Fall 2017 Trip-Caldwell Id-Farmington NM

In the past couple of years, we have not changed our routine by much.  You know, Arizona in the winter, home for quick visits and Idaho in the summer; with a motorcycle camping trip thrown in for giggles. We decided that living full-time in our RV means that we should actually go somewhere new once in a while, so this fall we are going to spend 2 months traveling to the Barber Motorcycle Museum near Birmingham AL and then back to Arizona.  We'll go east on the north side of Interstate-40 and return on a southern route.

We spent 2 weeks in Caldwell ID to get Wayne's AC Joint in his right shoulder fixed. The Doc said "No dirt bike for a month" so we decided to travel around and do street bike rides instead. We left Idaho on Monday afternoon, heading to Jordenelle Lake near Park City, UT.

 I love fall in Utah  I miss it so much at times like this. 

We stayed for two nights, so we could visit with my cousins Cindy and Hank in nearby Park City. When we left on Wednesday, we took US 40 east past Strawberry Reservoir and on to Duchene, where we turned south on US 191.  We went through Price and on to Green River.

 It was a short day, so we hung out in the sun, a nice change from the weather in Caldwell. We met up with our friends Vickie and Richard who were here for a 4X4 club ride.  We had a lovely visit with them and then left in the morning.

We left Green River on Thursday and headed south through Moab, Montecello and Cortez, NM. At Shiprock we turned east and followed the San Juan River past Farmington to the San Juan County Fairgrounds and McGee Park.  It's not the most glamorous spot, but it has showers, 50 amp service and lots of space!

The next day we went to the nearby Aztec Ruins.

 Located near the Animas river, these early farmers took advantage of the river's year round water.  In the late 1000's  a group began building a large complex overlooking the river.  They continued to grow their community until the late 1200's.

 The Great Kiva in the West Ruin plaza was of many kivas in the Aztec community. Archaeologist Earl Morris excavated it in 1921 and rebuilt it in 1934.

 Our next stop was the Navajo Dam

 Beautiful fall colors set off by the blue lake and sky

 The road goes right across the spillway

The San Juan River below the dam

It was a relatively short ride, just 81 miles, but it was a good first ride.  Tomorrow we will head to Espanola, NM to spend some time in the Santa Fe, Taos and Albuquerque area.  It should be fun.