Road Trip

Paula and I are currently on the road, escaping the scorching desert heat and visiting friends and family.

On the way to Salt Lake we attempted to camp at the terminus of the Arizona Trail. We only made it a few miles off 89 before running into a series of 3 foot steps formed by a flash flood. No one had driven through and I wasn’t about to be the first to try. We looked around for a decent place to camp, did some walking and then decided to head north. I was quite looking forward to riding those switchbacks on the AZT.

In Salt Lake we’ve been busy maximizing our time here. I did a basic shoreline loop on the recumbent, much to the enjoyment and laughter of my two brothers and dad, who followed along. It was a good twist on trails that I know all too well and have been riding since I was 12.

My first real ride was at Park City. The B-29 was called into service once again. Climbing was great, downhill not as great. But I noticed at some point that I actually had MORE feeling in my numb fingers than I did before I started the ride. Or maybe it was just me…

Regardless, the ride was an absolute joy. It was a classic (for us) Park City route. Up sweeney, then John’s, Steps, Keystone, Shadow Lake loop then blast down Thanye’s canyon to Spiro Trail. I couldn’t have imagined a better ride or day, or company on the ride. The four of us (my dad and two brothers) spent many a saturday skiing on these slopes. Our passions have turned to cycling, but there we were again, riding around in the Jupiter Bowl area.

I took a break for a few days, just riding the recumbent here and there rather than driving. Then I saddled up the B-29 again for an assault on Hero Hill. It was late afternoon and by the time I was halfway up my head was about to explode. This climb ALWAYS hurts, no matter how strong you are. I’m not too strong these days, but actually it wasn’t all that bad. I miss this climb very badly. There is nothing like it in Arizona. It’s what turned me into a climber.

Next on the road trip is Grand Junction / Fruita, where I’ll do at least one ride. Then we’ll head east to Leadville to visit Lee and do more riding. Mt. Elbert is calling for an attempt, even if my bike and body are not 100% ready (and are laughably optimized). To pull that climb off I’m going to need a heck of a lot more than I’ve got now. But it will still be fun.