USA 2025 - 12 May

A quiet day at Woodys Mountain campsite.
A quick ride into town for a breakfast and a visit to a couple of stores for some supplies - I desperately needed some fruit. I also got some Ben Original ready rice, so easy to cook: and I ain't no cook.

I had a quick drive around town looking for a barbers shop but to no avail - I will try again before the event this weekend.

I spent most of today sheltering from the cold wind, even in the sunshine the wind cuts through you - and it's forecast to be the same tomorrow. I will shelter in the cafe and read more of Bill Bryson.

I could not resist adding yet another photo of Monument Valley - obviously not mine.

USA 2025 - 11 May

Had a very pleasant overnight stay at KOA Monument Valley. The scenery around there is fantastic but it just gets magic around Sun Set and Sun Rise.

As I sat planning routes and reading Bill Bryson, a family from Texas travelling in an enormous RV popped over and gave me some Peach Cobbler and ice cream : some people are so nice.

Then the fun started as a couple of city folk turned up in the next pitch and stated / attempted to put up a largish tent ; well it was so funny as all the time they were arguing with each other about how useless each other was. He was fighting the tent and she was having problems just unpacking two fold up chairs. All the kit looked brand new and they even commented that the instruction were wrong! How many times did I hear "take it down and start again”?  I know I should have offered to help but I was enjoying myself too much. I went to bed and just listened but I think it took them about 4 hours…….

USA 2025 - 10 May

A quiet night at the camp site at Grand Canyon. Packed up and went in search of breakfast - the tummy was not feeling too good - I blame the Fanta or Gatorade. Mange to find a roll with some salad in it and more water.

I rode along the south rim of the Canyon and onwards into Monument Valley where I am sitting in the shade ( coz it's bloody hot here at its 4pm ). Tomorrow it's back south to Flagstaff as I want to be near for GoAz to fit the brake pads once they arrive.

I'll be in Flagstaff until the overland Expo starts on Friday, so I plan to take a few runs out to places like Sedona etc plus a couple of non ridings days.

USA 2025 - 9 May

A very short ride today from Flagstaff to Grand Canyon - part of a non-riding day.
I was very cold over night so I just put on more clothes.

I was already to go when I realised that Arizona don't change time zone and it was only 7am, so I packed up slowly and was road ready at 8am - so I took myself off to the main office and had a very welcome cup of black tea and an awful pastry ( a croissant with a large cookie on top and heated !!) aaarrrggghh.

At present I'm sitting in the camp launderette watching my smalls go around and around in the tumble drier - Adventure Motorcycling at its best….

Tomorrow I head along the Grand Canyon, find some breakfast and then head to Monument Valley. Hopefully I will hear from GoAz motorcycles about the brake parts on Monday.

USA 2025 - 8 May

Had a great breakfast at the Cowboy Smoker this morning. I was on the road for 9am and heading for Flagstaff on Route 89. Still more fabulous rock formations and lots of desert.


Called in at Go AZ motorcycles to arrange for an oil change and replace all the brake pads. Once they have got the parts in I'll go back.

Booked into Woodys Mountain campsite where I have stayed before in 2016 - and now setup on the same pitch..

I have sort of planned the days from now until the Overland Expo. A visit to the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley included.

Not my photos but they are much better than mine would be

USA 2025 - 7 May

Good evening,

I made a good start from Moab, stopping at the Moab Diner for an excellent breakfast. Rode north to the I-70, turned left and rode until I reached Route 24 and headed south.
Then I road down that wonderful Route 12 through Escalate, and stopped at Panguitch for the night.

I had a brilliant Steak at the Cowboy Smokehouse…Yee ha.

I remembered to stop and take a few photos but I must unpack the "selfie stick" in order to get me in the picture - there is never anyone around to assist.

Tomorrow I will ride into Flagstaff and visit GoAz Motorcycle to arrange for an oil change and hopefully some new brake pads.

USA 2025 - 6 May

It's not all glamour this overlanding!

Started out at about 8:30am in pouring rain again - I stopped for breakfast at Denny's in the town, just in time to see the Silverton Train depart up the hill. I thought about going on it but $160 to travel up for 3 hours in the cheapest cattle class and then 3 hours back was too much for me.

As I progressed north the temperature rose from 7c to 12c - by the time I approached Canyon Lands it was up to 16. By the time I rode into Moab it was 24? Everyone walking around in shorts and tee shirts - there was me still in full wet weather gear !!

Now at a camp site, washing done and waiting for either the wind to drop or the next storm to pass over - then I'll heat up some beans or grits …

Tomorrow I'm planning to eventually ride south through Escalate towards Bryce Canyon.

