December 14, 2006
One my way to Utah via Unaweep Canyon, I stopped at the 141 Diner in Gateway for a Denver omelette and I'm glad I did as it was as good as any omelette I've had and I've had some good ones. A great way to start a ride.

Butler Wash Road, my objective this trip, is a smooth, graded-sand, 20-mile road between Utah State Highway 95, a few miles west of Blanding and US191, a few miles NE of Bluff. Butler Wash Road more or less parallels Comb Ridge on the high country east of the ridge while Comb Wash Road parallels the ridge in the low valley along the west side. It's an easy road. There are few rocks or clearance problems; you could ride it on a Gold Wing if you didn't mind a little loose sand. This road is not marked at either end and had I not followed it first using Google Earth, I might not have found it or known where I was riding. Once on the road it's easy to follow but for a significant intersection about 2/3 of the way through when headed south. There is a small county road sign here reading "Butler Wash" on the fork heading east, or to the left. The fork to the right seems the correct choice since it maintains a course roughly parallel to Comb Ridge but Google Earth indicated this spur dead-ends, probably on a high point, maybe even within sight of US163 west of Bluff.

Butler Wash Road is narrow, mostly 2-track, single-lane, but shows signs of heavy use, probably by the OHV crowd. Bicyclists apparently use the road with an alternative single-track exit on the south end, coming out on US163 west of Bluff. Other users I suspect might consider it an access road to interesting hiking trails leading to views west from Comb Ridge or ancient ruins. For me, a rider just riding, it wasn't a very interesting road and I found the scenery dull compared to the stunning scenery west of Comb Ridge. But almost any road deserves to be ridden and Butler Wash road might be a real challenge for a motorcyclist in the summer if the sand is deep.

December 15, 2006
More interesting to me than Butler Wash was the ride home through Hovenweep National Monument (Utah) and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (Colorado). I left Bluff before sunrise on a cold, damp morning. Actually there was no sunrise and I didn't see sunshine until mid-morning heading north from Dove Creek on CO141. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the morning ride. About half way to Blanding, I passed the turn off to Hovenweep and asked myself, "Why am I riding a US highway when I could be on obscure back roads." I did a quick U-turn on the empty highway and rode back to the Hovenweep road which I followed through Indian country to the Hovenweep visitor center where I turned east on an unmarked road, recently paved in it's entirety, that leaves Utah and crosses Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, finally ending at US491 (formerly known as US666) a mile or less south of Pleasant View, Colorado, about 18 miles north of Cortez. This road is marked at the east end. It's is a pretty ride across a high plateau with an impressive view of distant landmarks in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. Conventional photographs can capture only small parts of such a grand vista and I didn't take any. This is a delightful alternate route from Bluff, UT to Western Colorado with the option at US491 of heading north or south: south towards Cortez 11 miles, then east to Dolores where one can go north to Telluride over Lizard Head Pass on Pavement or North on mostly gravel to Norwood; north 17 miles to Dove Creek and a couple miles beyond to the south end of CO141.

Note:

A shorter route than the way I went would be to take US191 SE from Bluff through Montezuma Creek to just short of Aneth. Turn left on the McElmo Canyon road (I believe the turnoff is marked "Hovenweep") and ride maybe 7 miles to the Hovenweep turnoff, then to the Hovenweep Visitor Center (I don't remember how far). Pick up the unmarked paved road to Colorado in the proximity of the visitor center; if in doubt, ask at the visitor center. And by the way: if you haven't visited the ruins at the Hovenweep visitor center they are well worth a look. Plan on a 1 1/2 to 2 mile hike you will not regret. On the other hand, if time is short, just stay on McElmo Canyon road to Cortez and do the Lizard Head Pass route. That's the fastest way home for me from Bluff to Cedaredge but it's possible I speed a little. I definitely slow down for the little school on McElmore Road. Also, be wary of cattle and horses on roads anywhere in Indian country.

Highpoint: I stopped for a hamburger at the 141 Diner in Gateway. The hamburger was excellent and is now perhaps my favorite hamburger. The fries made from fresh-sliced potatoes were also excellent and that's not good — for me. I thought I had broken my habit of ordering fries with hamburgers. Now I have a dilemma: I really like the fries and I really like the coleslaw. Just as I finished my hamburger, three Grand Junction riders arrived: Mike and Ken who I see often in Gateway and Mike's brother Jerry who I had talked to on the phone but had not met in person. This was Ken's inaugural ride on a new R1200GS Adventure, Mike was riding his DL650 (he also owns a V-rod and an FJR1300) and Jerry was on an 1800 Gold Wing (he also has a KLR650 and thoughts about a DL650 next spring). We had a nice visit. I enjoy these guys. They are real riders, serious riders, and interesting individuals with talents well beyond motorcycling. I intended to get a group picture featuring Ken's new GS but forgot.

Note:

I've written a favorable review of the 141 Diner and praised it twice in this short trip report. Perhaps it's time to say that I've never been compensated for these comments nor would I accept any compensation if offered. I'm just a customer like any other customer and these are my honest opinions. It's true though that I'm biased. I like places like the 141 Diner and have a strong dislike for all chain restaurants. The 141 Diner is a true "Mon and Pop" restaurant and for me that's as good as it gets. The fact that the proprietor/chef rides a motorcycle also contributes to my comfortable feeling there. It's my kind of place.

Verle Nelson, Cedaredge Colorado