A very long day. We travel almost 24 hours. Thomas and I fly from Berlin via Frankfurt and Washington to Phoenix

Ready to go

Last view to Berlin

Approaching Frankfurt

Canola fields in the UK (close to Kingston Upon Hull)

Harrisburg - we are approaching Washington

We pass the Washington airport before we touch down

Three hours delay for our flight from Washington to Phoenix. We have dinner at the airport

We have booked a tour to Grand Canyon. Including Helicopter flight. But the weather does not cooperate. It is cold with gusty winds and there is snow falling at Grand Canyon. No heli flights this day.

First we stop at a trading post. They offer all kinds of souvenirs.

Then we go to the aiport, but he helis stay grounded

Grand Canyon. Despite the weather an impressive view

On the way back we stop for the red rocks of Sedona.

We meet the rest of the group in the evening Thomas, Paul, Thomas, Iain, Ralf, Steven

We get the bikes at noon and ride to Flagstaff

All seven with luggage in a small hotel van

We receive the bikes

Unfortunately the bikes are not in expected condition. We get five tires changed. We need to wait.

In Jerome near Flagstaff we see the first nice roads

The video of that road

In a distance the snow covered peaks close to Flagstaff

We go towards Utah and scenery gets more and more spectacular. We will ride Monument Valley, Moki Dugway, Valley of the Gods and Arches National Park

Kevin was first in discovering the beautiful scenery

Monument Valley

We get into Utah

Mexican Hat

Paul leads us into a little gravel road Moki Dugway. Incomprehensibly (a word which comes to my mind quite frequently during our trip) beautiful view

Then down to Valley of the Gods (again gravel road)

Skyline Arch

Tom passes by

Devil's Garden

Balanced Rock

The access road of the park

Yes, roads seemed to be a bit dusty this day.

We go west and the splendor of nature continues.

We start with Wilson Arch - just sitting next to the road

Then we go to Natural Bridges National Park. Again very impressive

Video of the park road ride

We cross Colorado river just where it starts to feed Lake Powell

Video of this ride

Then Grand Staircase

Splendor of colors

Natural Bridge

A raven comes quite close

Unbelievable. We get 5 inches of snow over night and are snowed in. Thomas, Kevin and I decide to hire a van to go to Zion National Park

Snow in the morning

This van looks like it is 100 years old and it got 240,000 miles on it. It is supposed to get us to Zion National Park

Very beautiful Canyon

Emerald Pools

A daring visitor

We have been there

Nice rocks at the park entrance

An extreme day. We want to go to California. About 500 miles. Due to weather we will make 620 miles.

Snow has gone - at least in Panguitch

We went west a little bit down the road and then turned onto a road which climbed up to almost 10,000 ft of elevation. And it got completely icy. I had to check the situation

We were not able to pass. We had to return and had to find another road further south

It is getting warmer quickly

Arrived in Nevada. We have to take off all the warming layers of clothing.

A local guy notices the slack of the chain of Paul's bike and offers to fix it. So we go to the guy's place and let it get fixed.

Extraterrestrial Highway from a helmet cam view

A very loooooooong straight road.

Brilliant roads and Yosemite National Park - unbelievable

Day starts at June Lake

At Tioga Station get a view to Mono Lake

Then we go up the almost 10,000 feet Tioga Pass.

We have snow on top.

Tenaya-Lake on the other side of the pass

A marmot is watching us

Highway 120 and 49 are dream roads for motorbike riders

We get lunch in an american diner

And then we get into Yosemite National Park The entrance road

The rock El Capitan

A waterfall on the opposite side

We have been there

Another waterfall (Lower Yosemite Waterfall)

Half Dome - almost 10,000 ft tall

Tunnel View (next to a tunnel)

Video riding Route 40 towards western entry of Yosemite National Park

And we move on. We go through Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park and via Sherman Pass to Lone Pine

First of all chain maintenance for Paul's motorbike at BMW Motorcycles in Fresno

The mechanic has tensioned the chain

Two police officers come to hand in their bikes and we had to take a picture with Thomas.

Riding Route 198 King Canyon

General Sherman Tree is said to be the biggest tree on earth

Other Sequoia trees are impressive too

Video riding through Seqouia National Park

Approaching Sherman Pass

View from Sherman Pass

At the end of the eastern ramp great views towards the desert

We close the day with an american dinner.

Steak and Cheese Cake

We are on our way back to Phoenix. But we go through Death Valley. Very hot and very beautiful. And we pass Las Vegas

The hotel in the morning - this will become a hot day

We reach Death Valley at Father Crowley Viewpoint

Then we pass dunes

Paul has included the 20 Mule Team Road - it is a gem of a road

The video

Then we get fuel and have something to dring in Furnace Creek

Badwater. We are 280 ft below sea level

the sea level marker up in the rock

It is very hot

We get lunch in a village called Shoshone

Strip northbound

Strip southbound

We have been here

The last point of the day is Hoover dam. It holds back Colorado river to form Lake Mead

The new highway bridge behind the dam

Just getting to Phoenix. The bikes need to be handed in by noon, Thomas wants to see a Mall and I have to buy Starburst candy.

Arrived

Busy packing

Now a very exhausting part. We have to go from Phoenix via Washington and Frankfurt to Berlin. It will take us almost 24 hours.

Airport transfer in a real american car: a Cadillac Escalade

Farewell Phoenix - The Sun Devil Stadium

View to Phoenix

Theodore Rosevelt Lake northeast of Phoenix