Sat turned out to be the long interstate drive from Twin Falls, ID to Park City,UT and a bit below. Cruise around 60mph on a 75 mph interstate. Everybody was kind. I flashed the truckers when they were clear of my front end, several blinked back, appreciation I hope. Refill covered almost 29 mpg.
Made park City around 5:30 in cloudy sprinkling day. Found a bike shop in the yellow pages and called. Guy said they are discouraging riding Mid Mountain Trail because it has been wet and trails are soft and bikes will damage them. he said that last weeks snow is still above the trail which acts as a reservoir of wetness. trail is probably done for year. I responded as a responsible rider and moved on.
I was looking Rick’s phone number up when the phone rang. He told me about Thunder Mountain up Red Canyon outside Panguitch. Worked as a ride drive for me.
I found a neat failed development paved road system outside Provo for the night.
Today up & gone early to clear skies. Temp in 30s.
Made Panguitch around noon. Saw several campgrounds offering showers making life better. Drove up into red Canyon which is on way to Bryce NP. Parked @ Thunder Mtn TH and rode the paved bike path 5 miles to entrance on dirt road. Working my hip pain out. My rib tissue limits my deep rapid breathing. TH is @7180′ which is foreign to me. Elevation, sore hip, damaged breathing, out of shape, and something else must have made the climbs almost breathless albeit they short & not often steep. Scenery is surreal. I will load pictures another time. Real enjoyable ride. Desert w/ sandstone HooDoos. I stopped quite a few times and took pictures. Digital cameras are so good for the memory and the many pictures they hold.
Back in the desert. Leaves have fallen. Skies are sharp blue. Chilly but not cold. Hardly anybody. $5.00 shower in XG. Going to camp up Red Canyon & make LaVerkin tomorrow to join Rick.
Desert. Sage, junipers, lodgepole & P pine. Dry. Quite the contrast from even “wet” Spokane to here. Thinking about the lush forest rides since my May exposure to desert. temperate rain forest of the Puget Sound. Really an environment to experience. With fall & winter cold coming on sunshine is sought. Last May in Sedona the axiom was seek shade. In this colder temp I wonder if it holds true.
Craig, GPS coordinates or other directions to find the trailhead to Thunder Mtn would be appreciated. I think were going to include it as one of the rides were going to do next April in Southern Utah. Thanks, Les