WELL, You just don't know what you missed until you get home!

When I returned from 8400 miles, 7800 on the motorcycle, for 51 days, I made the statement that I would never cross the Mississippi again on 2 wheels.  I have to take that back.  Sanity has returned and I am getting the urge to return to the road.  This is because when you do any trip, no matter how many days or miles, you will reflect on it for some time and will realize that you missed some things.  You will think about how you could have spent another week or two weeks and maybe longer.  This country is so big and no trip will take it all in for the traveler to be satisfied.  So it is with me and here is why I want to go back.

1.  I set out to finish riding on my motorcycle in all 48 states.  It didn't happen due to the heat in Nevada and California.  I am currently at 46 states!  I rented a car to see the people and places but the bike was in storage in Flagstaff, AZ.  So easy enough, at a better time of year, to fly to Las Vegas and rent a bike and do a small loop to finish this.  Then I think about what else I missed and it is all within a reasonable distance.

2.  It was a long day with temps in the high 90's and I was tired.  I passed WINSLOW, AZ on my way to an air conditioned room in Flagstaff, AZ.  Standing on the Corner in Winslow, AZ with the bike in front is an iconic picture.  The more I think about it the more I want to go back.  It is also a short distance from other routes that I want to do.

3.  While I did the Kingman to Needles route thru Oatman in the car, I want to go back on the motorcycle.  I missed the earlier part of Rt. 66 from Seligman, AZ to Kingman which gives the true flavor of the route.   These two parts of Rt. 66 are a don't miss part because it gets you away from I-40 and onto the roads that actually were used in the early 1900's.  The roads are narrow and not well maintained but passable and especially fun on a motorcycle.  I would, however, go back on my 2017 BMW R1200 GSA and not on my Goldwing.  It would give me a better tool to take side roads that may not be paved.

4.  Prescott, AZ to Flagstaff on Rt. 89a 

A close friend is planning on moving to Prescott, AZ in retirement.  Then I came home and read a couple of articles about 89a and that it winds through old mining areas with ghost towns and haunted mines.  It is also an excellent motorcycle route with winding twisty roads.  It's not a lot of miles just around 80 so a nice add on to other trips.  I could have easily added this on to my route from Needles, CA to Flagstaff but again, I was in a car due to the outrageous heat.  Timing of the year to do this is important.

5.  Bryce Canyon and beyond

My friend Ray met me in Kanab, UT and we traveled to Bryce Canyon.  We had a ways to go to his house in Provo, UT but we made a stop at Bryce.  While there a small forest fire became much bigger and we did travel to the end of the road but decided that we should move on.  As we left Bryce, had we turned right on Rt. 12 there was a lot to see in Escalante Grand Staircase.  This is on my list for my next trip out West.

I haven’t even touched on Moab!  You see the problem here?  Every trip will lead to another trip…an endless cycle of trips.  So I keep the bikes ready to go because I am retired and the United States/Canada is a very big place with lots to see!