Past Sundance, SR-92 becomes the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway and travels into the Uinta National Forest. I highly recommend the 15-mile ride to Timpanogos Cave National Monument. As the name implies, the narrow road winds and twists through dense alpine forests, and during the moments it breaks out of the trees, you’ ll be rewarded with spectacular views. The speed limit isn’ t very high, but there are numerous tight corners for two-wheel enjoyment, and I lost track of the number of hairpin curves. At Timpanogos Cave, you can either turn around and do it again or continue another few miles into the city of Highland.
THE RETURN Being in monsoon season and hoping to outrun an incoming thunderstorm, I opted for the interstate heading home, which isn’ t as fun, but in Utah, even
I-15 offers up some great scenery along the way. Unfortunately, to paraphrase Scottish poet Robert Burns, the best-laid schemes of mice and men go oft awry. I had watched the thunderheads on the
horizon for almost 150 miles, sometimes distant, sometimes more ominous, and just 50 miles short of home, I hit a real toad-strangler.
It was one of those desert storms where you feel the first few drops and then see the curtain of rain about to envelop you. I switched the Gold Wing into Rain mode, and when I hit the storm full-on, I was again thankful for the electric windscreen, which had previously been all the way up but suddenly made it so I couldn’ t see anything in the downpour. It was awesome being able to lower it with the push of a button as opposed to having to pull over and do it manually in the storm. At that point, I was able to lift my head enough to see over the screen and find the tracks in the road while regularly wiping the faceshield on my Arai.
In Rain mode with the Bridgestone Exedra tires, I was surprised at how comfortable I felt maintaining a reasonable
Top: Quilt Walk Park in Panguitch commemorates a treacherous trip in the winter of 1864-65. Above: Ziplining with my friend and his son at Sundance. Below: Another U. S. 89 spectacle.
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