Today was the first truly serious day of riding. We started out with a fairly tame ride out of the town of Kanab - which is very pleasant. We got a bit lost because somehow the route got messed up and we all ended up wandering through a field, but once we hit Highway 89A it was smooth sailing. By which I mean “smooth sailing straight up”, which is what it was for the next 30 miles or so, up to Jacob Lake. It was tough, but I got there. I’m not in the kind of shape I used to be. I was still worried about my tire in the back of my mind, and I also got a bit paranoid about my shifters not being charged, but in the end everything was fine. Jacob Lake had a nice little restaurant for a breakfast burrito - it felt like midday to us but because the time gets all screwed up around here it was still morning. They also had good cookies. After Jacob Lake, and me almost making a wrong turn, it was literally straight down for the next 15 miles until we came out of the mountains, a kind of treacherous road that was fun but also a little terrifying. Then it was smooth downhill roads through the desert until we hit this very random oasis that we’re currently in. We actually caught a tiny bit of rain but nothing big. Rumor has it we might have more rain in our future but for now the main result is that it hasn’t been too hot or too sunny which is amazing.
The government was doing a controlled/prescribed burn and the guys were doing it right next to the highway. I’d always wondered how they did it and the answer is dead simple: they have flamethrowers haha!
We also rode through some amazing little creeks that formed these extreme slot canyons, just cracks in the ground. Fun to see.
Definitely today was the most challenging physical day. I’ve been enjoying the trip a lot but I’m falling behind on sleep and I’m dead tired. Tonight we’re in a hotel and I’m making the most of it with a hot shower and washing some clothes and then I think it will be an early night. But the air is beautiful, and the sky is clear, so I’m feeling good!