USA 2025 - 5 May

Today started with a bit of sun and no rain. I walked into Durango Historic town centre and realised it was only 7:30am…. Managed to find a breakfast place and the sipped tea until the street opened at 10am. I was followed up the street by a hippy lady who talked and talked as well as picking up litter. Then she started to sing me a very long song about farming and the soil etc etc

I found a good book shop and bought something by Bill Bryson to read. Walked back to the Motel and re-sorted my kit. And then at 2pm down came the rain !! No surprise there then.

Tomorrow I will be riding up to Moab via Cortez - probably in the rain again..

USA 2025 - 3 May

Another early start this morning - I was awake and it was light, so packed up in the cold light of day. A pleasant ride up through Los Alamos, hardly any traffic at all. Once into Colorado the scenery improved somewhat. Rolling hills, high bluffs and lots of vast open spaces. It stated off a 9 degrees and only got up to 14 !

Finally rolled into Durango with a storm sitting overhead - I pulled into a McD for a pee and WiFi just as it stated to hail !!!

I have decided that it's time for a motel stop and I have decided that tomorrow a non riding day. So thats the end of this Sunday.

USA 2025 - 2 May

Well that day was decidedly boring… but having reached Santa Fe, that's the boring bit over.. and it was cold - it only got to 19 all day.

From here I think I'll ride up to Durango, then maybe Silverton or Cortez/Moab. Then down towards Monument Valley, Goosenecks State Park…. Subject to change of course.

USA 2025 - 2 May

As usual I started off in rain and cross winds and it didn't get much better. Oklahoma into Texas just the same boring views - it maybe the big sky states but thats because looking at the sky is better than endless boring landscapes and towns just full of advertising hoardings from God to guns and food : oh so much food everywhere..

I finally arrived at Amarillo (as in "show me the way" etc etc). As road works had taken out a bridge on the I-40 I followed the detour which took me past the "Cadillac Ranch" art installation. 9 years ago it was over on a field with some parking…. Now it's a bloody mess, graffiti on the barriers, on the actual road surface, just everywhere… and so much litter…. It's about time they took it away..

Supper sorted, tent pitched, now time to look at the route for tomorrow - drive West then turn right towards Utah I think….

USA 2025 - 1 May

They take the threat of Tornados very seriously here !!

Good evening readers, 

What a surprising day - I was expecting rain but instead I got gusty winds and bright sunshine all the from Joplin to Choctaw just outside Oklahoma City. 

I was worried overnight as I had parked the bike on the grass outside the cabin, and with all the rain and wind overnight I was hoping that riding it out in the morning over flooded fields was going to work without sinking into the boggy fields….    

Its now late afternoon and I’m parked up in a quiet camp site waiting for my washing to finish - such an exciting life on the road !!!

One can't help but notice the fields of cars, JCB/Cat type vehicles and agricultural equipment rusting away in huge fields. Compare this to vast number of over stocked dealerships, whether it be farm equipment, vehicles, RVs or vehicles, all laid out in great numbers by the side of the road!! Fields of plenty !?!

Right, off back to the laundry and then to sort supper…

USA 2025 - 30 April

The overnight storm with heavy rain and thunder and lightening was impressive from my room.
This morning started as yesterday finished: tipping it down with rain. I made steady progress and tried avoiding the Interstates but then you end up going through busy towns.. ah well. After reaching Springfield, I ended up on some country roads and could see the results of a recent tornado/storm - very tragic.
As I approached Joplin (my destination for today) - yes you guessed it yet another storm - bugger I thought. I got the the campsite very wet and weary. The owner took pity on me and gave me a "veterans" discount for a cabin.!!! Yippee. I was not looking forward to putting up the tent in the middle of a downpour. Let see what the weather holds for tomorrow ???   Heading for Oklahoma .

USA 2025 - 29 April

Good evening,
I got caught out by the time changes - so I ended up leaving Bowling Green at 7:15 am.
I stopped to take some photos of some aircraft by the side of the road - including an ex Presidential Helicopter !!

It was pleasant ride until I crossed over the great Mississippi into Missouri - the wind whipped across the vast fields - oh I hate cross winds. As I approached the town of Poplar Bluff dark clouds started to roll towards me - then boom, down it came - a nightmare of a storm. I managed to pull into a property with a large portico and the chap allowed me to shelter whilst putting on my waterproofs !!! Bugger this for a lark so I'm now sitting in a humid motel room trying to dry out - again.

USA 2025 - 28 April

Good evening from Bowling Green Kentucky.
I have a very good pizza last night before an early night - the gravel pitch did not help.

Following a shower this morning it just started to rain, so I packed up in double time - it's a pain packing up in the rain and packing away a wet tent..

It was a steady ride over on son some quiet roads - I was aiming for the Yamaha dealership in Bowling Green to get a spare rear inner tube !! Once punctured, twice shy!! I managed to get one but they didn't have any puncture repair kits or brake pads …. Some dealership!!

The next camp site was close by and I'm all set up - showered and sitting in the shade waiting for my laundry to finish tumble drying. Tomorrow I head for Missouri…

Good night.