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Could be worse, you could end up living next door to a Welsh ginger cunt.

Monday, we left Moab and headed south towards Flagstaff, where we decided we would spend the night. I had to get back to work, while the other 3 had extra days to play around Sedona. Not only is Moab a favorite of mine, but the road from Moab, south thru Mexican Hat and Bluff is one of my most favorite roads. Near Mexican Hat is Valley of the Gods, which looks similar to Monument Valley (most American western movies filmed there, as well as Forrest Gump's famous running scene). The best part of Valley of the Gods is the free camping available anywhere along the 20 miles of road looping thru it. At Monument Valley, owned by Native American, you pay to enter. And, you know the cheapest thing on a BMW is the rider. Next to Valley of the Gods is Moki Dugway, another hot spot for world travelers coming thru this area. The Dugway is a road that climbs what appears to be a vertical face of one of the large mesas. In fact, you cant see the actual road until you are about a couple of hundred feet away from its start. The views from the top can be incredible, as you look down on Valley of the Gods, and can see Monument Valley in the distance. Leaving the Dugway, you head back to the main highway and on to Mexican Hat (rock formation that looks like a sombrero about 200 feet off the ground) and then on to Monument Valley This view never gets old.... We made it into Flagstaff before temps dropped to badly, found a motel, ate Mexican food and the next morning I said my goodbyes to the other three and slabbed it back to Los Angeles. The only good thing about that day was the slowly increasing temps, from 42 up to about 85. It felt good to be warm again!

We took off from 3Step, heading to Moab for a couple of days. Waking up to snow on the mountains, we chose to stick to the pavement and try out some areas around town. I've been to Moab about 5 times now, but have spent most of the time in and around Canyonlands, especially the White Rim Trail. Gary, along this trip, knew of several other trails so we headed out for them. First up was an area called "Fins and Things", located in an area known as Slickrock. This area is east of Moab and characterized by smooth surfaced rock formations. You've probably seen videos of the rock crawlers that inhabit this area. Fins and Things is a one way trail complex that runs up and over large boulders, mixed with sand in between. Some steep drops and climbs make it even more interesting. We had fun for a mile or so, before encountering a steep, high rock face that caused us to turn around. But, not before entertaining the heck out of some dirt bike guys Bailing on Fins, we headed further east into the mountains. It was checkin time at our Bed n Breakfast, so we headed back into town. rugged adventure riders, getting their manicure appts made. Saturday morning, it was time to hit up some of the larger canyon areas that bring us back each time. Especially since on of the group had never been here before. We took off out Potash Road (see the ending of Thelma and Louise, if you want to see the area in question). This road runs along the Colorado River for several miles, before entering Canyonlands Park. Shot looking out over the Colorado River, from "Thelma and Louise Point". Coming into the park area from this angle, you can end up at the Shafer Switchbacks, which we intended to take up on top of the large mesa in the background of the picture above. Looking down on the White Rim Trail, from top of Shafer Switchbacks. WRT is over 100 miles of dirt, rock and sand, encircling the mesa we were standing on in the pic above. You exit that valley on another switchback about 20 miles west of this point.

This one has got to be right up there!

Correct young Bob and even younger Buckster, top of the class. The very expensive traffic engineering experts were all set to put a cycle track and island on one side of a similar arched bridge pushing all vehicles to the right hand side of the road under the part of the arch that doesn't have that clearance. It's funny till you get Railtrack knocking on your door because a bus from the depot 200 yards up the road has damaged their bridge, or from TFL because their double decker has been turned into a convertible.

i wouldn't go and watch that faggot anyway

Worst concert i've ever seen was Rolling Stones in the early 80s, at Anaheim Stadium. Only concert that summer that was over before dark. Ironically, the best concert i've ever heard was the Rolling Stones the following weekend, broadcast from San Diego. go figure.

People that won’t give a straight answer. That’s fucking me off at the moment. For example, I asked if someone had WiFi at a property we are going to stay at for a few days and the reply was “I’ve drained the pool”

Cant cost cut the racist fact i want fucking Japs to build my chit!

Horrible little man

It means a double decker bus will go under it in the middle of the road.

