Canyonlands Motor Classic, 3-day dirt and dual-sport bike group ride/camp.  May, 2007.

This report segment was originated on KLR650.net, and is imported here with some editing for structure (due to the import process and for clarity).  Typos, etc., have mostly been left as they are, fixed only for clarity in some cases.  Martin is the report originator of this partial report  There are other related reports on the Yahoo_DSN forum.

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Had a good time in Moab at the Canyonlands Motor Classic gathering. Met several people (finally!) that I had known over the internet for years.

My buddy and fellow Ronin, Don and I decided (after much waffling) to take a leisurely 2-day ride from Denver to Moab, and find someplace to camp along the way. We had a cabin reserved in Moab, so the camping gear was for the one night only. Still, I am getting used to loading and riding the KLR as it will be loaded for South America next year.

We headed from my place to Monument, then over Mt Herman to Woodland Park.




US24 to Buena Vista, then over Cottonwood Pass. 

Don of the mis-matched gloves.




We took an easy, scenic ride south from Taylor Reservoir and up to Crested Butte, then over the wilderness area of Keebler Pass to find a place to camp.




I pitched my tent while Don got the fire going.



Don traveled a bit lighter.




The next day, we headed for Gateway to see the car museum. We were well ahead of schedule, so we took our time going over John Brown Canyon Road to Moab. Up the canyon...




...and over the shoulder of the Manti-LaSal range in Utah. Huge scrub oak forest.




After getting settled in the campground, we went to Fred's place (ArrowheadMotorsports.com) to meet folks. Made arrangements for a ride on the White Rim Trail the next day (Friday). Here we stopped for an early break, under the Deadhorse State Park overlook. Don's bike and mine.




Saw a lot of this kind of riding in the first few hours.




I only got a few pics before I slammed myself, my bike, and my camera into the Earth. I'll heal, the bike is mostly fixed, but the camera was toast. Our group of six split up so that those with more of an agenda (and more experience) could zoom on, and we could dawdle. John, Don, and I stopped for photos and chats along the way. A few occasions to pick the bikes back up, too (Don and I, not John).

Took us ten hours to finish the White Rim, and there was much learning along the way. I MIGHT do it again on the DRZ in the future, but I'm not good enough to do it well on the KLR.

The tech day on Saturday was nice. I got most things on my bike fixed, Eagle Mike helped Don clean his carb. Other nits got picked. Money was spent at Fred's shop. The door prizes just kept coming until everyone won a thing or two.

A group of us (me, Don, Hondo, Gunny, MSGT-R, josbek) decided to go splash around a while, so we headed for Onion Creek. We splashed up and down the 22 shallow water crossings and had so much fun that we missed dinner at Fred's. No worries, lots of nice restaurants in Moab.

Sunday was a lazy ride up into Arches National Park with Ealge Mike, Carl, and their wives. Decided not to ride the furnace to Deadhorse or Island in the Sky after all.

Gotta come back later in the year and do some more riding. Next year, too.

Okay, a few more pics, mostly from Don's camera. Still have to get others sorted out and edited.

Here's a shot of the Gateway complex. beautiful location, even if a bit remote.  The car museum is fascinating, even if you're not "into cars."




After my high speed lay down, I was mostly patched back together on the trail. My left shoulder was pretty bashed (dislocated), the helmet is duct-taped back together, the handlebars got a new bend to them, etc, etc, etc...  The clutch lever clamp was busted off.




Lots of zip-ties can fix just about anything. A lot of free play still when pulling in the clutch, but it worked well enough.




We took a few opportunities to ride on the rocks near the edges. Good for the view, for the photo, and for the adventurous soul.




'Tis only a wee drop off. No worries.




Again, lots of views like this. A few hours' worth, at least.




josbek played near the edge, too.




Classic White Rim scenery, here it's near the Green River overlook area, north of Islands In The Sky and The Maze area.




Sand on steep turns was a problem for Don a few times. For me, too.




My best Murphy's Hogback photo. I made a point of getting some distant horizon in the shot so you can see the angle of the trail.




Couple shots of Don, so his wife knows he was actually here and not in Vegas (again...).




This one on Onion Creek the next day.




On Sunday, some of us did an easy loop through Arches NP.




That's me. I was chasing something... I think.


 

That's all for now.