This year we did it right. No rain, no snow, no November. We did however revisit the long dark canyon of highway 6. I'm always both excited and frightened by the prospect of the combined 500 lbs of metal, fuel, and flesh being hurled down a dark canyon at 80mph, slowing to 50mph for the corner only to speed back up to 80 in hopes to catch up to the fleeting red tail lights of the probably drunk truck driver ahead. When keeping up seems impossible and the road becomes harder to see, my heart jumps into my throat. My fear comes not from the percarious situation and my lack of personal safety, but for the safety of that of my wingman, Tyson.
I've ridden many miles alone and motorcycling for the most part is a solitary activity. Riding alone allows for the freedom to do or go anywhere you want without having to consult anyone. It offers an escape from the world where you're alone with your thoughts and get to feel all the exhilaration that only a motorcycle can offer.That being said, I highly suggest If possible, to bring a wingman along. I find that if you have someone to share your moto experiences with, the highs are higher, and the lows are much easier to bear.
Downtown Helper. From what our new bartender friend told us, the old mining town has roughly 500 residents. Which is surprising considering how many cops I saw, they must have 1 for every 10 people.
Good morning view from the little $50 a night dive motel that we stayed in. There is an obvious cost benefit to staying in places like this, however that's not the main reason why we do it. The little mom and pop shops and hotels that we have the pleasure of visiting have much more character and feeling then the big box high end hotel chains.
A little night time exploring and shenanigans led us to find the Swisher Sweets. A tasty surprise.
I've heard that if you want to get a pulse on any new place you visit, a great place to start is the local pub. We walked the streets and found the only place that seemed open which happened to be a bar. Tyson and I were the only two there for quite some time, we played a few rounds of pool and had a few beers while we got to know the bartender and a little bit about the town. One thing that consistently amazes me is the kindness of strangers. Especially those that know you are a motorcycle rider. There is a vulnerability that people can sense when you're an out of town motorcycle rider and without fail, if you open up, people will be drawn to you. They offer up help and attention and a kindness that seems to be missing during any other regular social interaction.
This trip was no different. This bar didn't serve food and the bar keep could tell we were hungry. Without asking, he offered to run down to the local gas station and pick up anything we wanted while we hung out and relaxed. I called and ordered a pizza and gave the attendant my CC# over the phone. Once it was time for pick up, the bar keep sent his brother down to pick up the pie only to discover my card had declined. Apparently my card has some security feature which requires you to swipe it in person. Just as I was about to leave and walk down myself to straighten everything out, the bartender said "Hey, you don't have to walk, you can take my car."
I can't remember a time when a complete stranger offered up his personal car to me for any reason. I was so amazed by his generosity that I was speechless. Just one more example of how much of an ice breaker a motorcycle really is, and how kind people can be whom you've never met. Furthermore, I find that those that have the least, give the most. They are the greatest teachers.
A little burned down fuel or auto repair shop that we came across.
Fueling up before our jaunt home. Our co-worker was getting married that day so we probably averaged about 80mph+ the whole way back in hopes to arrive in time. We made it, with about 30 minutes to spare.
Just before we left Helper we decided to ride around the little sleepy town to see what we could see. I've always loved trains and train yards, they always make for a great pic.
Little old cemetery outside of Duchesne.
The summit of highway 40 finds us at 9200ft and a nice overlook.
Starvation Resevoir just outside of Duchesne. The last one was one off my better pics of the day.
Heaven, meets earth, meets water.
While stoping for photo opportunities on the side of the road, sometimes you rest, sometimes you dance. Thanks for visiting, until next time, keep the rubber side down. :)
Some photos courtesy of Tyson Call http://www.flickr.com/photos/tysoncall/
