Moab, even the name sounds as foreign as its landscapes are to a city slicker like me. You see, there comes a point where you can only pound so much payment on your daily two-wheeled commute before you have to get away from it all…and with San Francisco currently undergoing its Bridgepocalypse, the timing seems right for Asphalt & Rubber to get a little dirt on its riding boots.
The truth is that I have wanted to go the parks that flank the Moab, Utah region since my early Boy Scout days. Once I got a car, it went on the short-list for road trip destinations; when I got a 4×4 it became the target for a four-wheeling adventure; and of course when I got a motorcycle…well, you get the idea. I have never made the trip happen though, but all that is going to change next week.
Just as Scott and David get back from Silverstone, covering what should be a very entertaining British GP, I will be embarking on a eight-day, 2,000+ mile, Santa Barbara to Moab and back, motorcycle trip. Like most of my foolish travel adventures, my college roommate Tim, a long-time riding buddy and occasional A&R helper, will make the adventure with me on two trusty steeds: a BMW R1200GS and Yamaha Super Ténéré.
Tim and I have traveled by box truck across the country when I moved to Pennsylvania for grad school (the truck leaked during an epic rainstorm in Arizona), and while I was working for the United Nations, Tim flew out to Europe so we could hike along Italy’s Mediterranean coast (among other adventures in Tuscany that involved a broken bus and Canadians).
Planning to camp at least five of the eight days on the road (no, sleeping in jail in Las Vegas is not considered camping), and tip our toes in the ADV waters, next week’s undertaking has officially reached Broventure status. What does this mean for you though, loyal Asphalt & Rubber reader?
Well, for starters Tim and I will be posting as much as we can from the road to Facebook and Twitter, with hopefully nightly updates on A&R about our trip’s travels. I say hopefully, because you know…motorcycles…camping…electricity…bobcats…Utah. What could go wrong, right?
The content should be a little different from our usual fare, and the daily news grind might not comes as lightning quick as you’re used to on A&R…but we should be able to keep up with the important stories during our roadside pit stops. Motorcycles are supposed to be toys for fun, so hopefully you will enjoy our tales from the road as much as we will enjoy having them.
Our rough route is in the image above, so if you know of some good roads along the way (or some good trails in the Bryce Canyon, Arches, or Canyonalands National Parks), drop us a line in the comments — we’re always open to suggestions.
We leave Wednesday 4th and return on Wednesday 11th, and will takes us through the following landmarks: Mojave, Zion, Dixie, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, and Joshua Tree — among others. Call our mothers if we’re not back by Thursday the 12th.
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