Moab and More

[bigTom]

I did a little camping this weekend, on a 5 day trip to Moab UT. Stayed 3 nights at 'commercial' campgrounds and 1 Forest Service Free camp.

Just a tick over 1500 miles on the VSTrom that put a McGiver on me and got me home with a completely dead chain. I got stopped at a light less than a mile from home and didn't know if we were going to make it across the freeway overpass or not:) It got some 100 mph time, some hard dirt time and some 111º temp. time. I really like camping off the Vee.

Elevation ranged from 295' (home) to about 8400' on Lasal Mountain near Moab. Lowest temp was in the fog near Pine, AZ Sunday morning, highest was here in Yuma on the same day...

1st night: Sunset Crater National Monument, Bonita Campground, Flagstaff, AZ. It seemed a very nice place, we were hardly there in the daylight. Set up after dark and were gone before the sun was up. We were maybe 75' from clean, nice bathrooms. No shower, no report:)

As always, more photos available at my Picassa site below.

[bigTom]

So, I'm going to try to do this right. We'll see, I'm pretty weak at do things right!

2nd and 3rd night: Up the Creek Campground, Moab, Utah.
A very nice, clean, respectable campground. CLEAN RESTROOMS and HOT SHOWERS that are tall enough for my hog body. It cost us $10.00 per night on the 'group plan' it would be $30 for a single alone, pretty pricey for me. I'm sure they would let 2 MC campers share a site like they did us, the showers alone make it worth while! Oh, and good sweet water right out of the tap. For those of us used to drinking Colorado River Water, that is a serious treat. I liked the place, and typically of Moab in general there were lots of pretty girls to look at. Always a plus.

[bigTom]

Last night: National Forest Service 'free camp' area, near Pine AZ.

Fire restrictions were on, there was LOTS of casual wood here. I like camping this way, except for one thing. We mis estimated our stops and got there with almost no water. Pine about 20 miles and Camp Verde about 40, we decided to go for the coolness and stay. We had enough water to wash down our pills, brush our teeth and have 2 shots of espresso each. Just barely enough to get us to Camp Verde and service station coffee. :)

Once again, more photos at my Picasa site if you haven't looked already!

[Ironheadziggy76]

bigTom, most excellent pics! P^ I keep wanting to go to Mexico and parts south, but after seeing photos like these it reminds me of all the places I haven't been here in the US.

Keep it coming! :Popcorn

We'll let you slide this time, just one pic of the french hotties? :well :p

[bigTom]

Quote by Ironheadziggy76
We'll let you slide this time, just one pic of the french hotties?

What you couldn't see there is 3 young women, 2 young men, all three girls pregnant. I drank a whole quart of water trying to figure out the travelling dynamic:)

[BJFazio]

Tom,
Nice pictures. Camped in Moab a couple of years ago, and that tent site looks real familiar. Can't say for sure. When we were there, the place was inundated with hundreds of Ford Bronco drivers camping & riding the hills. Kept us up ALL night fixing their vehicles and working on their Miller Lites.

BTW: Is that the infamous DannyK, and Steve 'the plumber' sitting at the picnic table?

[bigTom]

It is indeed. Danny the K hosted the camping here, it was great. We just didn't have any noise issues.

Friday night we thought there might be a problem, 16 early teens moved in across from us, thought they might carry on all night. Turns out they were adventure bike riders and many of them were out before I was, and I am pretty quick!

[Ironheadziggy76]

What you couldn't see there is 3 young women, 2 young men, all three girls pregnant. I drank a whole quart of water trying to figure out the travelling dynamic:)

:eek: :lol2 P^

[Mellow]

Great pics!

[VFR]

You got some great shots there, Tom. We had a similar situation with water this trip. I didn't carry any except in my Camelbak, figuring to rely on filling a container at the last gas stop. Misjudged that one a couple of times. The worst was in Somerset CO, on CO 133. Turns out that is a coal mining town & they all drink bottled water as the regular water has coal dust in it. We stayed at a state park up the road on a river & of course I didn't bring my water purifier that I have carried for two years & never used..... :rolleyes: Another camper there gave us each a bottle of water or we would have been really short.

Another time I had two bottles of water for camping but both blew off the bike on the way to Cody. I swear, next year I am doing it differently for sure.

At least the Flagstaff KOA had a water faucet at the campsite. By the time I got there I really needed it....

Tried to catch you guys but it just wasn't working.