Gary Moore at Wembley Arena on the After the War tour. The support band were a bit crap. Then Gary Moore came on, but there was a loud buzzing from his guitar. The techs were working furiously but weren't getting anywhere. At the end of the second song he said "fuck this" and stormed off stage, the house lights came up after a minute or two and that was it. No refunds or anything! I vowed that I'd never go to another Gary Moore gig, but a few years later my late brother-in-law talked me into going to see his Still Got the Blues tour at Hammersmith Odeon. I've got to say, that gig was bloody excellent.

Consultants charging a fortune for their supposed expertise and then having to fix stuff for them afterwards or jump in and stop stuff happening before we all get tarred with the same brush. A few HGV/Bus drivers on here. What does this sign mean, particularly the white arrows either side of it? Answers on a post card and then I'll tell you what brilliant idea the consultants came up with and was due to be constructed next week.

Oh yes much more fleecing is coming our way. My favourite so far was mobile phone companies before Brexit saying they wouldn't reintroduce data roaming charges (or any other extra charges) when we left the EU. They soon changed their minds and will start switching over from January. They are sliding into dipping their hands in your wallet slowly though so there's not too much fuss by saying your current terms and conditions stand until the end of your contract. Aholes.

Maybe he couldn't understand your Cockney wideboy slang Ray?

The latest Brexit benefit... another example of no downsides only upsides... It's because Visa is increasing transaction rates now the EU cap no longer applies (post Brexit). real pain in the neck for me as I use the card for larger purchases and that gives me two months to pay it off without interest. (I hate paying interest) also buyer protection - gone. (going) I expect other will follow, or add charges to offset the charges. (sigh)

Who what...nevermind. Came and went that fast in my mind. How the fuck do people like that make money doing...that?

All of what you say is SPOT ON, particularly this bit about dismantling frameworks created by your parents. In my case, I never even went to school so didn't have any other influences to mediate their influence - except for books. Damn, I read a lot of books

Yeah but who's normal? We are all fucked up in our own ways, and in trying to avoid our own fuckedupedness we fuck up our children in new and creative ways...

I don't know why this reminds me of @Six30..............

Folk who like to demonstrate their perceived superiority over others whether in social status or material wealth (or any other way) are also always wankers here. But there are enclaves were that bollocks flourishes. I used to absolutely hate it but now I find it useful that they reveal theyre not my sort of person so early on in conversation, saves me wasting time weeding out the aholes Fuck me thats brutal. Parents often don't think (I could just end that sentence there ) about the impact, especially the long term impact of what they are doing. I have known a lot of parents who seem to put their children in difficult or uncomfortable positions, including only meting the love and approval children are hard wired to crave when they behave in the way the parent wants, for many its a very conditional relationship. I used to see it as plain cruelty but then I discovered it mostly seems to be down to fear (or their own fucked upness). They know life can be hard and they want their kids to be tough enough to handle it on their own. In a twisted logic they bring them pain to deal with to make sure they can cope with the pain the future might bring- to 'toughen them up' Cors Im not saying thats what it is in your case but we all know either first hand or from seeing someone close to us go through just how much parent/s can fuck with your head. They put in place a framework of thought processes before you have a chance to develop your own, hardwire wire you while you're a bit of a blank and that takes some undoing. So congrats in your direction for having a look at these things in a fearless way and coming out on the attack to slay any demons that cage you. You're not going to be simpering your way through life and finish up full of regret so hats off in your direction, that requires an uncommon strength of will. Blogging and posting worthwhile content is work, a lot of time editing, writing, rewriting and finessing things so others will enjoy it is a craft that requires time, some people don't understand that... so fuck 'em. When someone says something designed to undermine me or just negative crapola to bring me down I find reversing whatever theyre saying destroys it. Im sure you're familiar with the question "Why do you want to do that?" being asked in derisory tones to which the only reply is "Why not?" On the money front anyone who would question why you should be given money should simply be answered with (a tongue in cheek) "because Im more than worth it" Sounds like biking is the perfect balm for you. It is for most of us

One thing about people with learning difficulties - they give no thought to what is inappropriate. A card for the manager who is from Zimbabwe. Apparently he was overjoyed. (Ish)

It’s the Queens English, every foreigner should understand it. I mean, you do Pete.

