Trip Thoughts

At the started of this trip my 2009 Vision Tour Premium only had 1456 miles on it so I was really not all that familiar with it.  We were still getting acquainted and I had not ridden it more than 150 miles in a single stretch.
In the beginning I was alarmed at the reaction when encountering a tar snake on the highway especially when the temperature was above 90°.  I found that the longer I rode the Vision this became less noticeable, you have to remember that the contact patch of the front tire is very small compared to the rear tire.  I think a wider front tire would eliminate the feeling all together.  I am over it now and don't seem to notice it anymore.
This trip was a total of 3415 miles and I ended my ride with 4871 miles on my Vision.


I have to say that the Victory Vision is a great handling motorcycle and is perfect for long distance touring in my opinion.
Traveling with my wife following along on her 2007 Lehman Jackal has us seriously considering some kind of bike to bike communications that work better than hand signals.

I hope everyone enjoy reading my blog it has been my first attempt at blogging.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Left Kearney, NE at 7:00 AM and rode in fog for the first 50 miles.
It is amazing the amounts of rain that must have fallen in central Nebraska and eastern South Dakota.
Many fields are flooded most of the rivers are at flood stage or out of their banks.  Highway 18 at Davis, South Dakota was just at the edge of the road and had been flowing over the road recently.
Arrived home at 2:00 PM clocking 275 miles today.  Total miles on this trip was 3415

Outstanding trip, I would change nothing about the Victory Vision!  Already planning the next adventure.

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Left La Junta, CO at 7:00 AM and traveled as far as Kearney, NE
472 miles total.
Traveling Hwy 50 from La Junta, CO to Granada, CO and turned on to Hwy 385 and took that into Nebraska at Julesburg, CO.
Hwy 385 has to be about the most deserted road in America, great road but absolutely no one else traveling the road.  We did have an 18 mile construction zone that was single lane with pilot cars.
We found onion fields, potato fields and cattle yards.
No pictures of this leg of the journey.


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Sunday, June 13th, 2010

Packed the bikes at 6:00 AM and after a brief stop for breakfast we said our goodbyes and hit the road.
The original plan was to try to make it into Kansas by the end of the day but we stopped for 45 minutes in Walsenburg, CO to try to set out a thunderstorm and decide that we would stop at La Junta, CO for the night.
Total miles today = 346


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Saturday, June 12th, 2010

We woke up to rain and pea size hail today.  It railed pretty much all day with several severe thunderstorms.
We spent the day doing tourist things and socializing.
In the evening we gathered for a group meal at a local brew pub.
Everyone turned in early in anticipation of the ride for home that would start on the next day.

Friday, June 11th, 2010

We headed out at 8:30 AM to ride the San Juan Parkway.
Beautiful scenery and great roads.  The route took us through Delores, CO and on to Ridgeway before a lunch stop in Ouray, CO.
After leaving Ouray we encountered the beauty of the Million Dollar Highway.
My wife Renee being afraid of heights was unable to look down into the drop offs and was really nervous with out a guard rail between us and a straight down fall.  Luckily she had decided to leave her trike set today or I would still be trying to get her off the mountain.
Since she was terrified we did not get many pictures of the ride on the Million Dollar Highway.

Total miles today = 235

Vision sightings = 2 (they were heading towards Delores just outside Telluride, CO)


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I will post what pictures we did get.






Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Another slow day today we took a short ride loop out to Shiprock, NM and back to Cortez.
Only 114 miles today.  Spent the rest of the day catching up on laundry and greeting new arrivals.



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 My Vision seemed to draw a crowd every day, mostly attracted Gold Wing Riders
 
 Susan, (on the left) rode in solo from southern Florida, first solo long distance ride.  We were all very proud of her.


 Jazz is here from New Zealand

 Look at those crazy legs!


 Girl talk. . . . . .

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Short day today Kanab, UT to Cortez, CO
Hit the road at 6:00 AM temp was 52 degrees, great ride to Page, AR and temps warmed to 80 degrees and got hotter from there.  Beautiful desert scenery all along the route.
We had concerns about Renee's Jackal making it between gas stops on this leg but there was gas available all along the route.  We were able to gas in PAge, AZ, Kayenta, AZ and made it all the wasy to Cortez.
Today's route 290 miles another sort day.

Vision sightings = 1 (At Kayenta, AZ a fellow from Australia on a rented Vision)


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Just a few pictures from along today's route.

 Sunrise over southern Utah

Big disappointment 1930 miles and Four Corners Monument was Closed





A few early arivals.  The official rally start date is June 10th, 2010.  Time for a little socializing with early arrivals.

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Slow day today only 189 miles, jumped on the Vision and headed to the Grand Canyon, North Rim. Nice ride in the 70's this morning and in the upper 90's coming back across the desert.  Not many Pictures today spent the afternoon getting the laundry done and hanging around the pool at Aiken's Lodge.

Vision sightings = 0
Cross Country sighting = 1



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Renee at the North Rim look out(this is a good shot since she is really afraid of heights)

Hot Ride in the cool shade

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Today took us from Green River, UT to Kanab, UT
About 300 miles today, temps were upper 90's again
Highway 12 was as nice as ever, Renee didn't seem to be too fond of the hogback portion with drop off on both sides. Staying at Aiken's Lodge in Kanab for 2 nights and will go to Grand Canyon tomorrow.
Renee has never seen this part of the country and I was here last in 2005.
We stayed at Aiken's Lodge, another Mom and Pop motel from the 60's.  Great motel and an excellent price, the owners are originally from Rapid City, SD.
We arrived at Kanab and spent the afternoon relaxing and looking around town.


Vision Sightings today = 0

Today's route:

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 Just a few of the many pictures I took on this leg of the journey.










Renee patiently waiting for me to take pic's










Seems like no one is in this part of the world






















Capital Reef





































































































Escalante, The Grand Staircase