remembering

I recently got some pics from the bike tour in September that others had taken.

We had pulled into our campground in Moab and Cheryl decided she was going to trat us to dessert that night for out birthdays. Rod and I celebrated birthdays on (or right after) the ride. She bought a cheesecake for us to share. I had already had my fill of dinner but made room for cheesecake.




I really don't like that pic above! I look drugged. We had already pedaled over 200 miles that week and my allergies were making my eyes swollen somewhat closed.

This is just after I pulled into camp outside of Monticello. That's me standing in the back. I hadn't even had a chance to shower yet...but notice everyone else is clean and relaxing. I am just that much slower. But hey, it's about the journey. I don't mind being slower because I'm savoring the scenery.

This is when we just got started. I'm the one with the blue bag on the right. We rode together for the first part of the day while we navigated some confusing dirt roads.

I was just finishing a climb over cock's comb. It was a tough climb but not as bad as it appeared it would be when we came around the corner.

These trips are so much fun! I'm a little sad I won't be doing it this year but it's time for a break from that this fall. Day rides, close to home will have to suffice.

Day 8 Moab - Green River

I woke up early enough, before the sun was all the way up but everyone else was already packing up. Some had already left. Everyone but me went to a restaurant for breakfast. I left about 30 minutes after the last person. I had made biscuits the night before and in the morning, I made gravy to pour over the biscuits. That and hot chocolate was my breakfast.

We passed through a beautiful red rock canyon for the first part of the day. We passed the entrance to Arches but that was as close as we got to it. This is on the road going into Arches...I was on the main road going past it.


Past that, the rocks got even more red.


The day before, at the bike shop, the bike tech gave me a handy hint that I forgot to use on the first 15 miles of the day. He taught me how to turn the knob on my brake cables to loosen the brakes and tighten them back up. He said to loosen them up while I go uphill and tighten them back up while I go downhill so I would have brakes. The cracks had gotten so bad that my wheels were always rubbing the brakes even when they were loose but it did make a difference. By about mile 30, I saw a biker, it was Cheryl. I actually caught up to her! I wish I had known that trick earlier in the ride since I had been fighting that brake with each pedal stroke for about 4 days.





Here was my one view of Arches NP, from a distance of course. You can see the 2 window arches.

Here's a closer up picture of the window arches. About the middle of the rocks you can see 2 holes in the rock, that's them.






I spotted this root cellar or dugout, not sure, next to a train track. I went in and explored. I couldn't figure out what it was meant to be...maybe a home for the guy who worked on the rails, hanging mail for the cars to take or something...?


When I made it to the gas station at the intersection of the interstate there were 5-6 people there from my group as well as a solo cyclists heading the way we just came. After a break there for chocolate milk and carmel creams, it was time for a short 5 mile jaunt on the interstate. It wasn't too busy and the shoulder was wide and clean in most areas. And the scenery was still nice.




I was supposed to get off at the first exit and take a side road into Green River. Everyone else got off but I felt like I needed to stay put so I took the interstate all the way to Green River.






In the end, I found out that the side road was AWFUL and everyone hated it. It was so bumpy. I think my rim would have fallen apart if I had taken that road.

Here's one side of the worst crack.

Here's the other side. Compare it to the spoke beneath it...that's what it's supposed to look like. The spoke was pulling the rim out and it was cracked on either side of it. I had 4 of those and 2 of the crocks in the above picture when I got to the car.


Green River was having a melon festival so I stopped there. They were giving out free slices of watermelons and the whole park was covered in booths selling various things. I bought a Navajo taco for lunch/dinner, ate it while listening to a live band, then got on the road. The canyon was very pretty on the drive home.








It was a tiring, exhausting, painful trip. I was glad I was able to do it and glad that it was over. There are so many beautiful things in this world and I feel very privileged to be able to see some of them myself. There are so many awe-inspiring views out there. Who else but God could make something so beautiful? No one.