I have a photograph somewhere of the same company's warning signs about a height restriction on a diversion route. They had drawn the arrows on the sign as a width restriction so all vehicles wider than 14 foot 9 inches were barred from going that way. I took a picture of a lorry and squashed the y axis so it was super wide like a Hummer on a high fat diet and sent that with the photo of the sign to the bloke paying their invoices.

The maximum height of a vehicle that will pass under this bridge is 14'9'' BUT only between the two arrows.

I saw the Clash in Bristol about 1979. It was obvious by the third song that they were so off their faces they didn't know what they were doing. A short while after they brought on a toaster called Mikey Dread who sounded like a speeded up version of Jamaica's mickey mouse. I left after 10 more mintues and went to the pub.

Definitely the end of possibly the greatest gp rider of all time

There'll never be another Dio!

I saw Black Sabbath when Ronnie James Dio was with them. Excellent gig.

In my case it was Deep Purple MkIII in Swansea 1974. Coverdale and Hughes trying (and failing) to do Gillan material was just pitiful. People were slow handclapping! They were always up against it anyway......because the support band was Elf. Who had (at the time) an unknown singer who just blew everybody away!

Absolutely fantastic, I never tire of seeing photos of guys riding in that area. Thanks for taking us along @alfalfa

Stunning shots Rick!

I never listened to him.......but with that one I made an exception!

I don't listen to him anymore, nowadays he sounds like the 3rd reserve for the pub singer

Rear wheel locked solid as I braked (due to abandoned pants). I would rather the fence wsn't there as I recon I could have just rode into the field but as I hit it the nearside footrest and gear lever took out most of the fence until it jammed and flicked me over. If you look at the fence and the posts you can see where I hit them and carried on until it brought me to a halt.

Pancreatic cancer is a bitch, it got my father in law after he had spent 5 years beating lukemia . I hope your friend is resting in peace.

Very sad. He sounds like a hell of guy, one you were lucky to know.

In my garden now

A few from the garden this morning No edits or crops, all straight out of camera

Looking out towards Lorca from Campo Lopez. The Himalayan takes me to some very nice places………..looking forward to the 650 version in 2024

On the way out, earlier that morning, one of our guys had seen some houses "against the rock" he said. Our return route took us right by the rock he saw. What we found there was a polygamist sect of Mormons, who had built their houses on the inside of this semicircular rock formation. The houses cant be seen from the main highway, giving them some privacy. We found out later, after asking around, that the houses are actually built into the rock, with tunnels connecting the sister wives

She’s a right twat then

On Saturday, I lost a friend. Well, I didn't lose him, that implies that I was simply careless and misplaced him, which you ought never to do with your friends. No, he didn't get lost, he died suddenly of pancreatic cancer, much too young. Of course it is natural to live and die and we will all do it, but I have been thinking about him (and am sharing about him here) because his role in my life is fundamentally caught up with motorcycles. He was simply the most kindest man, someone with deep compassion and someone who believed in the dreams of others. He was the CEO of the Black Dog Ride for years, which (I don't know if it exists in the UK) is a big annual charity event which raises money for mental health and depression research. But on a personal level, he was kind to so many of us, and our motorcycling community is much the poorer for losing him. Back when I announced my intention to ride halfway around the world on my own, most people said I was mad, as you'd expect. Peachie immediately understood the dream. He knew that I could do it, and he understood that I needed to do it; he was just thrilled that I was going to live my dream, and do what I needed to do, instead of staying home safely with my demons and our regrets, as so many of us do. When you're trying to make a dream real and most people don't believe in it, the support of a few people like Peachie becomes instrumental in keeping that dream alive. So I will always be grateful to him for that. Before I left on my trip, he gave me a set of spotlights which I wired onto my bike, and which must have now saved my night-blind ass more times that I can count. I always think of him when I switch on my spotties; he has been with me on this adventure the whole way. A man of such deep kindness and compassion - who fostered dreams - I wish him the deepest peace.