2009 Sturgis Motorcycle Trip

Archive for the ‘Day 02’ Category

I got up at 6:30 after going to bed at 2:00 am at the Luxor in Las Vegas. I finally got out of the hotel , hauled all the gear to the bike, packed it up, and started the SPOT. By then I was soaking wet with sweat and it was about 8:15. I found the timeshare that Shai was staying at and had to unpack and pack up his stuff with mine – about another hour and we were finally going north again on I-15.

We will try to keep up with the Road Blogs when we stop and have the appropriate cell service – I can post from the iPhone to the blog, even with the small thumbnail pictures.

As what has been the same every year for the last 20, I-15 in Vegas has some kind of construction. I Stopped in Glendale, which is about 60 miles north of Vegas right of I-15, and again in Mesquite to gas up, hydrate up, and for me, ditch the helmet!

From Mesquite on the ride gets more interesting. There is that desert canyon that you wind up to Saint George, UT and your know you will be getting off the freeway soon. A quick stop for lunch at the Crackle Barrel, then it was east on 9 towards Zion NP.

We stopped at a great little market just before Zion when you can get fresh fruit, ice cream, and other assorted organic items you normally don’t find out here. Great shade and a place to cool down.

The ride up till now was mostly high 90’s and the skies into Zion looked dark. We entered the park and the clouds were mostly over the mountain tops. We climbed towards the infamous tunnel where the weather was much more enjoyable as you make your way up to about 6,000 feet before we descended down to Mount Carmel where we spent the night at the Thunderbird Lodge.

 Unfortunately, we don’t have too many pictures – dead batteries! Weak!

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We have been stopping a lot to drink up and have lunch. Here is Shai at one of Johnnys (and mine) spots. Do you recognize it John?
Temps have been close to 100, but we are going to be climbing soon – might hit an afternoon shower here, but Maine not! We r just about to enter Zion NP

We r ready to go!