Sensory Overload

Today's miles: 650, including out-and-back in Arches. Total caffeine units: 44 oz + 20 oz Diet Pepsi, Starbucks Double Shot Light. Number of wrong turns (trying to find motel): 2. U-turns: 2.

Earlybird Mancusis were up before 6AM, when my alarm woke up my lazy butt. Mike left to get his conference started, and Karen and I took the doggies for a walk then said our goodbyes. It was such a great stay with Karen and Mike. Whenever I see Karen, which is usually at least 6 months after the previous visit, it's like we never were apart.

By 8:15AM, I was on the road, heading southwest towards I-70 instead of I-80. At Karen's recommendation, I stayed away from Denver rush hour and I-25 and instead drove through Boulder to I-70. I wanted to take the canyon road US-6, but there was some crazy traffic due to construction, so I made a U-ey and went the standard way. My baby Vibe handled the climb into the mountains pretty well. I stopped in Vail to see what the fuss was all about--it was gloriously sunny at that point, and the town of Vail is situated at the bottom of a mountain, very well manicured. The amount of ongoing construction suggested that Vail-ites don't like it when their condos, lodges, and hotels get more than 20 years old. I took a switchback road up a hill to check out the multimillion dollar set and found that I'm glad I don't ski, knowing that these places exist!





Back on I-70, my fellow drivers and I did a little dance with the Colorado River, switching side, dipping over each other. The river was moody--at some points rather complacent and lazy, at other points rowdy. I struggled to keep my eyes on the road--it had to compete with river-carved canyons and tunnels through solid rock. I eventually made it into Utah. This time, I pulled off the road and took a quality portrait of the sign, so you better appreciate it! In the distance to the north the Book Cliffs--to the south a mesa. At around 2:30, I pulled off at a Scenic View and put my head down for half an hour. The wind whipped through my car--I had to keep the windows open since it was over 90F. I was really exhausted and was considering skipping my plans to visit Arches National Park. But I figured it was a sin not to go there when I was so close.



The road from I-70 to Moab, UT, is a designated scenic by-way. I wasn't convinced, seeing rather desolate mounds of dirt and scrubbrush all around. But in the distance, I could see snow-capped peaks and some purple-pink looking cliffs--I wasn't disappointed. After about 10 miles on this empty road, the Colorado River valley exploded--soon, for hundreds of feet vertically on either side, impressive cliffs of sandstone, two types stacked one on top of the other, surrounded me. The road hugged the southern side of the river, and the scree slopes were punctuated by enormous boulders broken free from the cliffs. This went on for 30 more miles, and I couldn't stop taking pictures. I was just blown away. Finally, I made it to the turn for Arches. I was low on gas, so I turned towards Moab to fill up, but found myself sitting in yet another construction jam. U-turn number two and a gamble on gasoline.


I filled up my water bottle at the Visitor's center at Arches and headed to do the lazy girl's tour of the park. It was after 4PM, the park closes at 6:30PM, I was hungry and it was HOT, so I decided not to bike around. That and the altitude. So I drove the entire park--second after second, I was blown away by the geological formations in Arches. Besides the eponymous water and wind-eroded sandstone, there is a visible fault line, delicately balanced rock towers, and petrified sand dunes. Someday I will return with more time and a traveling companion to do hikes out to the rock formations. I am nervous leaving my car and bikes and then hiking on my own. My gas gauge nearing E (but I know I had at least 60 miles worth left), I coasted out of the park in neutral and found that the traffic jam had cleared. I filled my tank, hit up the Wendy's, and squatted in a Days Inn parking lot to mooch their free Wi Fi.

By 7PM, I got back on the road and headed back to I-70 via a different route. Again, the panorama was intense. Then I took US-6 all the way to Provo. It was getting dark as I climbed, winding through rocky passes, so I don't have a good idea of what the terrain really looked like. Provo--or the Salt Lake City metropolitan area appeared out of nowhere--I could make out some mountain in the distance, but I'm looking forward to seeing this joint in the daylight.