Back when I was 13-16 and I was in pain all time because of my knees I was given doctors orders that for the next year I wouldn't be allowed to do any walking that wasn't absolutely necessary. I spent lots of time in bed, reading or watching tv that year. During the summer especially. Summer was the worst time because at least during the school year I was allowed to walk to the bus stop and from class to class during the day. But summer was a special kind of torture. I could hear everyone outside playing, running around and having fun. I would stand and look out the window at them and wish with all my heart that I could join them. Even if I had been allowed though, I wouldn't have been able to do much because it hurt to move much. Finally, the year was up and I was so excited to go running and playing (because some of the pain had finally left) that I was crushed when the doctor informed me that for another year I wouldn't be allowed to run. But I was out almost everyday mowing the lawn with that old reel mower just because I COULD. I guess I was always an active type of person, even before that but it was through that experience that I learned how blessed I am to have a body that works, that heals itself, that allows me to do ANYTHING I want it to do (with work and practice). I cannot squander that blessing because I know what it feels like to be without it. Someday I will be old and feeble and won't have the complete use of it that I have today and I don't want to regret not taking advantage of it. Maybe I am wrong but it feels like using my body is a way to show Heavenly Father I am grateful for it, for the chance to do these things again and that I am not taking this opportunity and sweeping it under the rug. So maybe you can't understand why I would enjoy this form of torture...but I tell you, it's the best thing in the world to have the ability to do. :o)

Day 7 Monticello - Moab

The morning started off cool and downhill. But as I rode along, I started getting warmer and warmer until I had to take off my warm layer. The scenery was beautiful and varied.









Wilson arch. I heard we'd be passing it today. It's right on the side of the road so you can't miss it. I had just pulled up and parked my bike so I could hike up to it when a couple from an RV came over to talk to me. One of their daughters had crossed the country by bike years ago. They were impressed and the husband said, "Take a picture of the crazy girl next to her bike." So she had me stand behind my bike and took a picture. I then hiked up to the arch and actually stood in it.


I came back down and the couple told me that if they had known I was going all the way up, they would have come up with me. She took my picture for me with the arch in the background. They offered me water, a sandwich and use of their bathroom. I declined all the offers but thanked them. I got back on my bike and kept moving. It was about a mile up the road that I remembered the man from yesterday. I wished that I had asked them to be sure to stop and offer him water if they saw him. I thought about turning around and catching them before they left to ask them but I figure they were probably already gone and surely would be before I got back there so I didn't do it. And then it was all I could think of for the next hour or so. Again, I was too selfish to go a little out of my way to help someone else out. I need to change.






I stopped at Hole In the Rock. It started out as a stop for stage coaches, then became a restaurant and the owners began carving out a home in the rock. Now there's a huge home inside the rock and a bunch of tourist trap kind of things. The owners are dead and you can pay money to tour the house. I didn't bother. But I did buy an ice cream there and browsed the shops.


After that, I stopped at the rest are and ate my lunch under some giant shade trees. Mark was there as well. He had gotten a flat and was repairing it. We left at the same time. We didn't get very far before it went flat again. He stopped to replace it again and told me to tell Rob to come get him if he wasn't in by an hour after I got in.





The ride just kept getting prettier and prettier. I can see why people like Moab.




I got to Moab and stopped at a bike store to see if they though my rim had one more day in it or if I needed to replace it. They finally said they thought it would make it. As I was biking down the road to the campground, Mark was walking his bike in front of me. I was amazed. The third tube went flat so he was walking when a German couple in an RV offered to drive him to town. They dropped him off right at the intersection. He spent the evening getting everything out of the tire so it wouldn't happen again (he got it).

I had gotten to camp early enough that after eating, I wandered down the street and found a thrift store. I looked for a certain something for Sheri that she's been looking for...but didn't find one. Not that I had extra straps to strap it down with anyway...but I would have figured out a way. Instead, I found a book. I debated but in the end, I bought it.

