65 daily
888 total
I talk with some old timers at breakfast today. The retired trucker says," No offense, but you're an idiot." The waiter says I'm alright. Right on dude. The other guy lives in Benicia part of the year. I hit the road and boy am I glad I didn't quit! Route 14 leads to an incredible canyon.
Yikes! There are some impossibly steep rocks! Water is everywhere! Meadows rage with runoff and fresh snow-melt trickles off of every cliff.
Get out yer easles cuz this is Bob Ross country! Happy little trees and clouds abound as I push for the summit.
Wow.
Shortly after this a gust blows me to the right and I'm forced into a complete u-turn. The wind up here hits from all directions, sometimes within 5 or 10 seconds.
At this turn-out there is a view of Zion National Park. A cool couple from Victoria, B.C. took a picture for me. Their kids are bored and stay in the car. Unbelievable!
>I reach the summit which leads to a gentle downhill ride through snow-packed meadows.
Lava flows are revealed as the snow slowly melts away...
A few thousand feet lower and everything is green again-
> I forgot to mention that today I've taken a detour. The pass through Cedar Breaks is closed due to snow conditions and I must remain on 14 til I hit 89, then hang a left to meet scenic highway 12. The ride through Duck Creek was as beautiful as any and the last 20 miles on 89 is downhill with a tailwind.
> I meet with 12 and cancel my lodging in Panguitch ( no longer on my route with the detour ) and pitch my tent for eleven bucks at an RV park. The host is a cool dude and says he was a beast on a bike in his day. Here's a view of 12's western extreme.
Well, everything was fantastic at the RV park until 11pm when I then froze my butt off all through the night.
