Since it’s getting into the 100’s in Fruita again I headed up to Grand Mesa for coolness and adventure

I started my day in Collbran then went North and East from there

I rode a loamy little two-track ATV trail up to the boundary between the Grand Mesa and White River forests

I didn’t see but one person and a half-dozen cows the whole day. It looked as though the trails had not been used by ATV’s for awhile. Only cow and horse feet prints marked the soft earth

Where it’s nice and cool, Mmmmmmm

There is an old historic cow camp up on the Mesa which has been preserved for our enjoyment. It was likely tough work in the day, but now we drive to it in air-conditioned rental cars so it’s no big deal

The inside of the upper cabin is quite nice. It smells a little dusty; nothing some sweeping and new curtains couldn’t fix

Further west on FR 100 I came to Lands-end. It’s where the Mesa turns to a cliff and falls into the Grand Valley. Super great views and decent cell phone service. The local wildlife has figured out that humans are a source of food. They put on quite a show for a meal 🙂 so squee!

I’m in stand-by mode these next few weeks. I have a big trip planned for mid-july and I don’t have as much time to play in the desert now that it’s HOT. I did manage to sneak in a couple bike rides though. My friend Tom came to town with The Lost Box and we went riding out in the Kokopelli area

Some creative person left a kewl gift for passers-by out on the Wrangler trail

It seems there is a baby dragon in the Park making cute little foot-prints

First-off a rant aimed at Target! I ordered some corn chips along with other things and the dufus who packed it put the can goods on top of the corn chips. Grrrrrrr

Meanwhile back at the ranch … CACTUS BLOOMS!!

I love these little flowers so much!

I also took a couple rides out where the peeps don’t go and found myself on the Old Spanish Trail above the Colorado River. I’m a little confused as to why anyone would ride this way to get somewhere, and it’s possible that the somewhere that this trail served has disappeared since then (POOF!) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Spanish_Trail_(trade_route)]

I also took a spin on Lions/ Kokopelli trail since I’ve never been this way before. An early morning delight!

I friend of mine went traveling across Texas and stopped at the world’s Largest Bowie Knife (Bowie, TX). I was there a few years ago so here are pictures!

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As I was driving back from Moab I notice that Fruita keeps getting closer to Grand Junction

When you get on the highway at Fruita going to GJ the sign says 5 miles to go. YaY! weirdness!

After the Kane creek adventure I hooked up with the La Sal loop in Spanish Valley and rode it around to the Sand Flats Road

It was cold enough up on the hill to make me put my coat back on. Covid-19 has most of the campgrounds closed in the area. That’s not stopping some people from camping there anyway, but hey, this is ‘murica. It was a pleasant ride on mostly decent pavement around to the Sand Flats Road. They call it Sand Flats for a reason. The road is half-dirt, half-deep sand with a few rocks jutting out at odd angles just for fun

The Sand Flats Area includes the Slick Rock Trail which is super grippy when dry. Super slick when wet. I stopped for a scenic break out on the slick rock

The Mtn Bikers always look at the moto’s with distain on the trial because they don’t know it’s actually a moto trail that you can ride bicycle on. Silly rabbit

Down from the Sand Flats Road into Moab and the cross-walk is looking festive! As I was loading the bike up a deer came to see me

Kane Creek 4×4 trail part II

As you recall I got skunked on my quest to ride Kane Creek 4×4 route from end to end. Thwarted just two miles from the end I turned tail and rode back to Moab the way I came. Turns out that was a good plan!

My concern was that the trail would get worse and I would get stuck between two sections I could not ride. That was SOOO true. The two miles I bailed on were mostly unridable. Unless you are an expert rider on a trials bike

I did have a grand time walking it though. This area is so beautiful in the spring! There were tiny lizards running to and fro, green trees, and a clear flowing creek

The Cactus are blooming in the desert this week! It’s a delight to see them! I went for a Mtn Bike ride the other day and it was grand!

The next day I took to the hills with the Husqie Adventure 450 and went north to Douglas Pass

Covid-19 has us trying to stay near home and failing miserably at it. The campground is full of people from 100’s or 1,000’s of miles away. I had to ride more than 10 miles just to see the sign (below)