Day 3, wednesday, a day that Junior would just as soon forget.
This pictures pretty much sums up the last half of the day:
It was raining pretty hard when we woke up and we delayed our departure for as long as we could. The plan was to ride out to Chicken Corners then back track to pick up the Lockheart basin trail. This would bring us out at Needles where the plan was to ride Elephant Back to see the confluence of the Colorado and Green rivers. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans. . . . .
The good news is, I got the GoPro to cooperate. I finally got a recording of the 13 mile ride down from the cabin:
^^^Click for video^^^ (someday someone will show me how to embed a video)
At the bottom I rode over a "Lions Back" type rock. After seeing the actual Lions Back (closed to the public) this one is definitely a miniature version:
^^^Click for Video^^^
From the outset we knew we had left way too late to do the ride as scheduled, it was a planned 180+ mile day, so we took our time and took in the sights. Plus, it was still raining pretty hard, off and on.
Took some time to smell the ah,,,,flowers.
We got to the intersection of the trail to Hurray Pass, and Chicken Corners beyond and Cane Creek Trail. The modified plan was to get to Chicken Corners then come back to do Kane Creek.
Fricken kids:
A picture without the riff-raff:
On to Hurray Pass:
We got to Hurray Pass and it was raining its ass off:
The five of us conferred and two decided to turn back, even though it looked like we could ride out from under the storm if we continued on. It was at this point Junior made the (in)famous statement "Adventure is
that way!" Said as he points down trail.
And then there was three:
Sure enough, 15 minutes down the trail the sun came out and we started to really enjoy the ride.
And then.......In the middle of the trail there was this really cool jump that we all hit and then I got the bright idea that we should turn around and I would get pictures of us jumping it. What could possibly go wrong. . . . . . .
Junior:
Jay:
Jay got some serious air and nearly biffed it big time. I heard this but did not see it happen, Junior said it was epic. As Jay rode back up to us I heard him say "SHIT!" I thought he had hurt himself but then I looked where he was pointing, a growing pool of oil under Junior's 650. SHIT!! didn't quite cover it.
I didn't get any pictures of that damage but I did get one of a puddle being made:
I guess Jay was trying to be sympathetic.
Anyway, a passing couple in a Jeep gave us a couple tie straps and I started towing Junior and the 650 while Jay boosted ahead to get a cell signal and call for help. At this point we where 39 miles from the cabin. After towing him for about 6 miles Jay rode back and said he had ran into a couple with a pickup that would get the busted bike to Moab:
The ride of shame:
^^^Click for video^^^
At the end of that video the girl driving the truck slowed WAY down and I stalled the bike before I could get to the clutch. I dropped it and that was the end of the right mirror.
On the way back Jay and I explored a couple side trails letting the pickup get a little ahead of us. We got surprised at the pace the girl was putting on though.
In the end they took the bike and Junior all the way to the cabin. DAMN nice of them and I would have made them honorary DAMN riders but went into town to get some stuff to fix the bike and didn't see them again.
And that was the end of day 3.
F*** work.
Ride motorcycles.
