I seen ’em!!!! Big, pink, & holding sign welcoming me to Vernal, UT. Land of fossils and liquid remainder of their time opn earth.
Stopped @ Altitude Cycle right on Main st. After 3 previous visits I finally meet owner, Troy, a veritable live wire. Some talk of him guiding me on a hard to navigate local trail. Hung around for some goofing. Bikemag published an article about Troy & his Vernal in 2009 issue written by Lou M, now editor of Mountain Biking. Photos taken by Anne; Hey Ken Keister, she of Hot Tomato in Fruita. Lou mentioned Troy’s unique way of initiating the flushing action.
Autographed the wall somewhere.
Found some tree shade @ city park and caught up w/ some electronic tasks and waiting out the sun b4 heading out to McCoy Flat corral for sleep spot. This is desert country: no shade except for sage bushes. Temp in low 80s. Big desert sky.
I sleep on my stomach after presleep on my right side. My right hip is still painful to pressure. My right rib 8 weeks later still hurts. Sleeping on my left side or back is so foreign to me that prevents me from a good sleep. Life is a bitch when I am hurting.
Tomorrow is a ride in the AM out here on trails Retail Sale, Slippery when wet, Fire sale finishing up on Milk & Cookies. All Troy built. Some of the trail is organized cow paths out here in the desert.
Oil wells still being drilled as seen between Rangley & Vernal. Boom Bust region.
Craig, I must admit I’ve been bad. I have not, until today, checked your blog in a few weeks. CB, Fruita, GJ, etc… Oh, I wish I were there. Headed for our own (16 of us, ½ from SoCal – ½ from N. Cal) micro vacation – Mammoth, Ca for a week mid August. Can’t swing a CO / UT adventure this year. Promise to be a good boy and check in more often. Still, and as always, you are truly doing something many dream of.
-Todd (El Salt)