yes canajun, monsoon season. i was there every summer during childhood, and was there for the 84 floods. its some incredible intense wet & wild weather.
September might be the best time, a bit cooler for you.
I can't help but think how long it took to draw out that calendar and that Harley (3rd photo) doesn't match the colour in your Header. You mean you have more than one ?
Big Will - I think our longest day will be about 250 miles, so hopefully we'll have enough time to get a good look around. Although I'm already reading things like, "You need 2 days in Zion." Well that's not going to happen.
My wife and I did the same area last October and it was great. It was her first big trip...1900 miles in 6 days. We rode an old BMWR90S. We started in ST. George Utah, did ZIO,Brice,No. and So. Rims of the Grand Canyon and RTE 66. We found some good places to stay and some great restaurants. Oh, and the scenery wasn't too bad either.... 89 is a great road and parts of 89A are even better. I'll post a map to my site for you to look at. I have traveled that area a lot...I used to live in Gallup NM and if God wants to give the world an enema, that's where it goes. But...there is so much great riding from there. You're going to have so much fun and that is a perfect time of year to go. Paul
Don't pass by Zion if you're coming down through Utah. A nice access from there to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and a more beautiful place in a lot of respects.
I'd not worry much about Arizona Monsoons, not like the 24/7 in the far east! Just crashing thunder boomers of a few minutes that You are usually begging for to cool down! ;) Alpine to Camp Verde across the op of the Mogollon is high and Cool. Hwy 191 south from Alpine Shows "The Dragon" what it can be when it grows up! ;
No matter where I live... Arizona will always be Home!
I'd not worry much about September "Monsoons"... not like the 24/7 for days of the far east... more like a few minutes of crashing, booming, thundering light show that you're begging for to cool down! ;)
The North Rim beats the south like Steve said. If you're coming from Moab... don't fail to go to Zion in southwest Utah... And hwy 12 through Escalante on the way... Zion Beats the Grand Canyon in a lot of respects. More beautiful and spiritual for some ;) ... especially if you conquer Angels Landing!
Jerome, Whiskey row in Prescott...
Arizona across the top of the Mogollon from Camp Verde to Alpine is Gorgeous high and cool Ponderosa pine. Then 191 south to Clifton, the Coronado Trail, is 119 miles of Arizona Two lane that teaches "The Dragon" back east what it could be if it went west and grew up! :) but that might be east and south of where you've got time for...
Brian - Thanks for the tips. We were planning to take Hwy 12 from Moab down to Zion so it's good to hear you recommend it. As for the Coronado Trail I'm afraid that might have to wait for the next trip.
oops... didn't mean to double post... my 'system' locked up in the middle and I thought it didn't post... and then had to write it again, senile brain and all... You could cut the one you thought to be lesser ;)
I know how you can find out the best places to go. I have heard of a book that features these areas in Arizona and Utah..... oh never mind, you have it already.....!
Now doesn't that look like fun.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think half the fun is in the planning, but once I get out on two wheels I know where the fun really is.
Should be nice and toasty warm in that area come September.
I'm already getting excited even though it's still 7 months out. And I expect it will be warm - not planning to pack any electric clothing.
DeleteYeah will be pretty hot down low, but get up in elevation and things should be nice- I think the North Rim of Grand Canyon is around 7000'
ReplyDeletehave fun
No Name - Thanks. Looking forward to it.
Deletefun! but, monsoon season right?
ReplyDeleteMs. M. - Monsoon season?
Deleteyes canajun, monsoon season. i was there every summer during childhood, and was there for the 84 floods. its some incredible intense wet & wild weather.
Deletehttp://geoplan.asu.edu/monsoon.html
http://phoenix.about.com/od/weather/a/monsoontrivia.htm
I learned something new today. Thanks for that. Now we have some other possible adventures to look forward to :)
DeleteCanajun:
ReplyDeleteSeptember might be the best time, a bit cooler for you.
I can't help but think how long it took to draw out that calendar and that Harley (3rd photo) doesn't match the colour in your Header. You mean you have more than one ?
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Bob - Photos thanks to Google. No, that's not my bike, we'll be renting for this trip. At least that's the plan right now.
