The drive from Austin to Gallup was uneventful, and fairly unremarkable.
The most notable thing in Texas was the wind-power farm of windmills just west of Abilne off IH-20.
Since the gang was getting into New Mexico as night fell, even the theoretically scenic vistas around Albequerie were denied our perusal.
*sigh*
We did stop for dinner there at a, you guessed it, Tex/Mex restaurant regionally hailed for its XXX.
After dinner we drove on to Gallup where we stayed at a delightful Days Inn ( or was it a Motel 6 ? ), and shared one room for four people. I volunteered to sleep on the floor because it just was not an issue for me, and I'd rather not share a bed with someone I didn't know very well, yet at least.
I remember being given lip-flap about how dirty my drivetrain was, and how that wouldn't survive in Moab, so after we were settled at the motel I went out into the (cold) air and cleaned and lubed the drivetrain so it would properly settle overnight and through the next day, and be ready to ride when we got to Moab. This was the right choice.
After arriving in Moab and getting settled at Red Valle Homes, we loaded up and headed out to Klondike Bluffs to ride-off the road-trip portion.
I highly advocate anyone who road-trips into Moab to try to get a quick ride in as soon as they arrive, it's such a nice way to clear the head, heart, and sinuses!
Klondike Bluffs is a nice easy 'work the drive off' ride, and is an out-and-back, so the group can easily moderate the ride length to match how hard people want to work themselves and how tired they are from travelling. The trail is easy to follow, but you have to know what to look for when crossing the rocky ares - the paint splotches and rock cairns - to keep the trail.
Somewhere between a half and a mile away from the actual top of the trail there is a bike parking area, and signage, as you may not ride your bikes within Arches National Park where the top of the trail is. If you're feeling antsy you could bring along a lock to secure your bikes to the rack with but we didn't and I've not heard of anyone having problems. It's LOOONG way to go without a bike to come steal bikes!
Of course, the mostly downhill return is welcome fun.
15.04 miles round trip, mostly riding, some walking.
1280 ft total climbing, starting elevation about 4500 ft,
cresting around 5400 ft.