In July '08 Steve Irby and I rode north the along the Continental Divide, from Mexico to Canada. This 2,800 mile off-road adventure took us through remote country that few people ever see. These snapshots were taken along the trail, often while riding holding the camera in one hand, and the handlebars in the other. The photos are more-or-less in chronological order.
The journey took 13 days, which includes 1-1/2 days to drive the truck to Tucson. So why did we haul the bikes down to Arizona? We wanted to arrive the bikes (and us) in good condition. A freeway ride from Seattle to Tucson would've worn out the knobby tires, and would've required servicing the bikes before we began riding. So the logical choice was to truck the bikes to Arizona, and ride north.
We followed a GPS course set out by another BMW rider, who was himself following a course laid out by adventure bicyclists. The roads and trails were passable on 2 wheels, but primitive in many places. Weather played a part in the journey - the monsoons and flash floods of New Mexico prevented us from riding one remote section of the trail. Wisdom prevailed and we took an alternate route around the worst of the weather and mud. It's a good thing we did, because the region we avoided was hit by torrential rains.
For more photos of the ride taken by Steve, go to his Smugmug page:
http://www.sirby.smugmug.com/gallery/5380554_nr6Xk#329585689_K5ZS6
The journey took 13 days, which includes 1-1/2 days to drive the truck to Tucson. So why did we haul the bikes down to Arizona? We wanted to arrive the bikes (and us) in good condition. A freeway ride from Seattle to Tucson would've worn out the knobby tires, and would've required servicing the bikes before we began riding. So the logical choice was to truck the bikes to Arizona, and ride north.
We followed a GPS course set out by another BMW rider, who was himself following a course laid out by adventure bicyclists. The roads and trails were passable on 2 wheels, but primitive in many places. Weather played a part in the journey - the monsoons and flash floods of New Mexico prevented us from riding one remote section of the trail. Wisdom prevailed and we took an alternate route around the worst of the weather and mud. It's a good thing we did, because the region we avoided was hit by torrential rains.
For more photos of the ride taken by Steve, go to his Smugmug page:
http://www.sirby.smugmug.com/gallery/5380554_nr6Xk#329585689_K5ZS6
Border crossing at Antelope Wells, NM. Not a very friendly place, and the station was shut for the day so we couldn't get any closer to the guard shack.
We learned that this area is a hotbed of activity after dark - drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other illegal activities. We saw 1 or 2 civilians in 180 miles of travel, but saw at least a dozen Border Patrol vehicles.
We learned that this area is a hotbed of activity after dark - drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other illegal activities. We saw 1 or 2 civilians in 180 miles of travel, but saw at least a dozen Border Patrol vehicles.
Border crossing at Antelope Wells, NM. Not a very friendly place, and the station was shut for the day so we couldn't get any closer to the guard shack.
We learned that this area is a hotbed of activity after dark - drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other illegal activities. We saw 1 or 2 civilians in 180 miles of travel, but saw at least a dozen Border Patrol vehicles.
We learned that this area is a hotbed of activity after dark - drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other illegal activities. We saw 1 or 2 civilians in 180 miles of travel, but saw at least a dozen Border Patrol vehicles.
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