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.

USA 2025 - 26 April

Sitting the veranda of the main building, supper finished - most people inside watching the latest presentation. I have Red Kites overhead, swifts nesting above me and a couple of Humming Birds feeding from the sugar water feeder.

The sun has just about down behind the trees and it's very quiet here. I am planning to leave at about 9:30 and head west. I have located a Yamaha dealership along the route and will call in for a spare inner tube and some rear brake pads (just in case) !

Good night

USA 2025 - 25 April

This photo is of the early morning “farkle walk”.  So much talk about the set up of peoples bikes…

 I had a quiet day watching presentations, chatting, drinking tea and viewing bikes.   Then at  3pm down came the rain that they promised.

I have manage to make peace with the Garmin and have sorted out routes to the West for Sunday and Monday.   I think I’ll head for a 2 day ride to Bowling Green in Kentucky .   Fingers crossed !!