Traveling Woodpecker

United States / 2024

March 18–25, 2024 · Motorcycle ride

Las Vegas, Utah & Arizona

Eight days on a rented BMW out of Las Vegas: south through Joshua Tree to Indio, a glider flight at Warner Springs and the coast at Carlsbad, then back to Vegas and a second loop through Valley of Fire, Zion, Page and Sedona to Kingman and Route 66.

days
8
states
4
Route map of the ride
The whole trip as ridden.

Day 1 · Mon, Mar 18

Las Vegas, NV Indio, CA

Picking up the bike at EagleRider Las Vegas, then south across the Mojave and through Joshua Tree National Park to Indio.

By way of

  • Joshua Tree National Park
EagleRider Las Vegas
EagleRider Las Vegas
The BMW ready to go
The BMW ready to go
Open road across the Mojave
Open road across the Mojave
Cholla cactus in Joshua Tree
Cholla cactus in Joshua Tree
The hotel for the night at Indio, CA
The hotel for the night at Indio, CA
El Mexicali Cafe II
El Mexicali Cafe II
A margarita to start
A margarita to start
Dinner at El Mexicali Cafe II
Dinner at El Mexicali Cafe II
El Mexicali Cafe II
El Mexicali Cafe II

Dining

El Mexicali Cafe II

Indio, CA

Four generations of homestyle Mexican cooking.

Day 2 · Tue, Mar 19

Indio, CA Carlsbad, CA

West over the mountains to Warner Springs for a glider flight with Sky Sailing, then down to the coast at Carlsbad.

By way of

  • Warner Springs
Sky Sailing at Warner Springs Airport
Sky Sailing at Warner Springs Airport
Ready for the glider flight
Ready for the glider flight
Carlsbad Village
Carlsbad Village
The hotel in Carlsbad
The hotel in Carlsbad
The Pacific at Carlsbad
The Pacific at Carlsbad
Carruth Cellars, Carlsbad
Carruth Cellars, Carlsbad
A glass at Carruth Cellars
A glass at Carruth Cellars

Days 3–4 · Mar 20–21

Back to Las Vegas

Back to Las Vegas before the second loop.

Resorts World, Las Vegas
Resorts World, Las Vegas

Day 5 · Fri, Mar 22

Las Vegas, NV Mesquite, NV

~145 mi

By way of

  • Valley of Fire State Park
  • Fire Cave / Windstone Arch
Valley of Fire
Valley of Fire
Red rock in Valley of Fire
Red rock in Valley of Fire
Eureka Casino Resort, Mesquite
Eureka Casino Resort, Mesquite

Overnight

Eureka Casino Resort, Mesquite

Day 6 · Sat, Mar 23

Mesquite, NV Sedona, AZ

~352 mi

By way of

  • Springdale (Zion)
  • Page
Morning at the Eureka
Morning at the Eureka
Checkerboard Mesa, Zion
Checkerboard Mesa, Zion
Zion National Park
Zion National Park
Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, Page
Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, Page
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend
A stop on the way to Sedona
A stop on the way to Sedona
Dinner in Sedona
Dinner in Sedona
An evening in Sedona
An evening in Sedona

Overnight

Orchards Inn, Sedona

Day 7 · Sun, Mar 24

Sedona, AZ Kingman, AZ

~224 mi

By way of

  • Wilhoit
Orchards Inn, Sedona
Orchards Inn, Sedona
A wet morning in Sedona
A wet morning in Sedona
Whiskey Row, Prescott
Whiskey Row, Prescott
In-N-Out for lunch
In-N-Out for lunch
Hail on the road
Hail on the road
The bike after the hail
The bike after the hail
The hotel in Kingman
The hotel in Kingman

Day 8 · Mon, Mar 25

Kingman, AZ Las Vegas, NV

~176 mi

By way of

  • Oatman
  • Primm
Thimble Butte on Route 66
Thimble Butte on Route 66
Cool Springs Station, Route 66
Cool Springs Station, Route 66
Oatman
Oatman