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
Back in the olden days up on the MesaInside the upper cabin. Fancy!
The inside of the upper cabin is quite nice. It smells a little dusty; nothing some sweeping and new curtains couldn’t fix
Lands-end observatory
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!
These little dudes are abundant at the Lands-end look out pointOne of the many reservoirs up on Grand Mesa
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
My friend Tom stopped by with the Lost Box Expedition truck this week
Some creative person left a kewl gift for passers-by out on the Wrangler trail
This is so kewl! I saw this on the Wrangler TrailBaby dragon foot-prints!
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
Cactus Blooms!
Meanwhile back at the ranch … CACTUS BLOOMS!!
Yellow Cactus!
I love these little flowers so much!
This little delight is about 1.5 cm in diameter
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)]
As advertised
I also took a spin on Lions/ Kokopelli trail since I’ve never been this way before. An early morning delight!
Looking down on Steve’s Loop from Lions/ Kokopelli Trail
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!
A friend wielding the world’s largest Bowie Knife!Me, Lana holding Gus, and Mike (it was super-windy that day)
It was a little chilly on the road, but not that cold!Between the La Sal loop and Moab on the Sand Flats Road
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
Camp spots were still closed Memorial day weekend 2020
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
Snow-capped La Sal’s from the Sand Flats RoadEntrance to the Slick Rock Trail
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
Taking a break on the Slick Rock Trail
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
Cross-walk in Moab. So festive!
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
Local wildlife in Moab. Deer in a vacant lot!
I know! who would have thought Moab would still have a vacant lot!
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!
The last Champ section before Hwy 191.
This is the easiest of the three options for climbing out of this place
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
Yet another Champ section on the Kane Creek 4×4 route.
12 psi in the front. 8 in the back baby!And another Champ section
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
Kane creek disappearing down a slot in the sandstoneLush aspen grove in Kane CreekAnother sunny cool day on the Kane Creek TrailHaving a yard sale on the Kane Creek TrailI walked down to this bridge when I rode Kane Creek from the other endCheck out the fuel cap that got smashed off a UTV on one of the Champ sections
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!
Trail-side inspiration!
The next day I took to the hills with the Husqie Adventure 450 and went north to Douglas Pass
Sign of the times
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)
It was super-quiet at 9am Friday morning. This must be what it was like back in the day before it was discovered (not 1985 quiet, more like 1997 quiet)
At the top of Hurrah Pass. Got passed by a Subaru outback on the way up here. Kind of a lame trip
I saw Hurrah Pass in a video and thought it would be a kewl trip. It was way too easy to get to the top. A dualie truck with 12 foot camper made it over to the other side. On the way back I decided to take a little 12-mile road to highway 191. Kane Creek looked like a nice way to spend the day
Another delightful day people-distancing
I planned to ride the Kane Creek Trail out to 191 then head back to town. It’s only 12 miles, how hard could that be? The ride up-creek was a delight!
Kane Creek Trail under Kane Creek
I feel like I crossed or rode up the creek about 100 times. There were more than a few challenge areas with big rock obstacles (I folded the mirrors and tucked the GPS so I wouldn’t hit my chest on them) Notice the lack of a paddle in my kit
Snack-stop on the dry-side of Kane Creek
Since I started before the maddening crowds the creek was clear and I could see the bottom (sand and rocks. lots of rocks)
Lunch break on Kane Creek Trail
Rocks, then water, then sand. Repeat. I stopped here for lunch and had 1-bar of cell service. Enough for a call but not to send a pic
So many delightful sights to be had!
After this point it started to get sporting. Steeper, rockier, repeat
Sometimes Hamburger eats you!
This was the end of the trail for me. Ten miles in, only two from the end, and I had to turn around and ride it back. So sad for me
There is only about a mile of this rock-strewn trials section. Great for super-jeeps or big-tire UTV’s
I did watch about 8 UTV’s, 2 big-tire jeeps, and a couple of 300cc 2-strokes bash their way up this. Not for my old bones. Average speed on this trip was 8 mph. It took me over 7 hours to ride out and back to/from Moab. There are a lot of kewl trails in this area. If you are in Moab, ride ’em!
The desert gives way to the forest. Glad I have my warm coat today!
Took a tour of the Book Cliffs in Utah today. Looped out at about 105 miles of BLM gas-field roads. Saw a couple herds of Elk too. It’s still early spring/ late winter up there
A little fixer-up in the Book Cliffs
Found a cute little valley which will be a delightful camp spot in about a month
Handle-bar deep snow. I may be a little early for the road to McCook Ridge
The main gas-field roads were plowed and snow-free (dry too). The side trails are going to be awhile
