From Taos to Salt Lake..

Leaving Taos Thursday, I stopped by the Earthship community along Hwy64, snapped some pics, and kept on trucking. I last refueled in Springer NM. This would later haunt me as I drove along 64 thru the Carson National Forest, not realizing there would be no gas for another 100 miles or so.

Hwy64 thru the Carson Forest was about as pretty as any national park. The road reaches 9000′ near Hopewell Lake, travels at that altitude for 10 miles or so, then goes on up to 10,532′ (per gps) at an unnammed, unmarked pass, surounded by for sale signs for large ranch tracts (5,000 acres and more).  I dropped into Tierra Amarilla and refueled at a place that was built by someone in the 50’s and kept as such since then,  a real time machine.

I connected with US84 to cross over into Colorado and into Pagosa Springs. What a cool town. Hot Springs, big 14,000 peaks surrounding the area.. great spot to get away and hide.

I drove thru Durango, it was hot down lower at 5000′. Then across the vast opens to Monticello UT.

The drive from Monticello to I-70 takes you thru Moab, and miles and miles of canyons, red rocks, and desert landscape. The La Sal Mountains loom large and green over the red and yellow landscape. Mt. Peale reaches 12,760′, a 6,100 rise from the bottom.

I linked up with I-70 for 20-30 miles. The posted speed limit is 80mph! There was a strong crosswind near the Green River exit that was shoving my bike all over the lane. I literally had to lean as if into a turn to keel the bike on a line.

Jumping off I70, I picked up Hwy 6 thru Price and Spanish Fork, taking me over Soldier Pass. The sun was setting, as I passed by the windmills at Spanish Fork.

Picking up I15, I had a 35 mile ride at high speeds. I thought people in Atlanta drive fast. These locals roll hard and crank their cars even though the Utah State Patrol was visible all along the route.

Around 9:30pm I landed at Tai’s house up near the entrance of Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Long day. Start riding at ~8am. Stopped at ~10pm.  One long stop for lunch in Manco Colorado, several fuel stops, and that’s it.