Stopping for a break just south of Colorado Springs, CO.
Dashing self-portrait north of Peublo, CO. Right about the time when the crosswind was getting really, really tiresome.
This was about halfway through the windiest part of the day - that sign was sort of a "Really!?!" for the previous 20 miles.
...and the wind was getting really, really, really old.
Just some deer wondering what I was doing riding up Sugarite Canyon State Park in New Mexico.
First campsite, Sugarite Canyon SP, Raton, NM.
Creative self-portrait of the morning...
Mirrors aren't just for safety any more.
Antelope. In the distance. Beyond that, it was WINDY.
Baby cow guy, momma, side of the road outside of Santa Fe, NM.
Lots of motorbike-only parking in Santa Fe.
So I decided to rough it the second night...
The wind I endured on Wednesday was a storm front moving in. There was 6 inches on the ground in Raton, NM - where I had been the previous day.
Still not bad enough to stop me from heading into town, though. You get weird looks pulling up next to someone in a snowstorm. On a motorbike.
I had to buy a cell phone charger. Charger? Thy name is Pimp.
The Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe
The staircase at the Loretto Chapel
A picture of how the Loretto Chapel staircase looked before the nuns insisted that a railing be installed.
Towards the back of the Loretto Chapel, showing more of the staircase.
Closeup of the Loretto staircase - it's one, continuous, seamless double-helix.
Looking into one of the many art galleries in Old-town Santa Fe
Lots of art and statues among the streets of Santa Fe
The Cathedral Basilica in Santa Fe
Sometimes, people have no problems trying to piggyback off your parking spot. Sometimes they knock your bike over (I avoided that). But it's still nice to see them get ticketed.
Crossing from New Mexico into Arizona on I-40
A slightly nicer "welcome to Arizona" sign on I-40
The Meteor Crater outside Winslow, AZ
Looking down on the lower observation deck at the Meteor Crater
One of the observation decks at Meteor Crater outside of Winslow, AZ
A bunch of European tourists enjoying their exchange rate at the Meteor Crater outside of Winslow, AZ
The largest single piece found of the meteor that created the Meteor Crater
Leaving the Meteor Crater via the entrance road. The speed limit here is something like 25mph. That's about what I needed to do to take the picture, but...
And then I really did keep my speed down because it's calving season. I love those little guys...
Looking back up towards I-40 on some of the most deserted highway I came across.
Looking back towards the crater - you can see it just off to left of the road. That beautiful, gorgeous road...
A better view of the crater, looking up the entrance road to it.
Looking back towards the mountains outside of Flagstaff, AZ on Route 89
Looking south towards Flagstaff, AZ
The friendliest stray dog I met outside the Black Mesa Grocery Store somewhere in AZ
The classic views of Monument Valley, AZ
This is why you can't just rip down the highway in Monument Valley. You just have to stop too often to take pictures...
Entering Utah through Monument Valley
Just over the state line into Utah, heading towards Moab
Looking back south towards some of the most beautiful scenery of the entire trip: Monument Valley
Crossing the San Juan River in Mexican Hat, UT
Rafting the San Juan River
On the bank of the San Juan river in Mexican Hat, UT
Why they call Mexican Hat, Utah "Mexican Hat"
Climbing back up from the San Juan River through gorgeous roadway...
Coming up on Hole in the Rock, just south of Moab, UT
The burliest Dodge I've ever seen...
Trying to find a camping spot, just south of Moab
Still trying to find a camping spot outside of Moab
Home sweet home for the night at the KOA campground in Moab, UT
DINNER! Some Coors Light, some water, some Stag chili, and some allergy-inducing blooms.
Unshaven self-portrait of the day in Moab, UT
An astonishingly beautiful moonrise over the La Sal mountains.
They've turned the Moab Diner into a Pizza Hut wanna-be
Leaving Moab via Route 128
Again - every now and then you just have to stop to try and illustrate the road you're riding on. Route 128, leaving Moab, UT
Route 128, Moab, UT
As Route 128 opens up, Castle Valley is off to the east.
Cows. And some baby cows mixed in.
A little baby cow guy peeking out from the right there...
The Colorado River, heading into Moab (well, I was unfortunately leaving it...)
What's left of the Dewey Bridge, northeast of Moab as you cross back over the Colorado. Burned by a 7-year-old playing with matches.
And those were the donations needed to just restore the bridge...
Towards (or leaving, it's hard to tell) Cisco, UT on the backroads. Waaaaaaay backroads.
I think that's Cisco, UT. There's not much to it.
Coming back into Colorado on I-70
Cold. But thankfully quite dry.
