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| Contemplating the beautiful scenery |
This is part two of my ride across the USA. It’s about 2750 miles on the fastest route from NJ to San Diego but I somehow managed to rack up 3800 miles. I had planned on visiting quiet a few places I had on my bucket list. Here’s the rest of the trip stopping at a few National Parks.
I had to see the beautiful Shiprock on Navajo land a monadnock rising nearly 1,583 feet (482.5 m) above the high-desert plain of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. Governed by the Navajo Nation, the formation is in the Four Corners region and plays a significant role in Navajo religion, myth, and tradition. It is located in the center of the area occupied by the Ancient Pueblo People, a prehistoric Native American culture of the Southwest United States often referred to as the Anasazi.
The Navajo name for the peak, Tsé Bitʼaʼí, “rock with wings” or “winged rock”, refers to the legend of the great bird that brought the Navajo from the north to their present lands. The name “Shiprock” or Shiprock Peak or Ship Rock derives from the peak’s resemblance to an enormous 19th-century clipper ship.
My next stop was at the Four Corners also on Navajo land. I had been here with my mom and dad a few years ago but since it was on the way I decided to stop again. The spot marks the location where the four states meet, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. It was a great opportunity to get a photo sitting across the four states.
On the way to Bluff, Utah I rode through beautiful scenery unfortunately it was very hot, reaching temperatures above 100 all day. I used my cooling vest but even with it it was a tough ride. The wind hitting me on the neck was like a hair dryer on full heat pointing at my neck.
Next I rode the road I had heard so much about from other bloggers. For more than ten years I had been dreaming about climbing the Moki Dugway and was not going to miss it regardless of the temperature, it was easily above 100 the day I rode it to the top, took photos, left a few stickers on the sign and then rode back down. It’s an amazing climb and if you are in the area make sure you do it, it’s only about 18 miles round trip from US-163 Scenic.
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| 10% grade on gravel with narrow switchbacks |
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| Do you see my Yamaha Super Tenere? |
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| Car in image for size |
After the Moki Dugway I returned back to US-163 and made a stop down the road at Mexican Hat on the northern edge of the Navajo Nations borders. The name “Mexican Hat” comes from a curiously sombrero-shaped rock outcropping on the northeast edge of town; the rock measures 60-foot (18 m) wide by 12-foot (3.7 m).
Coming up is Monument Valley…..
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