Outside Vernal, UT. Great desert trail system, hand built, some trails were cow paths then named for something like “and Cookies”, “Got Milk”, then others like Slippery when wet and More hoes. Stopped at Altitude Cycle in Vernal for a brief visit. Familiar faces and recognition. Last weekend was a mountain bike festival which I missed. economic engine here abouts is petroleum which has tanked. Troy said 6 motels have closed.
So I drove out to the corral about noon. I parked in full sun because that is all there is. Right now, 9:22PM must be some ATV club is staging a group ride and are lust passing me. Burning bright LED lights. Perhaps there are 50 vehicles. Back to my ride. I set out about 1:00 because I can ride whenever I want, why wait for cooler temps later in the afternoon. in mid 80s full sun, sometimes a strong head wind. A piece of More Hoes runs the razorback with exposure on either side. Tread here appears to be rocks like aggregate: round and loose.
I was heated.
About 4 rigs with bikes drove into the TH parking lot. Prolly 20 riders till dark. Great to see a bunch of users.
I have ridden here numerous times in the past. I’m parked right next to the remnants of the name sake corral. Too windy for a solar shower.
Snow capped peaks of the Wasatch are on the horizon. Tomorrow I will get close to them. Plan on staying at Jordanelle SP tomorrow.
Thursday I drove to the Mack exit off I70 to ride a new trail recently built named Hawkeye out at Kokopeli trails west of Fruita.This trail offers another way to pedal up to Mack Ridge. I wanted to ride down it. My route was Troy Built to Mack Ridge then down Hawkeye. Years ago I rode Troy Built in the opposite direction. Really chunky, lots of walking.
Then the Mack Ridge trail was almost more walking than pedaling as I climbed up to the ridge. ran into 2 guys Jesse and David.
New trail made the descent from the ridge a hoot with lots of distance.
Drove back to Fruita for a shower at health club and did my weekly wash.
I left Fruita heading North over Douglas Pass on the way to Vernal. I turned right off the highway at the top driving a bunch of miles till I found a flat spot off the road. I stayed here on a previous pass thru. Late afternoon thunderstorm moved in and left leaving just a few drops of rain and some lightning flashes. 44 degrees chilly enough to run the furnace on a low setting during the night. 8851′ elevation, snow melted out.
Strong gusts from the north are striking me broad side, lots of jiggling.
Speakers dropped right in the vacated hole. Such enjoyment hearing functioning speaker.
desert temps are in the 80s which is becoming harder to ride.