Totals and awards

So this is a little late, but here's my version of a trip wrap up.

Totals:

Number of days: 35

Miles on Cece: 746
Miles by tow truck: 107
Miles by UHaul: 128
Miles on Envy: 6664
Total miles by bike: 7410
Total mile: 7645
Sets of motorcycle tires: 4 (1 on Cece, 3 on Envy)
Number of oil changes: 2 (Brooklyn, and Bartlesville, OK)
Number of motorcycle batteries: 3 (1 in Cece, 2 in Envy)
Number of bike drops: 3 (VA gas station, Waterfall in TN, Cinnamon Pass in CO)

Number of good samaritan stops: 2 (Harley shift linkage near Denver, KTM gas near Silverton, CO)

Bottles of Scotch: 1
Bottles of Bourbon: 2

Number of states: 21 (not counting clipping Texas)
Number of hotels: 15
Number of campgrounds: 7
Number of friend's homes: 3

Broadway shows: 2 (Kinky Boots, The Book of Mormon)
Movies in a theater: 2 (Much Ado About Nothing, The Lone Ranger)

Days until next trip: ???

Awards:

Best scenery: Colorado. Runner up: Arizona
Most water crossings: Tennessee
Most frustrating roads: Arkansas (gravel)
Most challenging roads: Colorado
Most fun dirt roads: Colorado
Most fun paved roads: Tie; Colorado and Arizona
Most boring unimproved roads: Oklahoma
Biggest armpit of a town: Pueblo, CO
Place I most wanted to get out of: Tuba City, AZ
Worst drivers: Pennsylvania
Worst traffic: NYC
Best looking girls, state: Indiana
Best looking girls, city: Tie; NYC and Nashville, TN
Best hotel chain: Best Western
Best hotel room: Best Western Kokopelli executive suite, Clayton, NM
Place I most want to go back to: Tie; Ouray, CO and Sedona, AZ

That was a thing

I got home yesterday afternoon. Time to clean up and get ready for work tomorrow. I'll probably have a better wrap up post later today.

A non-optional stop

Got to get a date shake.

One can of tuna

When I was packing for the trip, I tossed a couple of cans of tuna in the trunk. I never opened them. This morning I found a good use for one of them.

More rain

The one place I didn't expect rain is Blythe.

34

Thirty four. That's how many days ago I left California. Today I've returned.
I left Tuba City quickly. It was a handy stop at a rainy, windy moment. But, I really didn't want to spend more time there than I needed to. The restaurant next to the hotel was probably the worst place I've eaten during this entire trip. That included McDonalds, Denny's, and the Waffle House.
Flagstaff came and went relatively quickly and I headed to Sedona. Who knew that there were gorgeous mountains like that hidden in the desert that is Arizona. The only problem is that it was over run by tourists. I didn't stop there but the guy I offered gas to yesterday said that there are some amazing trails around Sedona. Sounds like a possible reason to return. I then made my way to Cottonwood to pick up a quart of oil. I'm fairly sure the next motorcycle shop I'll pass by is in San Diego county. I don't really need to be caring another quart. Better safe than sorry though. Then, off to Jerome, which I've wanted to visit for a while. It was just a drive through, but it was everything I expected. Prescott was the next waypoint.
After Prescott I stopped by the side of the road to take a quick break. While I was sitting there drinking my water, a guy rides up on a bicycle. He's been riding for eight weeks from Virginia and is heading for San Diego. Now that's a trip. While we were talking a guy pulls up in a Jaguar. He transports cars and is driving this one to Newport Beach. Three people, three different modes of transport, heading for about the same place. Interesting, random, meeting.
The roads from Flagstaff to outside of Prescott were fun. Sections of very tight twisty mountian roads that made me wish I had the Monster with me instead of Envy. There's something about a heavily loaded KLR with knobby tires that isn't as fun on mountain roads as a Ducati. Once I dropped out of the hills south of Prescott the roads got decidedly boring. And hot. So, I continued on the 89 then the 60 toward Blythe. By the time I got on the last twenty miles of the I10, the wind started picking up. It stayed manageable at 65 until I crossed the border.
Once in Blythe, I made straight for the local Best Western. Best Western has been consistently the best hotels I've stayed in. Once i was checked in, I unloaded Envy, took off the riding gear, and headed for the hot tub. After a quick soak, I showered and walked across the street for diner and a surprise. The "coffee shop" I went to also has a full restaurant and bar in the back. This place is right out of the 60s. Red leather booths, stone walls, brown/tan stained glass. I felt like I was in a old Tom Waits song. The surprise was I got a fairly passable Manhattan there. Other than New York I've been lucky to get a beer. Who would have figured I would get a decent cocktail in Blythe?
The heat sapped me. I'm going to try to wake up early and take the long way to Palm Desert, through Mecca, tomorrow.

Wow. Sedona.

Not bad for being in the middle of a desert.