The Unexpected - Good and Not So Good

Stats Sunday, Aug 15 –Bryson Canyon to Boulder. Day distance 77.8; ride time 6 h 17 m (8 h 30 m); ave speed 12.35 ; total climb 8745; total distance 922.4 (Total climb is not accurate as the altimeter went crazy in the afternoon jumping all over the place.)

The day started with a downhill section to Tropic at which we ate breakfast. There were interesting rock formations from Tropic to Escalante. On a climb toward Escalante my rear tire felt soft. The night before when airing up tires to maximum pressure at Bryson, I evidently ruined the valve because the rear tire would not hold pressure beyond 40 pounds. So at 9:00 Saturday night we changed the tube in my rear tire. But then the new tube on Sunday seemed to be leaking as well. Three times I pumped it to achieve max pressure.

At Escalante we ate a delicious salad at the Circle D restaurant. And, Mickey assisted me to lube an area on the rear wheel that was making a funny noise. After lunch at Escalante the tire seemed to be holding air sufficiently.

The highlight of the day was coming upon Calf Creek Canyon (also referred to as Devil’s Backbone and Hogback Canyon - all in a larger area known as the Grand Staircase). I’m not sure of the exact name of the area. But, anyway it was a stunning vista that we suddenly came upon at the top of a moderate climb. We learned later that what we viewed was a part of 1.9 million acres overseen by the Bureau of Land Management.

It is amazing how the landscape changes so quickly and dramatically. The view can be rather ordinary. Then, all of the sudden, it changes!!

The road descended into Calf Creek which had stunning rock walls. As we climbed out of Calf Creek Canyon we rode in 100 temps. Mickey’s thermometer registered as high as 115. Mine – 119. (It was probably about 105.)

We climbed into Boulder and ate supper. Fortunately for us the restaurant served garden burgers. At the restaurant we met a Taiwanese 20 something who was our waitress. We learned that she was on an exchange work program. She thought she was going to Boulder, CO. She had looked on the internet and learned that Boulder, CO is a college town. But after having arrived in the US, she learned that she had signed up for Boulder, UT where there are more cows than people.

Life presents to all of us unexpected turns and circumstances – stuff we did not plan on. Some of the unexpected can be wonderful. Other times the unexpected is very difficult. We just have to deal with it as best we can. She had a great attitude.

Boulder does not have many residents. Less than 200. We asked about camping facilities. There was no RV park. We learned from two different persons of a campsite on the edge of town by a creek. “It’s a well known spot by the locals,” we were told. Hmmm…we thought…does that mean the locals might come visit us tonight?

We didn’t have a choice. (Yeah, we could have stayed in a motel for $120 – but didn’t want to do that.) So off to the camp site we pedaled. We bathed in the creek, set up camp, and went to bed. No visitors dropped by.