BigJohnSD's 2025 Southwest Expedition
Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2025 1:29 am
After totaling my BMW and replacing it with Suzie, a '23 Suzuki DL800DE ADV, healing up from a couple of broken ribs and a punctured lung, and missing a previously planned March ride to the Southwest, the stars finally aligned, and my good friend Scott Henley and I set out for Alamosa, Colorado, to begin a week-long sojourn through the best of the Southwest. Having been trapped in a fleabag motel for days by spring snowstorms in the past, I chose to trailer to a friend's house in Alamosa, CO, rather than ride.
We arrived in Alamosa on Tuesday evening, April 8th. Kip Walker joined Scott and me for a great supper.
Scott finished with a Cheesecake Sampler
Kip with a straight piece of Cheesecake
I watched my figure!
We unloaded early on Wednesday, April 9th, as soon as the temperature was above 40°F, we headed South, stopping briefly in Antonito, CO, to view a unique structure - I'm not sure even OFace could sell this one.
From Antonito, we headed West over the pass to Chama, NM, and then on to Española, NM, for lunch.
After a delicious lunch, we rode through Los Alamos, NM, then through the Valle Grande and on to Cuba, NM, for gasolina. At Cuba, Kip split off and headed back to Alamosa, while Scott and I set out across the desert for a motel in Grants, NM, for the evening. Subway sufficed for supper, it was close.
Thursday, April 10th, Scott and I headed for a "High Noon" rendezvous with John Wilson (JREW) and his FJR in Payson, AZ. We all arrived at the Pinon Cafe within seconds of each other. Following lunch, we rode a circuitous route from Payson to Flagstaff, down through Sedona, Cottonwood, Verde, and back to Payson for the evening.
Just 375 feet away was an excellent Mexican restaurant I had eaten in five years ago, if anything it is better now.
I'm told the Margheritas were good,
The beer was cold
The water wet
wPBn3XM/0/LSQWPcWBtLHpSLMZZNKtRxxFJ43VMtWLh6RrXP8Dd/L/PXL_20250411_020858465-L.jpg
The food was excellent!
Friday, April 11, we had a date with destiny and the Apache Trail.
We left Payson in time to meet SkooterG and Gary "Mudslide Miller" at a coffee shop in Apache Junction, AZ.
Scott on his '25 R1300 GSA
It couldn't have been cheap to build atop this little promontory.
Once again, timing was perfect, and we all arrived together.
IYKYK
Gary Miller Photo
After a "Cuppa" and a snack, we headed toward the Apache Trail
Gary filmed a good bunch of the trip. I can't wait to see his videos.
We soon set out onto the gravel with JREW on the FJR in the lead.
Skooter and Gary have pictures of JREW - I was further back in the column.
Gary's Ride a GS800 I believe
After the trail, we stopped for commemorative photos at Lake Roosevelt before proceeding to the nearby Marina for liquid refreshment and lunch.
An old Navy buddy and riding partner, Mark Bauer from Tucson(23 R1250GS) joined us at the Marina.
After lunch, Scott, John, Mark, and I headed to Springerville, AZ, for the evening while SkooterG and Mudslide made their way back to Phoenix.
UFO over the motel?
Saturday, April 12, The Devils Loop - Clockwise - we left Springerville at 0800 to try and make a lunch window of 12-1400 at Hannagan Meadows Lodge.
NM 159 heading East
AZ 78 heading West
Morenci, AZ
US-191 was opened in 1926, and the opening ceremony was held at Hannagan Meadow. The article i read inside the Lodge said that they barbequed six steers and two bears for the celebration and that there were several thousand cars parked in the meadow. https://www.advrider.com/route-191-curs ... uistadors/
We enjoyed our burgers at Hannagan Lodge and then headed back to Springerville.
Sunday, April 13, Mark took off for home in Tucson, Scott, JREW, and I headed for the Valley of the Gods, the Moki Dugway, and a room in Hanksville, UT.
First Monument Valley - Scott's first time.
And then the Valley of the God's
JREW did outstanding on the sketchy sections only requiring assistance through one silt hole but there were no falls. The FJR really doesn't like "Ledges" either up or down.
The end of the Valley of the God's and the start of the Moki Dugway
John and i kept going up the hill, Scott stopped for some photos
Cheesebox Butte along UT-95
Glenn Canyon overlook - the water in the lake is way down. This is a boat ramp!
Hanksville Motel
Monday, April 14, Hanksville, UT to Gunnison, Co, via Moab, Delta, CO 92 and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
After these pictures of the local scenery at lunch in Ridgway, CO, the camera battery died.
Tuesday, April 15, Gunnison to Alamosa.
Camera still dead, it was 24°F at 0700, warmed to 42°F at 1000 when we met Kip Walker in Gunnison for coffee and the ride back to Alamosa. We arrived in Alamosa at 1500 and were loaded up and on the road by 1600. We spent the night in Loveland, CO and arrived back home at 1600 today.
