Aug 24 Day 04 - The Old Spanish Trail - Kanab, UT

Another strange day today, it got off to a late but interesting start with a real sit-down breakfast in the casino lounge. Bacon, eggs, hash browns, unhealthy white toast slathered with butter and orange marinade. Coffee...heartburn....

I loaded up, headed south east towards Tuba City, AZ but with distractions and all, didn't come close to making it. I think I'll let the pics tell the tale and if I think of anything to comment on I'll chime in.

Tourist info signs change from state to state. I didn't realize that's what these things were.

 Some times I see something I just have to take a picture of...then later on I'm clueless why.

Why oh why did I take this shot? And another half dozen just like it?

I recall stopping just past the intersection for my turn off to Panaca as I thought maybe I'd ride through the Great Basin for a change. Out came the map for a quick look-see, then I decided against it for this trip, save it for another time. After that I played map folding in a brisk breeze. Fun fun. Spent ten minutes chasing it around, glad no one was around to watch.

I got off the bike and took the following three shots just to illustrate how isolated roads like these are. It amazes me that no one seems to use them yet they must have cost the taxpayers a fortune to construct. Probably not much in the way of upkeep though. Hey maybe they built 'em just so I could have a place to ride?

No one coming in any direction. Hey what if I broke down? I could starve to death!

I recall riding through Pioche on another trip. There's an ever present smell coming from the foundry but not over powering. I expect the locals don't even notice it but it's there. I spent several minutes riding around trying to locate the gas station my GPS was claiming was there. I finally asked on old guy where it was and he laughed, said it had been gone for forty years. Thanks a lot Garmin,  

Their school is pretty cool. Probably haunted.

I rode on to Panaca where there's some interesting history. Seems the settlement started out as part of Utah but the folks in Nevada got kind of pissy about it mainly due to tax revenues. Gee, what a startling bit of information that is. It's a pretty little town though, in spite of local politics.

 You know I'm getting desperate for pics when I start shooting benches. This is what we'd have called "filler" material back when I played editor for our old trade rag.

Nice iron work just the same

OK, no more tourist info signs for awhile

Yaaay, I'm back in Utah! Home base for all those silly Mormons I like to poke fun at. Maybe I'll hold up on that for a little bit, might have to ride this way again.

 Sun flowers? Daisies? Not Cosmos, at least I don't think so. Anyway I like 'em.

Pretty posies blooming along the highway

Do you suppose these are purely wild flowers or did someone plant them?

All of a sudden dark ominous rain clouds appeared and I felt a few splatters on my helmet. Turned out to be nothing though and I felt bad for the critters who would likely welcome a bit of cooling rain. I would have too but I was glad I didn't have to break out the rain suit.

I stopped to gas up and knock back another Gatorade, then eventually entered the Dixie National Forest. The road going through it has a 40 mph speed limit which is justifiable considering the many tight curves. There are a lot of deer warnings and I saw four of them just waiting to pounce on unsuspecting bikers.

Yes I know the sign says "leaving" but I rode right by the entrance one so this will have to do. The things I go through just to bring you guys all the info...

This was at the highest point of the drive through

Out of the forest I ran hard to reach Kanab where I figured I'd spend the night. Just before getting there I ran across a bit of interesting real estate for sale. I haven't any info on it but the surrounding area has a lot of caves worked into the cliff faces.

Don't ask me, I'm just passing through

Big Foot lives here maybe?

Finally, my home for the night

Lots of history, movie stars, famous bikers

Parallel parking...when's the last time you saw that at a motel?

I'm in the James Garner room

There are signs like these all around town. Kanab continues to profit from their association with Hollywood types. 

So that's it for now, I've been typing this in genuine laptop tradition in the motel's front reception area. The WIFI in my room couldn't cut it so I had to make do the old fashioned way and balance my notebook on my knees. No one seems particularly concerned about it and my whining around about getting some kind of discount has fallen on deaf ears.

Tomorrow then.

LL