BlackRapid Photo-Moto Ride 2024 – Part 1 by Bry Cox

The BLACKRAPID Moto Ride for 2024 [Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3] from the Bry Cox blog.

Each year my photographer friends and I go on a multi-state ride, and this year we rode the backroads of Utah and Colorado. Ron Henry of BLACKRAPID puts on the event, and he rode in from Washington state, meeting up with Mike Ridinger from Lewiston Idaho. We met here at my place and rode down through Moab to Durango to meet our friend Angel Cordova from Phoenix, Arizona.

The weather started off really hot. When the outside temperature is in the 90’s, the wind chill reverses and it’s actually hotter when you’re moving. For the first part of the ride, the temperature was near 100º, so it was a HOT but a beautiful ride as we rode towards Moab, Utah.

I shoot these photos one handed with a camera slung over one shoulder, using the BLACKRAPID Cross Shot strap. Normally I carry a camera on my right side, but on a motorcycle I carry the camera on my left side. That way I can steer and throttle the bike with my right hand and shoot with my left hand.

Now I don’t look through the viewfinder or screen at all. I carry a small camera that I’m quite used to. So without looking I can reach down with my left hand, turn it on by feel, zoom the lens where I think it ought to be, aim it (again without looking through the viewfinder), and then snap a few photographs – hoping I got the shot. Later, I go through my images and see if I got what I wanted. I definitely miss some, but the ones that turn out look great. I’m always happy with the results.

Once we hit the red rocks approaching the town of Moab, there was a distinct change in weather. It was as if there was a “wall of hot.” I love how the red rocks contrast against the blue sky.

 

Once in Moab, the three of us stopped for a photo with the mural in town, gassed up, and ate some Mexican food for a late lunch. It was a chance to get some A/C for a bit and cool off.

Angel was meeting us in Durango, Colorado, so we continued on through Moab and headed towards our meeting spot. Along the way we kept our eye on many storms to the right and left of us. Taking small roads is always the goal. Avoid freeways, and choose the smallest, windiest roads that go through the old small towns. It makes for a more fulfilling adventure.

This storm on the left was a beautiful one, and got pretty close to us.

Once in Durango, we found Angel and got hotels for the night to rest from about 8 hours of riding.

The next morning, we headed out towards Silverton and then Montrose. Again, taking the small, curvy roads through mountains makes for a beautiful experience.

In the next post, I’ll share more from our adventure.

Until next time, America.