The Arches, Utah

. Eagle Rock?


. A lot of rock overhead.



. She didn't quite get my concept.


. Huge Coffee

. A 1973 Airstream to go with the Guzzi


. Crazy stuff, people carried their toddlers up here

. Wilson's Arch on the road to Moab
This was just off the road. Look closely at bottom right. The hole is big enough for a truck.

Another day, another brag. Moag, Utah is huge tourist Mecca and the scale of the American way M. O. is pretty staggering. There are dozens of Hum Vees decked out with elevated seating to take people through all this wild terrain and the whole town is geared for turn-over. I went to a place called The Brewery last night, it was packed with well-to-do WASPs. The staff looked like they'd been under the whip for too long and I made my exit. No atmosphere, definitely not relaxing.

The park rangers have uniforms starched to boot-camp standard. One of them gave me a few words of advice as I was going in through the gates. I think it was something about my relative velocity. He received a craven 'thank you very much' for his trouble. He looked absolutely magnificent. Prudence precluded a photograph I'm sorry.

First slap on the wrist after 3500 miles. Pretty good.

Didn't sleep well last night. I usually do. Maybe the concern about our Europe trip has me a bit stressed. What do you care anyway?

Left my watch at the motel. Luckily I remembered on my way back from the Arches. The nice girl, complete with 'whale-tail', had it put aside. Another close one.

Did the weekly on the camel this morning, fixed a prob with the gear-selector, a prob with an oil-leak, topped up the oils, checked the plugs, gave it a wash and polish and launched it towards the park and its omniscient Rangers.

Am heading down to Monument Valley now. I imagine you are sick of looking at rocks. But they have their attractions. BTW each of the pictures on my blog is huge. If you double-click them they are good enough to print or use as wallpaper (no, not for your walls).

I'm afraid to admit that I've been riding bare-headed a bit lately. After that ride with Manuel the Deadman the temptation is too much. I restrict it to slow work through the parks usually. No lectures from safety-dominatrices (is that the plural?). I am being careful but don't want to waste a great opportunity.

I was saved by the 4% beer last night. It's not as lame as Arkansas beer but you have to keep drinking for that elusive buzz (Hi Danny).

This is as far north as I will go for this trip. It is all SW and down-hill from here. The Guzzi is coping and so am I. Looking forward to seeing Jane arrive in LA on the 26th for the next stage as we ride up the coast and over the Golden Gate together.