Torrey and Beyond, Motorcycle Trip¶

By Pat Thomas. December 11, 2006

It was Saturday 21 October as I motored down I-15 towards Spanish Fork on my first leg to Torrey in southern Utah. This trip was sponsored by Motorcycle Repair and Rendezvous (MRandR), located in Midvale, and the instructions were simple and straightforward: dinner at 1900 (7:00 PM) at the Rim Rock Restaurant in Torrey. How you got there? Your choice. There were four suggested routings and I chose the five hour very scenic route. Sunday was to be your choice of a GS ride led by Ron Schmidt or a pavement ride led by Jeff Thurman., both owners of MRandR. This first leg consisted of gas fumes, crazy drivers, and all the wonders the interstate has to offer!

After about an hour and fifteen minutes, we turn off I-15 at Spanish Fork and onto Route 6. Then it’s Route 89 to Fairview where I refuel my trusted mount (an ’04 R1150RT for you BMW aficionados). Then it was over Route 31, a 49 mile winding scenic and beautiful road to Huntington. Snow greeted us around the 6000 foot level, but thankful the road was clear! The summit was 9655 feet where the air was purified and refreshing.

Then it was south on Route 10, where one had to watch out for the men in blue as the throttle hand had a tendency to twist more and more on the fairly straight road that seemed to go on forever. Where Route 10 and I-70 met, the road became Route 72. A very twisty road with beautiful scenery that led to Loa and Route 24, which finally terminated our trip at Torrey.

All 44 of us (according to the official bean counters) met for dinner at the restaurant and planned the next day’s itinerary. I should mention that the bean counters counted approximately 40 bikes in attendance, the majority being BMWs, of course.

Early to rise and off to tank up before meeting for breakfast at 0800. What a cold morning! My hands almost froze holding the gas nozzle! Couldn’t find my prescription sunglasses. A check at the restaurant revealed “no joy”. At around 0900 Jeff led us eighteen pavement types for our day ride to Lake Powell and beyond. Our route took us east along Route 24 to Hanksville, through Capitol Reef National Park with its exceptional beauty. We also saw where some of the roads had been washed out from the floods the week before. From Hanksville it was Route 95 down to Route 276 which took us to Bullfrog on Lake Powell. Lunch at the Defiance House Lodge, where I stayed last year in April, and then caught the 1300 ferry to Halls Crossing where we again picked up Route 276. Rode through the Red House Cliffs, and then the road terminated at the junction of Route 95 and the Natural Bridges National Monument. We took the nine mile loop to see the bridges, but a few of us didn’t stay long as we wanted to get back to Torrey before dark.

We arrived back at Torrey just before sunset, but we fought the waning sun in our eyes, making it extremely difficult to see the road ahead at times. And yes, the restaurant did finally find my glasses! Pizza, beer, and great company at The Patio rounded off the very enjoyable day.

Early Monday morning found the weather to be sunny and crisp for the return trip home. I took the same route as the one I took to Torrey. Going up the mountain on Route 72, I encountered many cows on the road being herded off their summer range. Thank goodness they were going the udder way than I was (you didn’t think I’d leave that one out, did you?).

Arrived home mid afternoon. A very enjoyable three-day weekend and I put over 900 miles on my steed. Will I go next year? You bet!