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| Shadows and light over Glen Canyon |
We did get up at sparrows fart and watched the light change over the canyon, but still didn't manage to start riding until 7:45am as we found my rear tire had a flat. One flat each this trip so far ain't bad and both of them have been slow leaks only, so the touring tires have done their job well.
Riding out of Hite was nothing short of stunning. This northern side of the massive Lake Powell (whose total coastline of just under 2,000 miles is longer than California's coast) is completely dry at the moment but we were rewarded with being able to see the early morning light lighting up the canyon over the Colorado River which feeds into the Lake, shadows and muted light playing on the canyon walls and on the river itself - so spectacular.
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| The sun rising over the Colorado River |
Then we crossed the narrow, muddy looking Dirty Devil River which seemed to live up to its name. From here we had our steepest climb yet up to the Hite Overlook getting a good view across the whiter wash to the canyons around Hite.
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| Dirty Devil River |
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| Looking back over Hite from the other side of Lake Powell |
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| Hwy 95 - America's most scenic national highway |
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| The road through the canyon climbing up to Hite Overlook |
Around the bend from the overlook we got another great view of the confluences of the rivers leading down to Lake Powell.
Then we entered the incredible North Wash, solid rocky canyon walls the reddest of red surrounding us completely, the red dirt reminding me of the outback back home in Australia.
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| Entering North Wash |
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| North Wash |
We took a short break at the Hog Springs Canyon Picnic Area before we finally cycled through and out of North Wash, the land opening up before us to flat desert plains covered with low shrubbery.
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| Hog Springs Canyon |
Just when you think there are no more canyons in site, you round a bend in the road and suddenly you are surrounded by another wash with different coloured canyons and totally different rock formations, or in the distance you are looking out at mountains, knolls and uniquely strange geometric shaped buttes. The scenery makes you forget that you are labouring up a big incline, your legs slowly turning over and your breathing coming louder and faster the longer the climb goes on, sweat dripping down your chin and into your eyes. Thankfully we had a partly cloudy day to keep the heat a little at bay.
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| Another wash! |
Hanksville appeared out of nowhere as we came down to the bottom of a hill, a small town with a population of about 220 people. Blondies boasted the "worlds best burgers", which when you haven't eaten a proper meal in 2 days, sucks you in straight away. Whilst the burgers weren't the worst we'd had in the world our timing was all wrong. We arrived behind a bus load of French tourists that sent Blondies into a complete frazzle. Steve was still pretty stoked that we had managed to get lunch in by 1:30pm. These are the sorts of days he loves. Ride done and dusted by lunch time!
The Redrock RV Park just around the bend had a nice patch of grass for us to pitch our tent under a shady tree, super clean bathrooms and Dukes Slickrock Grill serving bonza meals and full strength and heavy local Utah craft beers. Of course, this just made our day!
We'd made it through the most remote part of our odyssey unscathed - 124 miles without a ranch or town of any decent size in sight. The remainder of this ride should be a piece of cake except for some sections of 12-14% gradients we know are coming up. Better make sure we eat our Weat-Bix before these!
CRANKING ODYSSEY STATS
Total Odyssey miles: 2,672
Overall Fastest Speed: Steve (46 miles per hour) Mandy (36.7 miles per hour)
Bludge Days: 4
Bonks: Steve (1) - Day 46
Dog chases: 3
Dummy Spits: Steve (7) Day 10 - because it rained; Day 16 - because the rocks in the river were slippery; Day 29 - because it takes me so long to get ready in the morning; Day 36 - because I was blogging and Steve was dieing of starvation; Day 44 - because the clothes dryer didn't dry his clothes; Day 45 - because by the time I got organised he didn't get to eat a crappy dinner until 8pm; Day 47 - because his bike shoes were smelly and wet from sitting in the pool of water around our tent yesterday afternoon
Mandy (3.5) 0.5 Day 14 - those freakin' wreckless Idaho drivers!; Day 26 - because my bike computer had a meltdown; Day 28 - because Steve wouldn't help hold my bike up in the wind after watching it nearly fall over 3 times whilst I tried to put my clothes away in the panniers because it looked like rain ahead; Day 44 - because Steve's bushies flew back and hit me in the face (twice)
Flats: Katie (4); Steve (1); Mandy (1)
Wrong turns: 8
Beer of the day: Squatters Full Suspension Pale Ale
Lesson of the day: European tourists find my raccoon eyes extremely hilarious
No. of days with no shower: 17
No. of days in a hotel: 13
Starting weight: Steve (90kg) Mandy (51.5kg)
Day 30 Rawlins weigh in: Steve (183 pds / 83kg). Mandy (110 pds / 50kg)
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