Back at camp, Cheryl had bought a cheesecake to celebrate Rod's birthday and mine. Everyone got a piece. Yummy!

There was a party going on in the yard next to the campground. I laid in my tent and read until my eyes kept closing. I fell asleep with the music blaring and slept very well.

Day 6 Blanding - Monticello

Today was a short day so we could all go to the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum with Indian artifacts and ruins. It was a really neat thing to do. They had a recipe card sitting out for some native American soup. I took it even though I didn't know what sumac berries were or where to find them...just in case.

The room of pots found in the Southeastern Utah area.


Ruins with a restored Kiva that you can actually go into.


Inside the Kiva.


After visiting the park, I got on my bike and headed to the day's route. But I was stopped by Rob. He let me know that he was not feeling right and was going home. I was sad to see him go home because he was my riding buddy...well we didn't really ride together but I would see him and ride with him in short spurts most days and it was nice. But he needed to see a doctor and I certainly didn't want him having to be taken out by an ambulance.

Recapture Reservoir. That was only the second body of water we saw on the trip (besides some little flowing rivers in the canyon).


Still on the hunt for more ruins, I was searching every nook and cranny I rode past for anything. Finally, I spotted a small granary! I parked my bike and took a short hike, trying to get up to it. I never could get close enough to see inside. Bummer, I wanted to see if any baskets or pottery were left inside...probably not but maybe. As I was coming down off the rocks, one of the guys behind me was waiting for me. He wanted to know what I was doing. I pointed it out to him. We were the only two to see it. The little black rectangle in about the center (but to the left) of the picture is the opening to the granary.


We passed through a forest of tall pines. It didn't last for long but it sure was pretty.


On the other side of the forest was farmland but with no houses...I guess they all drove in.


I was biking down a hill, coasting really. I spotted a man pushing a bike and asked him if he had enough water. He told me he was low so I stopped. I gave him what was left in my water bladder which didn't amount to much. I talked to him for a few minutes. He was carrying an old, but large, backpacker's backpack with things strapped all over it. He had a second, smaller backpack attached to his handlebars along with some grocery bags with food and juice. But he only had one water bottle. He told me he was going to Phoenix. Knowing he was going to be going through some LONG stretches without access to water I made him take a water bladder. He was still looking for a place to put it as I rode away.

Here was a man who was struggling to make it to the next town, still some 17 miles away, or so. He looked to be carrying everything he owned in the world. He had only one bottle of water and a bottle of juice (I don't know how big the juice bottle was). There were no houses to stop at and ask for water along the rest of the day's route for him. The sun was shining and it was quite warm. He was moving a lot slower than I was because there was no room on his bike for a person, just all his stuff. And it was mostly uphill to Blanding.

I am so ashamed to say that I withheld a 20 oz. bottle of water from him when I could have spared it. I was being selfish and only thinking of myself (in the off chance that something went wrong between here and there). I still had a little water in my main bottle and only had about 5 miles to town where I could refill. If I had to, I could have gone without the rest of the way. I don't know who he is, his story, his name, his background...nothing, but I have thought about that man everyday since. I feel so guilty for my selfishness and pray for him that all the kindness that strangers showed to me (and I withheld) is also offered to him despite his bedraggled appearance...an offer of water, juice or a sandwich.

It kind of reminds me of an activity we did for seminary one day. The class was broken up into 6 groups. Each group went out one at a time. We had to do certain things like skip ten steps, run around a tree 3 times, that kind of thing all the way around the building. We were all timed and the winner was going to get a reward. Some groups came back pretty quickly while others seemed to take a long time compared. When it was our turn, we went out and saw someone working on their car in the parking lot. Some people that knew him said hi and continued on. Then there was the woman walking down the walkway toward the building carrying a tall stack of something. She stumbled and managed to drop them all over the ground. Some people passed and others stopped to help so everyone had to wait. Then we passed by a girl (our age) sitting on the curb crying. I don't remember if anyone stopped to ask if she was ok or not...I know I didn't. We made it back in to class and got our time. After all the groups had gone, the three people who I mentioned came into the room. They had been working with the teacher. The activity was not about making it back to class the fastest but about helping those around you. My group didn't win that day...and I failed the test this time as well.

