Great Plains Bunk House

The Oklahoma stage of the TAT is flat beyond flat, there is a mile square grid systems and the trail follows this pattern, if the weather turns wet then it gets very interesting.

We near the end of Oklahoma and just before New Mexico was the “Great Plains Bunk House” this Really is a great place to stop and I would recommend all TAT travellers build this into their schedule…..Why, well firstly you will meet a cool dude called Parker….

…Parker was a Rodeo rider and a top one at that, really interesting guy who I could talk to for hours.

Parker makes tools and equipment available for minor Bike repairs, tyre changes etc. You can even ship parts at tyres (Tires) to him, you can camp or hire rooms, I could go on but just go there you will not be disappointed just remember to call ahead as its a popular place!

TAT update…..

New Mexico you cheeky thing!

The TAT runs past the Bunk House and it is changing now, very little on paved roads and longer sections between turns

New Mexico starts off flat, you are on your own for mile after mile, as we headed further north west things start to change…

…we stop often to take pictures….around each corner something new, just totally beautiful and unspoilt.

vast areas are ranch  lands support small numbers of cattle and horses. 

The Mighty Colorado

We were only in New Mexico briefly as we head North West but it made an impression…..then you enter Colorado and the mountains dominate the distant horizon.

We are really on our own now, sometimes going all day on the trails and only seeing cattle or wildlife.

The trails are much the same, fast service roads but that will change when we gain altitude…

the foothills are similar to the UK only on a much bigger scale and no people..

We head across Marshall Pass, its been a very mild winter so very little snow even this early in the year (May ) 

Just enough for a picture at the top, although we heard it was snowing at the top of Engineer Pass today.

We press on our aim being to get to Lake City, no need for fuel as its only 60 miles away we think, it turned out to be 100+ miles and all fuel tanks are called into action, we end up coasting on downhill sections to conserve the fuel we have left…..(Schoolboy error) still coming to terms with distances and how remote we are at times..

we still time for the odd picture though.

We make it to Lake City on fumes..

Our tent plot is large, in the morning these are the views just 10 meters from our tents….

We buy fresh food in town, no junk food today…perfect

Lake City

Guys, Lake City is another must do stop on the TAT, you could spend a week here and we in fact stay for three nights. its a good base to explore and you can hire Jeeps and ATV in the summer or Snowmobiles in the winter, the town has an upmarket feel like a European  Ski town and the Western style Saloon serves very very nice beer!

You meet the nicest people in these places and we spend a few hours with experianced adventure riders Gary and Debbie, (really) thanks for all the advice guys…

Engineer Pass

Out of Lake City is the route to Engineer Pass, this is well sign posted from the town.

We were lucky that the pass was open this early in the year and also the weather was excellent

It takes time to climb as we stop often to take pictures

we are told by locals the winter has been very mild…

and the trails are free from snow

as you climb the temperature drops….not that “Polar Bear” Gary notices…

we go on a little futher, the views are breathtaking

TAT travellers find time to head up to Engineers Pass, there are many trails to explore off the main route and there is lots of history.