DeleteHI Did this two year ago.. May 24 weekend frost and 30 degrees f in the am in flagstaff.
ReplyDeletehttp://newmarketadv.blogspot.ca/2011/06/harleys-out-of-vegas-route-66.html
Big Will - I expect we'll see some temperature extremes as the elevation changes. In fact I'm counting on it! I checked your post - nice pics.
DeleteThanks care full we found that 400 mile days did not leave much time for site seeing...
Deletenext time we will do three days
Big Will - I think our longest day will be about 250 miles, so hopefully we'll have enough time to get a good look around. Although I'm already reading things like, "You need 2 days in Zion." Well that's not going to happen.
DeleteI cannot think of better place to go.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gary. It was some of your photos of that area that really got me wanting to visit.
DeleteGrand Canyon is awesome. The best route is south from Utah on the 89, and then into the park on the 64. More twisties, better views, and less traffic.
ReplyDeleteSteve - Thanks. Route planning is not yet complete but we will be doing some of 89 and 64. We're also planning to cut through on Hwy 12 from Moab.
DeleteSounds like an excellent adventure to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteKaren - Monument Valley and that whole area have long been on my bucket list, so I'm looking forward to it.
DeleteMy wife and I did the same area last October and it was great. It was her first big trip...1900 miles in 6 days. We rode an old BMWR90S. We started in ST. George Utah, did ZIO,Brice,No. and So. Rims of the Grand Canyon and RTE 66. We found some good places to stay and some great restaurants. Oh, and the scenery wasn't too bad either....
ReplyDelete89 is a great road and parts of 89A are even better. I'll post a map to my site for you to look at. I have traveled that area a lot...I used to live in Gallup NM and if God wants to give the world an enema, that's where it goes. But...there is so much great riding from there.
You're going to have so much fun and that is a perfect time of year to go.
Paul
Paul - Thanks for that; we're getting excited already! (But we'll bypass Gallup NM.)
DeleteI will have to watch closer as the time comes around. Maybe take a day trip up that way to meet you.
ReplyDeleteAZHD - That would be great. Details are falling into place regarding dates and routing and I'll be sure to post those.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteDon't pass by Zion if you're coming down through Utah. A nice access from there to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and a more beautiful place in a lot of respects.
ReplyDeleteI'd not worry much about Arizona Monsoons, not like the 24/7 in the far east! Just crashing thunder boomers of a few minutes that You are usually begging for to cool down! ;) Alpine to Camp Verde across the op of the Mogollon is high and Cool. Hwy 191 south from Alpine Shows "The Dragon" what it can be when it grows up! ;
No matter where I live... Arizona will always be Home!
I'd not worry much about September "Monsoons"... not like the 24/7 for days of the far east... more like a few minutes of crashing, booming, thundering light show that you're begging for to cool down! ;)
ReplyDeleteThe North Rim beats the south like Steve said. If you're coming from Moab... don't fail to go to Zion in southwest Utah... And hwy 12 through Escalante on the way... Zion Beats the Grand Canyon in a lot of respects. More beautiful and spiritual for some ;) ... especially if you conquer Angels Landing!
Jerome, Whiskey row in Prescott...
Arizona across the top of the Mogollon from Camp Verde to Alpine is Gorgeous high and cool Ponderosa pine. Then 191 south to Clifton, the Coronado Trail, is 119 miles of Arizona Two lane that teaches "The Dragon" back east what it could be if it went west and grew up! :) but that might be east and south of where you've got time for...
Brian - Thanks for the tips. We were planning to take Hwy 12 from Moab down to Zion so it's good to hear you recommend it. As for the Coronado Trail I'm afraid that might have to wait for the next trip.
Deleteoops... didn't mean to double post... my 'system' locked up in the middle and I thought it didn't post... and then had to write it again, senile brain and all... You could cut the one you thought to be lesser ;)
ReplyDeleteI know how you can find out the best places to go. I have heard of a book that features these areas in Arizona and Utah..... oh never mind, you have it already.....!
ReplyDeleteGary - I am working my way west.... Thanks again!
Delete