So same routine...woke up popped neck....this time I didn't have to chase my socks....and they were actually dry..yay.....

Off to breakfast...wait a minute....the sun is just coming up....ran back got camera...got me some sunrise shots....sweet....

So turns out their breaky doesn't open till 7 so screw it...I pack up....pop some pills load up the camel back with ice...hit the road....hey they gots a Mcdonalds....so the breakfast of champions for me. I pulled the map out and took a good look at it whilst dreading the indigestion that was sure to come....

Seems I need to do a run around east then north then west.....but there is a direct north road also...so it is actually a big loop. On the north leg....the road goes for a bit then the guy who made the map went crazy...cause he put about a thousand squiggles in a spot about the size of a fly turd on the map. Hmmmm that looks interesting then right after it is a road that goes west to a look out point....hmmmmm then if you go back south thru that squiggly mess....there is another road that goes east then south and connects back to the road I wanto be on anyways...hmmmm it even has a name...Valley of the Gods.

Okay gots ta do that.

So off I go.....Right out of the gate you start seeing the monuments...they are very cool and off in the distance.   Not many folks around either.....so I am taking pics and stuff and video...then poof there is the Mexican Hat... right on the side of the highway...very cool check out the pics...I'm sure a stiff breeze and kabang.....very scenic ride and its morning nice and cool....ahhhh doesn't get better.....then I start to approach this mess mess of curves....holy moly....mucho cool....I am going to climb a mountain on a goat path on a beemer....ohh and its gravel....seems the pavement ends here....I must get to top of this...way to cool...

So off I go. Crazy ride....BK handles the stuff great....ABS definitely kicked in a few times....but huge drop off one must take a weee bit of care on this road...I had visions of Ewan and Charlie (Long Way Round)....dang where is my support crew...sniff sniff....

So get to the top...wow what a view.....then I find the road...err goat path to the look out....did I mention there is like no one here......

So follow this crap road...thru a few dunes....not too big so passable....and it opens up to this open area. Wow it is a cliff that over looks the whole valley....I think I found a spot ot have me a stogy........

Wow.....not a sole around either....amazing view....nice breeeze...oh ya thats what its all about. Took it in big time.

Took a few pics...chilled....admired the view...but time to move on.....Sun was getting up and I know I had to go thru the valley below.....did I mention its a desert out there....wasn't too worried but the fairly fresh dead cow I passed on the side of the road err goat path I was on was a bit sobering....ya no didn't see any UFO's near the cow....

So down down down I went much fun....what a view.....definitely getting confident in BK's handling of the gravel and dirt roads... not too bad, its not a GS but seems to not mind a little farther off the beaten path....

Connect with the pavement....then find the intersection to Valley of the Gods....it is all gravel......goat path........16 miles......hmmmmm.......getting hot.......hmmm.....Hell Ya......left turn Clyde! (thought process took about a nanosecond)

Freakin amazing......the path takes you right beside all these different monuments...thru dry creek beds etc etc....some wash boards but not too bad...just take it easy stop a thousand time taking pics and video....and drinking water....cause its a desert out there ya know.....freaking hot out....but its a dry heat.... :)

As I am pulling out I pass a Suburban going in....that was it for vehicles. Got to the pavement....stopped...sucked back half a bag o water....popped a couple more pills grinned....and hit the road.......that was amazing!

So looking at the map.....and the watch.....time to swing north...sigh.....looks like I can swing into Salina again.....as it made sense. So it just got hotter and hotter....passed thru more desert and its all so different....but all of them are hot alright.....great riding. I see a sign...hmm Natural Bridge Park....well lets check that out. Very cool....it has several natural stone bridges....that you can view and wonder around.

Think the heat was getting to me as I didn't wonder around as much as I usually do...but I did have fun on the park road as it was twistier then hell itself. I also managed to dump the contents of me tank bag when I was paying to get into the park...that sucked.....got some minor damage on me telephoto lens out of that. Sign of things to come.....as farther down the road.... I smashed the bettery and cover of me GPS...don't ask how....I'll just say one in a million I could never do that again if my life depended on it.

So GPS dead....this sucks....as I depend on the dang thing a lot....so I need a fix for it. Well Salt Lake City is on the horizon...I'll see what I can do there. So hit the road....I must have cussed for about 20 miles......navigating old school sucks......but I can do it....no worries so far...but I miss me tunes.....whahhhhhhhhhhhh
 
So roll into Salina...and lo and behold they got a room. So I'm outta pills and this time I get a bottle of Advil...pop a bunch....wait for some relief. Get to the hotel....dust off.....get me some beers....some supper...more beers and pills and crash.....awesome day.