Utah

As we entered Utah the temperature rises and the scenery changes, we make camp in the heat and head for the Mexican Hat….…the Valley of the Gods…….and Monument Valley…

The scale of the National Parks in Utah is huge, Monument Valley a little too commercialised but still worth a visit.

We met some cool dudes here from Japan, they were on a trip out of Las Vagas and had hired immaculate black Harleys, they really looked the part in their designer clothes, we on the other hand were dusty and hot, but they did not seem to mind and were keen to have their pictures taken with us, on the last one I asked their guide to have one “lets go crazy” shot….it was the best of the lot, thanks guys!

Moab

We then headed to Moab, which we make our base for the next few days…..Moab is a busy place and you could easily spend a week here, lots of places rent out ATVs/Jeeps for the many trails and its a magnet for Mountain Bikers, Hikers, Climbers and of course the TAT runs through the town.

We spend a Day on the White Rim trail before a heading off again…..

……….through National Parks, hopping across the boarder with Navada several times

…….the trails are long and you sometimes dont see anyone for hours, sometimes all day, this day we see just four people……

….when we stopped by this crashed truck..

…….just to check, but it probably happened weeks earlier.

We end the day in Wendover make camp and all seems good…..that is until the high winds hit town…I probably only get 2 hours sleep as the tent gets tossed around, almost lifting me off the ground at one point, but the MSR tent survives…..what a night!

Bonneville Speedway

I so rate the film “The Worlds Fastest Indian” with Anthony Hopkins (true story) and we could not believe our luck when we discovered the TAT runs past the Bonneville Speedway.

We took our bikes onto the flats and made “very good progress” across the salt. It is flat and has a strange pattern, incredible that we are allowed to go on here..or are we!!!! We dont hang around too long just in case!

we seem to be popular with Chinese tourists as well…

time to play…

After about an hour we head back to the camp site to wash the salt off as its everywhere, then back on the TAT the trails are easy but the views and the remoteness are awesome,

Really liked Utah, vast areas of wilderness, and a lot of freedom to explore, just dont underestimate nature and the heat!