Sometimes I know exactly where I am going. In that case it’s easy, pick a route and go.
More often I have an idea where I’d like to end up, and generally speaking a direction to go.
Once in a while I just follow the front wheel and see where it takes me.
We left Lee's Ferry and hurried up the rim. We were running out of daylight and we didn't know exactly where we were going to camp. Up the hill to Jacob's Lake, get gas and then down into the North Rim.
We weren't exactly staying in Grand Canyon National Park, we were looking to camp immediately north of the Park in Kaibab National Forest. NFS dispersal camping is free, and the areas are generally exceptional. My GPS actually showed us to be inside the Park boundary, but there is an east/west road that Park Service and NFS consider the boundry for the purposes of camping. This was up a fire trail about 1/2 mile north of the road.
Bob and are both experienced campers and experienced together so it doesn't take us long to set up. A very good thing, because daylight was near done. We did have time to head into the woods and find plenty of fire wood for the night before it got completely black.
This trip was in late September, fire season is past and the early rains have soaked the North Rim. Fire restrictions are lifted and all that's required to have a fire are simple NFS requirements 1: Shovel 2: Axe (they will let MC riders do with a hatchet) 3: Bucket (liberally translated for MC people) and 4: Water.
We both carry firestarters that make the job easy. I use ordinary cotton balls that have been soaked with Vasoline. 3 of them will start most any fire, and I always carry a 'fake butter' tub of them with me. We are also equipped to make kindling and carry paper for traditional starts. I further carry a striker stone with steel to make hot sparks for starting fluff in an emergency.
We are completely set up, my friend Bob is starting the fire which will be part of our mornings and evenings for the next 2 days.
In this last picture you can see that we both carry portable tables and very comfortable break down chairs. I was still using my coffee pot which showed it's weakness at this altitude (9000 ft, almost 3000m) Bob carries a fire driven espresso cooker which makes a pretty welcome luxury on the trail.
That red bag is a fully insulated unit that is my ice chest when camping. We had bought fried chicken at Jacob's Lake for dinner so we wouldn't be rushed into full cooking mode in a late day set up.
Last picture of the day. It's a pretty bucolic campsite that lends itself to peace and contentment. In the morning, we'll get our first real look at the North Rim. I hope you will stick around for it! Thanks for coming along on the ride.
The words and photographs in this post are all mine, for better or worse
You want some real motorcycle travel? Check out Velimir. That’s some kind of motorcycle writing.
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