USA 2025 - 19 May

After a cold night and an early start I finally packed up the tent and stuff. Only one other tent at the Moto Camp! I rode into town to get some fruit and have breakfast - and then onto the I-40 to Needles. As expected the wind got up as I left town but the temperature did not. I had to stop and put on yet another layer. Oh how I dislike side winds - all the way to Kingman where I re-fuelled and had lunch. By now I had dropped from 7000 feet to less that 1000 and the temperature rose dramatically. I started off at 10c (50f)and it was now 31c !! By the time I got to Needles it was 33c (91f).

I booked into a cabin as overnighting in a tent would be very silly.  Too hot to divert through Seligman and Oatman too..

After 3 days at the Overland event where there was little in the way of facilities for us bikers - one portaloo and tented showers a long way off (and they took them on Sunday morning. I've just been for a really welcome hot shower and laundered just about everything I could. As for the Overland Expo: it has certainly forgotten about bikers !!!

Just waiting for it to cool down outside before cooking supper.

USA 2025 - 18 May

It's now Sunday evening, the show is over, and everyone is packing up. I thought more of the bikers would stay until Monday morning, but no, there's just the two of us left.

I spend most of the day with Mark Ordway until he departed about midday. I met up again with Carolyn in the afternoon and we wandered around the show - so little of motorcycle interest - sad somehow.

I cooked supper at about 5:30pm and am now settled in the tent reading the last chapters of Bill Bryson.

I will get up, pack up and hit the road early tomorrow - it's been almost a week here in Flagstaff - I need to get back into "riding mode"…. Although I may well pop into town for a cooked breakfast and get some bananas and stuff.

USA 2025 - 17 May

Now at the Overland Expo in Flagstaff.
Arrived yesterday and parked up then notice that the repair to the tyre was not looking good to say the least. See photo.

So this morning to arrived at GoAz Motorcycles on Flagstaff early as the brake pads had arrived. They had a tyre in stock that would fit my bike (Dunlop Trailax). They were kind enough to fit me in to their schedule. While I was there, I looked at the state of my Altberg boots (see photo) and manage to buy a pair of cheapish boots to fit me, without being the heavy "off road type". Sad but bye bye Altbergs - I must have had them for over 12 years.

Have met up with Mark Ordway and Carolyn Slete and Jason and Lisa. We went to the Bikers Party last night but the wind made it very cold - tonight is meant to be colder and maybe rain over night.

It's about 8 o'clock and I am in my tent trying to keep warm.

So tyre replaced, new brake pads, oil change and new boots - all ready for Mondays ride over the old Route 66 to Seligman and Oatman and overnight at Needles.

USA 2025 - 14 May

A fresh start to the day - oh it was cold overnight. Set off from Woody Mountain to Sedona…. a 26 mile ride to the airport viewing platform - fabulous views - thought I would have breakfast there but oh no - too many rubbish shops.

So I rode back to Flagstaff and had a late breakfast, then rode to a Motel in the south part of Flagstaff. Unpacked the bike and walked the 8k steps to downtown Flagstaff for the "Beer and Gear" event. Lo and behold I saw Jason and Lisa's Toyota parked up…. Then met with them, and went for a beer at a nearby brewery… excellent.

Finally had enough beer and got a Uber back to the motel ; I really could not walk back !!

Tomorrow is a quiet day and a day to sort kit and plan routes…. N

USA 2025 - 13 May

Following a restless night with high winds blowing the tent about and an early hot shower, I popped into town for breakfast and managed to find a proper barber shop. I now look less like a vagrant. I had a quick walk around but this wind is chilling - the forecast for tomorrow is better.

I am now sheltering from the wind again and still reading Bill Bryson. Tomorrow night is a Beer and Gear evening in Downtown Flagstaff, so I will have a good look around and hopefully get another book (The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson) as I'm getting near the end of my current read. I hope to meet up with friends from 2016/18 at the event.

Then on Monday I leave Flagstaff and head west on Route 66 to Seligman, Oatman, Williams and overnight at Needles.

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.