K11 Owners Group

Steven B · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 1:39 pm Post subject: Cedar City Getaway Sept 2011

We went to the BMWMOA getaway in Cedar City, this was our second year in a row to attend this event.

Here is the route we took. The first two days we stayed in Page, AZ. Then on to Cedar City, UT. for two days during the Getaway

We left Wednesday morning, beginning mileage

North bound out of Vegas on I-15

Riding through the Virgin River Gorge, always a good twisty ride, although the highway is not in the best of shape and has a lot of traffic

Almost to Utah

We had a gift card - thanks to my sister, Susan - for a Crackerbarrel restaurant, so this was our first stop, rocking chairs, breakfast & morning coffee in St. George, UT.

Headed east on Hwy 9

Before we arrived at the Zion west entrance, we passed a helicopter with search & rescue doing some training on lifting out injured or stranded hikers...I don't think I'd want to be the person on the end of that line

Riding through Zion National Park

Spectacular scenery

We stopped at the east entrance to get the required photo

The same entrance - 16 years ago, when I took my future bride (Donna) on her first ride, we and the bike have changed just a little since then...1995 - using (gasp) film in my Nikon FE 2, hot leather jackets, and old full face Bell & Arai helmets

On Hwy 9, east bound

We drove through a long single lane tunnel

Another smaller tunnel

The riding and scenery was just perfect

Made a pit stop at a little Art gallery, took a few minutes and just enjoyed the morning

On Alt 89, headed east, does it get any better than this ??

View looking back west, with Hwy 89 in the distance, from the Le Fevre overlook

We took the southern route into Page on Alt 89, almost to Marble Canyon, AZ.

Our hotel in Page was right next door to a Mexican resturant, we had a very good dinner there, had a few frosty adult beverages and called it a day.

Thursday we took a tour of Antelope Canyon.
The ride out from Page to the canyon was another adventure - down about 3 or 4 miles driving in a very silty bumpy river bed, in a big diesel pickup - don't think even a GS could have made it down to the canyon area, as the river bed was deep in several places.
As a serious amateur photographer, I had always wanted to visit this place. Unfortunately, all the 12 pm tours were already booked, (I tried booking this tour 3 weeks ago) so we had to go on the 9:30 am tour, the lighting wasn't the best, but I did get a few good shots...

Waiting to get in, this canyon is very narrow, several times - we had to stand against the wall to let the earlier tours walk by on their way out.

The canyon was just spectacular

I spent most of the time looking up, to get what natural sunlight I could, it was very dark at the floor in several places. The tour took almost an hour, it seemed to go by much faster. I took over 70 pics, and banged my head several times in the dark narrow spots

Donna did the had part, carrying all the gear, while I did the photography. The canyon walls had thousands of white crystals - so when I used the flash for this pic, they reflected it back.

Out of the canyon, back into the desert

Our tour guide, Henry - from Antelope Canyon Tours, INC. He did a great job keeping our group together, didn't lose or leave anyone behind.

We had planned on riding the bike back out to Marble Canyon after the tour, but we were both covered with the red silt. So we did some laundry, had a few frosty beverages, and had dinner at John's Texas BBQ. Our hotel was right next to all these places, so we didn't have far to walk.

We were up and on the road Friday morning with the sunrise

Riding over the bridge by the Glen Canyon dam

Lake Powell at sunrise

Pulled over at a parking area to get this one

Donna enjoys the sunrise

We had the road, Hwy 89, all to ourselves

West on Hwy 89, towards Kanab, UT.

We stopped at Tod's, in Long Valley junction, to enjoy a cold drink. As always, the Beemer attracted a lot of attention, visited with several other bikers, who were out enjoying the day

We took Hwy 148 north and stopped at Cedar Breaks national monument. They had finally constructed a park sign, so we took the required pic to add to our album

More spectacular scenery

A rare pic of Donna without her helmet

We continued on Hwy 143 to Parowan, Ut. and had lunch at a very good cafe, then down on I-15 to Cedar City. Again this year, we decided to not to do a group ride, but had a fun evening meeting other BMW riders. I believe there were about 95 riders at this event.

BMW's at the Crystal Inn.

Saturday morning was very cool, the temp was 54, according to the scrolling sign at the IHOP. We had a good breakfast there, put on our cold weather gear and hit the road at 8am. Destination - Bryce Canyon

East bound on Hwy 14, going up to about 10,000 feet

We took Hwy 148 past Cedar Breaks, then east on Hwy 143. We hadn't traveled this road before, so it was a new way for us. The deer were out enjoying the morning, 4 times we had to slow way down while they crossed the highway - but always fun to watch

Red Canyon - on the way to Bryce

We decided to try a different plan for Bryce Canyon this year, we went all the way south to the end of the park, then worked our way back, stopping at all the different overlooks.