As I got into town, I had to go to the bathroom SO bad! But I passed a pioneer memorial park and you know me, I love pioneers and had to stop! I took a walk through the park looking at all the buildings and trying to see inside them as well. It was pretty cool. I wanted to go find the temple but suddenly, I was distracted by the need to go find a bathroom pronto...then food, that I completely forgot until the next day. It wasn't visible from the main road though or I would have noticed and went to see it.


The campground was actually 8 miles North of town so after I stopped for a shake and ate my lunch, I continued on.


The campground was all by itself out there. It was pretty neat. The first thing you see when you get past the trees is an old log cabin. Then, to the left, is the "old town". It's a restaurant, saloon and 4 rooms upstairs that they rent out. There were cars parked there every time I went up there to get a picture so I finally just took it with cars ruining the shot.


I went exploring and found two old outhouse, the owners' house, a dump yard and a large boulder with a rope dangling from it. I tried climbing it but the fibers splintered off and dug into my fingers. There wouldn't have been a view up there anyway because it wasn't big enough so it wasn't worth it to me.

Rob and his wife stopped by the campsite and said goodbye to everyone. We tried to figure out a way to get me and my bike back to Orem but everyone had come down with full cars so in the end, Rob left his keys with me so I could drive back to Orem and they would come get the car from there.

I made some pudding and tried to give some of it away to people but everyone (except Robert, the driver) was already full so he took some but I still ate way more pudding than I should have.

Day 5 Natural Bridges - Blanding

I woke up rested and feeling much better than the day before. I woke up at 5:45 and one of the guys was already pulling out of camp. Crazy! I came on this tour to see things, not bike in the dark.

Before long, I came to the highest summit of the trip. 2500 feet lower than last year but with a better view (even if you can't see it in this pic).




There was a ruin on the side of the road that I stopped at. But there was a better one further down the road, about a mile on a gravel road and then a mile hike. I was really excited to see it...but by this point in the ride, I had a total of four cracks in my rear rim and the first one was getting worse. I started down the road to the ruin but decided against it, hoping to keep my rim intact as long as possible. That was a bummer but I quickly got over it.



We went down a REALLY nice downhill. But then it turned a corner and I saw this:

It doesn't look as scary in the picture as it does in person, trust me. It looks a lot like the road in Snake River Gorge I took when I went touring with Jasmine. It took us over an hour of huffing, pushing up that hill to get to the top...not to mention all my water. But my fears weren't realized. It only took about 20-30 minutes and while hard, it wasn't bad enough to have to get off and walk. In fact, I never did have to walk this trip.

After getting over the cock's comb there was another opportunity to see some ruins. These are the Butler Wash Ruins. There were 3 different alcoves with ruins in them in various states of disrepair. It was about a mile long hike (round trip) to see the ruins and well worth it.








Cock's comb from behind.


As the day wore on, the hills began to get steeper and steeper until we were regularly doing 10%.


There were only about 5-8 miles left but a woman stopped her truck to give me water. She filled up all my water bottles. I had enough to get me to Blanding but she didn't feel comfortable leaving me without something. She stopped and offered the guys ahead of me water as well. Very nice lady.

The vast majority of the next three days were spent on the road we turned onto to get to Blanding. It was busy (especially when compared to the desolation of the last 4 days) but the shoulder was ample.

I stopped at Subway and ate lunch and spent a long time there before finding the motel we stayed in. It was only $13 a room and it was clean and didn't smell like smoke. I got a shower and washed my clothes in the sink and hung them to dry on the railing before heading over to a restaurant where everyone was having dinner. I just had dessert since I had eaten not too long before that.

I slept ok...but not as well as I was expecting.