Day 24

Hite Marina to Blanding

80 3/4 daily
1208 total

Sunrise at Lake Powell

>I chomp down a can of tuna and hit the road before seven. The air is still and very warm. A heck of a half hour climb gets me to the highway and back on course. Boy is it steep! The summit gives way to a nice downhill rip and I still haven't seen a car this morning.

The highway rolls near deep and narrow ravines. For this reason, the road must follow the shoulders and contours of every stinkin' butte, mesa or hill along the way. The constant up and down is tiring and I'm not making great time with the headwind. Out here I meet Simon and Neal. They flew out from the UK to ride Virginia to California. They left Blanding this morning and will skip Hite and head straight for Hanksville. That's over 120 miles! My hat, or helmet goes off to those guys. I've heard of folks doing this section all in one bite, but I wouldn't recommend it!

Eight hours and 50 miles later I reach Salvation Knoll. This was the easy part!

Up to this point highway has taken the path of least resistance. 18 miles outside of Blanding that trend takes a turn. Now the road blasts through rock, plunges and soars across the landscape and offers the hardest end-of-the-day ride yet.

It seems hotter at 5 than it did at noon! I dash for shade 3 or 4 times before completing the climb into Blanding. Drum roll please ...... No beer in Blanding! Dry town and proud of it. I can't wait to tap the Rockies!