next few pics, taken heading for the Four corners, 

you can see how desolate it is beginning to become

The Four Corners, the point where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.

Close by the four corners Monument, we stopped for coffee and gas at the Navaho Teec Nos Pos Trading Post. the staff were good fun and helpful and you could have eaten your dinner off the Mens' Room floor.

I loved the Rockies and the other mountains of Colorado, but going south-west in Arizona, from the Four Corners, by way of US160 and then the 191, through miles and miles of the 

Painted Desert involves an experience which cannot be understood by someone who hasn't done it, particularly on a bike, nor can it be be adequately described, nor represented, in any meaningful way, by photos.

In our ride today, we had heat, wind and rain. Tumbleweeds blew across the road and dust devil danced beside it. Every time you stopped to take a photo, round the next bend or over the brow of the next hill there would be an even more stunning view. Nothing more I can say.

We headed for Holbrook and when we got phone service called the Wig Wam but they were fully booked. We drove into town and used McDonald's WiFi to catch up on communication and sort out the night's accommodation. 

We were very excited as Bruce, aka Mexican Hat, a guy from the forum,  had offered to put us up in Vegas and show us the town and area. A quick call to confirm how grateful we were for his offer - way cool and another example of what a great place www.shovelhead.us is!

We booked into Motel 6 and  went to visit the Mesa Sports Bar,  just up the road. Carolyn Young, one of the owners, rides a Harley and told us about local routes. 

Mmmmmmmmm! Moose Drool!

We only had a couple of drinks as it had been a long and tiring day. Dinner at Dennys, burger for me, grilled Talapia for Kev. Then back to the motel for blog and bed.  I'm not sure how the desert pics have worked as I'm going to bed with them still uploading.

Today's spectacular route