MOTORCYCLE DIARY - 3 days (mostly upright) riding the extraordinary White Rim Trail on BMWs

Riding the White Rim Trail on big BMW 1200GS motorcycles.
The White Rim is a permit only, 100 mile loop, in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. The Park Service only allows adrenaline junkies with high clearance four wheel drive vehicles, bicycles (with a support vehicle) and motorcycles. There will be no tourists.
What turned out to be a ball busting motorcycle adventure wasn't originally meant to be that. Our planned 3 day, two night ride was meant to be a scenic ride in a remote wilderness with a relaxed, take in the views pace. We come upon some real challenges including up and down Murphy's Hogback and up and down Hardscrabble as well as sand washes that took us both down a couple of times. Since you are essentially on your own and without any cell service, a breakdown or major injury can be catastrophic and very expensive. Even in high season we saw very few people. Not for anyone with a fear heights.
We planned this trip for 6 months and had no idea just how visual stunning it would be. I'm a photographer and I had all sorts of plans to stay up and shoot long exposure night photography. By the end of each day I was fatigued from the heat, my nerves fried and my legs sore from standing on the pegs all day, that I was almost too tired to stay up. But then again I'm 62 so younger riders could probably do this easily. Airport Campground (if you can call it a campground) and Potato Bottom C which has some nice shade are very basic, no water, basic outhouse campgrounds.
Be sure to top off your fuel in Moab. We were a little lax about this and felt fine with a range on our fuel computers of 180 miles. I forgot that trail riding in second gear uses way more fuel per mile than highway riding, duh. My bike's fuel computer said I had 28 miles left when I finally refueled. Very happy to have made this ride and come out unscathed. I'm on INSTAGRAM (samogphotog) if you want to follow me on my riding adventures.
Thanks for watching,
Sam