A Map of my upcoming Southwest tour

Here's a link to a google map with commentary of my upcoming tour, set to begin, God willing, next Saturday, the 19th.

Enjoy!

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103985422115943131957.00047362bf76d7de7259a&ll=35.612651,-109.511719&spn=3.786654,7.064209&z=7

Matthew,

If you can do it, I highly recommend going north from Shiprock, thru Bluff into the Monument Valley. The Navajos may or may not be happy about the scooter in their land, but the views are worth it. You will rejoin your planned route at Kayenta (I hope the spelling is right).

Jon,

It could be do-able; it would mean a detour north from Kayenta up to the Visitor Center area. Since I'm leaving some flexibility in my plans, I'll see how it's all shaping up at the time. So much to see, so little time. Maybe that's a good thing in that it provides reason for more road trips.

Thanks for the tip.

Matthew,

I was thinking more of heading North on US 191 near Mexican Water to US 163 into Mexican Hat then on to Kayenta. This would add about 50 miles with no double backs. The road from Mexican Water to Kayenta is not worth writing home about. The Monument Valley visitor center is somewhere near Goulding's Trading Post (about half way between Mexican Hat and Kayenta, as I remember it).

That could work too. It'd be about 100 mile detour as I read it, swinging up 191 off of 160, then down 163 back toward Kayenta and on to The Canyon. Anything's possible. We'll see. Since my friends are not joining me for the first leg, I have more flexibility in where and when I go anywhere. Like they say about the area where I live: "There are no 'bad' views". I think it'd be hard to find a road out here that's a "mistake".

Seems like the visitor center is right about on the border of AZ and UT, about 25 miles from Kayenta. The picture I found online of the road heading south along 163 from Mexican Hat looks pretty spectacular. I'll try to prepare myself to be able to handle it, if I do go that way.

Matthew,
I agree that almost all roads in the southwest are worth being on. Very few "mistakes" at all, but some are worth an extra few miles.

The visitor center is about 2 miles from Goulding's (one of the oldest retail places is the valley). I haven't been down there since the mid '80s, but my experience has shown that tech "improvements" move pretty slow in that environment.

In any case, have a good, safe, and pleasant trip. I envy you.