It was a great week of riding, just over 2,500 miles on the bikes. Temperatures were great, roads were better, and there was little traffic. I now have over 3,000 miles on Suzy, and I think she will do just fine. I will post some thoughts about her in the ADV section in the next few days.
We arrived in Alamosa on Tuesday evening, April 8th. Kip Walker joined Scott and me for a great supper.
Scott finished with a Cheesecake Sampler
Kip with a straight piece of Cheesecake
I watched my figure!
We unloaded early on Wednesday, April 9th, as soon as the temperature was above 40°F, we headed South, stopping briefly in Antonito, CO, to view a unique structure - I'm not sure even OFace could sell this one.
From Antonito, we headed West over the pass to Chama, NM, and then on to Española, NM, for lunch.
After a delicious lunch, we rode through Los Alamos, NM, then through the Valle Grande and on to Cuba, NM, for gasolina. At Cuba, Kip split off and headed back to Alamosa, while Scott and I set out across the desert for a motel in Grants, NM, for the evening. Subway sufficed for supper, it was close.
Thursday, April 10th, Scott and I headed for a "High Noon" rendezvous with John Wilson (JREW) and his FJR in Payson, AZ. We all arrived at the Pinon Cafe within seconds of each other. Following lunch, we rode a circuitous route from Payson to Flagstaff, down through Sedona, Cottonwood, Verde, and back to Payson for the evening.
Just 375 feet away was an excellent Mexican restaurant I had eaten in five years ago, if anything it is better now.
I'm told the Margheritas were good,
The beer was cold
The water wet
wPBn3XM/0/LSQWPcWBtLHpSLMZZNKtRxxFJ43VMtWLh6RrXP8Dd/L/PXL_20250411_020858465-L.jpgThe food was excellent!
Friday, April 11, we had a date with destiny and the Apache Trail.
We left Payson in time to meet SkooterG and Gary "Mudslide Miller" at a coffee shop in Apache Junction, AZ.
Scott on his '25 R1300 GSA
It couldn't have been cheap to build atop this little promontory.
Once again, timing was perfect, and we all arrived together.
IYKYK
Gary Miller Photo
After a "Cuppa" and a snack, we headed toward the Apache Trail
Gary filmed a good bunch of the trip. I can't wait to see his videos.
We soon set out onto the gravel with JREW on the FJR in the lead.
Skooter and Gary have pictures of JREW - I was further back in the column.
Gary's Ride a GS800 I believe
After the trail, we stopped for commemorative photos at Lake Roosevelt before proceeding to the nearby Marina for liquid refreshment and lunch.
An old Navy buddy and riding partner, Mark Bauer from Tucson(23 R1250GS) joined us at the Marina.
After lunch, Scott, John, Mark, and I headed to Springerville, AZ, for the evening while SkooterG and Mudslide made their way back to Phoenix.
UFO over the motel?
Saturday, April 12, The Devils Loop - Clockwise - we left Springerville at 0800 to try and make a lunch window of 12-1400 at Hannagan Meadows Lodge.
NM 159 heading East
AZ 78 heading West
Morenci, AZ
US-191 was opened in 1926, and the opening ceremony was held at Hannagan Meadow. The article i read inside the Lodge said that they barbequed six steers and two bears for the celebration and that there were several thousand cars parked in the meadow. https://www.advrider.com/route-191-curs ... uistadors/
We enjoyed our burgers at Hannagan Lodge and then headed back to Springerville.
Sunday, April 13, Mark took off for home in Tucson, Scott, JREW, and I headed for the Valley of the Gods, the Moki Dugway, and a room in Hanksville, UT.
First Monument Valley - Scott's first time.
And then the Valley of the God's
JREW did outstanding on the sketchy sections only requiring assistance through one silt hole but there were no falls. The FJR really doesn't like "Ledges" either up or down.
The end of the Valley of the God's and the start of the Moki Dugway
John and i kept going up the hill, Scott stopped for some photos
Cheesebox Butte along UT-95
Glenn Canyon overlook - the water in the lake is way down. This is a boat ramp!
Hanksville Motel
Monday, April 14, Hanksville, UT to Gunnison, Co, via Moab, Delta, CO 92 and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
After these pictures of the local scenery at lunch in Ridgway, CO, the camera battery died.
Tuesday, April 15, Gunnison to Alamosa.
Camera still dead, it was 24°F at 0700, warmed to 42°F at 1000 when we met Kip Walker in Gunnison for coffee and the ride back to Alamosa. We arrived in Alamosa at 1500 and were loaded up and on the road by 1600. We spent the night in Loveland, CO and arrived back home at 1600 today.
It was a great week of riding, just over 2,500 miles on the bikes. Temperatures were great, roads were better, and there was little traffic. I now have over 3,000 miles on Suzy, and I think she will do just fine. I will post some thoughts about her in the ADV section in the next few days.