Rainbow Point

Black Birch Point

Ponderosa Point

Aqua Canyon

Natural Bridge

We saw many of the other BMW riders in Bryce, hopscotched with them through out the day. We stopped at the general store near the Bryce Canyon Lodge and had lunch - biker style

Heading back on Hwy 14 - which has to be one of the best roads in southern Utah for riding

Fall colors were not quite at their peak

We made it back to Cedar City about 4 pm, cleaned up and went down for a frosty adult beverage and attended the BBQ buffet that the MOA provided. Donna had her door prize ticket drawn for a Touratech baseball hat. Nothing for me this year. Had a nice evening visiting with other BMW riders and their spouses. A nice finish to another wonderful day of perfect weather and riding through some beautiful country.

Saturday we headed out around 9 am, followed some other BMW's west on Hwy 56

We stopped at Beryl Junction and had some more coffee. We were told to stop in Veyo, UT. and have some pie from a little bakery there

South bound on Hwy 18, more good riding all to ourselves

Coming into Veyo, UT.

We stopped at the recommended bakery and had our breakfast

Now this is breakfast - Donna had the chocolate, I had the coconut cream

We stopped and went through the Snow Canyon State Park, which is just north of St. George, Ut.

We took Old US 91, bypassing the Virgin River Gorge and came out in Littlefield, AZ. A long and lonely road

Took a nice long break in Mesquite, NV. The last 70 miles back to Vegas are always the longest of any trip

Not very often I get to pass an airplane on the Beemer

South bound on I-15

Almost back, Vegas in the distance

Back home - 947 miles later

Another great bike trip, the Beemer ran great, no issues to deal with, just riding and enjoying the scenery.
_________________
Steven B
1991 K100RS
BMWMOA # 69791

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 2:53 pm Post subject:

Steven,

You and Donna have some great trips together. Thanks for the pictures.

John
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Stoked Steve · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject:

Awesome pics, Utah is like another planet. I haven't been there since way back befoe the turn of the century, probably about '79 I think. I was about 10 years old on a cool western trip with my grandparents in their Tioga RV. I still have those images burned into my memory, Bryce Canyon in particular..

My brother lives in Salt Lake City and my folks are now in Parhump NV after fleeing California a few years back. I think we need to pay them all a visit soon....

Thanks for sharing!
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Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 8:48 pm Post subject:

So....

Steven and Donna- you both do LOTS of miles on your K bike. How can we convince you to travel to the East and attend HMSP V?

Great people, great rides, GREAT FOOD. And really great people...

5th annual original get together of the K11OG.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Phil Marvin · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:49 pm Post subject:

Hi, John,
I've already invited him to ride with me (and Chip?) from El Paso to HMV.
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Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 11:13 pm Post subject:

Just a great trip report, beautiful pictures.
_________________
'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.

jo · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 15 Location: Belgium

That looks like a great ride.
Here in Europe there is an organisation that arranges house exchanges as a way to travel cheap.
Would'nt it be great to not only swap house but have a K bike to make great rides in a country where riding to with your own bike is impossible Very Happy

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 5:54 am Post subject:

mtnroads · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 3:00 pm Post subject:

Great trip report - thanks for the excellent photos and commentary. I love southern Utah and spent a lot of time riding through that area in the 80's and 90's after I moved to Colorado from California - I would meet my west coast buds somewhere in the middle every year or two for a week of riding and carousing, er... camping. We especially enjoyed meeting in Utah and I just loved Red Canyon, Dixie National Forest and Hwy 12 coming out of Escalante. Stunning country and great roads. Thanks again for the pics and fond memories. Smile

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2012 R1200RT Midnight Blue
95 K1100LT Graphit (sold)
01 R1100RT Black (sold)

Number 6 · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 6:40 pm Post subject:

Awesome, man!
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I am not a number, I am a free man.

94 K1100LT

dwerbil · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 1:33 am Post subject:

Excellent pics! Glad you all got home alright after so many miles.
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93 K1100RS ~ 2004 R1150RT ~ 84 RS ~ 78 R100/7 ~ 65 R60/2
Click for pics
Randy at Round Rock, Texas

robert85 · Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Posts: 22

Amazing pics... man fantastic job...... Smile

Steven B · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 10:32 am Post subject:

Glad to post these ride reports. I've always had an interest in photography, learned it on the Baton Rouge PD when I was a crime scene photographer.

Posting these ride reports together is "almost" as fun as doing em..

I've done quite a few trips based on what other riders have put up.

We are off tomorrow for another overnight-er, stay tuned...
_________________
Steven B
1991 K100RS
BMWMOA # 69791