Laid Off? Utah Here We Come!

The last time Eric got laid off it was 1994. We'd been fantasizing ever since about heading to the desert if it ever happened again. Eric got the word that he'd be off for a few weeks so I scrambled to get whatever I could...leave of absence, vacation, off without pay...whatever, I didn't care...I just wanted to go. So go we did...

We started in Nevada...

The view from camp...

This angry little guy followed us around for quite some time...



The elixir of life...




Someone's happy...

Travertine mound out in the middle of the desert with a giant hole in it. Bubbly-hot water fills the bottom...



A different view with the rain chasing us...

These hardy little flowers were everywhere on the mound and did a good job of withstanding the howling winds...


The super-hot water leaks out into a creek...

We got hammered on the way back to camp, but the downpour made the desert smell exactly like heaven...

Due to some camping weirdness, we loaded up the bikes and headed up the hill in order to get some cell coverage. I had no idea how much time off I had, and needed to call my boss to find out what my immediate future would hold. Good news...I had another 10 days off! arty We immediately whipped a u-turn and headed east, not stopping til we got to Ely. We'd trek across Utah the next morning, Capitol Reef National Park on the menu. Wanna come along?




WoodsChick

WoodsChick said:

We started in Nevada...

WoodsChick

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I was sitting in that pool not three weeks ago... Good times.

I've been thinking lately... It's been a while since we had a woodschick ride report. These really brighten my day. Thanks again.
Sorry to hear about Eric, wish him luck in the job hunt!

scootergmc said:

I was sitting in that pool not three weeks ago... Good times.

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Were you on a ride out there?

twolane said:

I've been thinking lately... It's been a while since we had a woodschick ride report. These really brighten my day. Thanks again.
Sorry to hear about Eric, wish him luck in the job hunt!

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Thanks for the kind words, twolane Eric's back at work already, much to his dismay He was hoping for another week or so but he went back to work a few days after we got back. He was just waiting it out between projects.


WoodsChick

WoodsChick said:

Were you on a ride out there?
WoodsChick

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Yes, but my ride was a little different...

scootergmc said:

Yes, but my ride was a little different...

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It's all good!





WoodsChick

Wow just, wow.

No trip to Utah is complete without a trip to Mom's for breakfast...

Welcome to Utah...

We found a nice little spot to camp right outside Capitol Reef National Park and immediately yanked my TKC80 off the rear and replaced it with a gnarly Utah-worthy knobby...


Played in the creek...

Spent the rest of the daylight hours packing our camping gear and loading it onto the bikes. The nighttime belonged to the maps.

Scrambled out of bed the next morning in time to catch the sunrise lighting up the very features that gave Capitol Reef National Park its name...

I just love water in the desert...

Our campsite looks almost tropical in the early morning sun...

We headed south and entered the park via some nice dirt...



Unfortunately our side trip ended all too soon when we came upon a sign indicating that only hikers could continue on our trail. We turned around and continued on our way...



Eric is standing on a 65 million year old fold in the earth's crust...


Eric followed me up the switchbacks...


The world looks crooked here...


Looking down from near the top...



Okay, now we're at the top!





More later!




WoodsChick

Nice pix.

It's later, need more

chugs said:

Nice pix.

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Thanks!

Happy Hornet said:

It's later, need more

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Yes, Ma'am! Getting on it right now!




WoodsChick

Yay!!! Another Woodschick ride report!!!

Damn, I love these reports. I miss the days when I used to just jump on the bike, pick a direction and go. Until I'm able to do so again, I will have to live vicariously through you. So far, so good!

Climbing the switchbacks put us up on a high plateau. We wanted to see the view from above so we took a short 4WD road...


And climbed this trail...

These flowering cacti were everywhere...

As were these pretty little gems...

We had to hike a ways in full gear but the views were worth it. This is the Waterpocket Fold...pretty much the whole reason for Capitol Reef National Park's existence. It was designated to protect this 100-mile long monocline, a 65 million year old wrinkle in the earth's crust. The view to the north...


And the south...






The hike back out was easier, but moto boots kinda suck in the sand...

We headed west across the plateau, not making very good time because we kept having to stop and admire the views...


The road eventually turned to pavement, which was sort of a bummer, but it was so stunningly beautiful it was hard to complain. Wish I'd gotten some photos from down in the canyon, but this is after we climbed out...

After a quick stop in Boulder for lunch we headed out onto an ATV trail...

Don't believe anyone if they tell you there's no water in the desert...

We explored the sandy shores on the other side...

But it got a little too deep for Eric's wimpy Dunlop 606 knobby...

The sun was getting low in the sky and we weren't sure how far we had to go, but we couldn't help ourselves from stopping to take in the views...




More in a few...

Clean glasses, fresh cup of joe, lap blanket...subscribed.

Brilliant. I'm bouncing in my chair with delight...the bit of the Southern Utah desert I've explored has made it one of my favorite places on the face of the earth. And nobody can rock a place like Woodschick.

Very awesome report and pix. Has it been a few yet?

Lo! What's that down below? More water?

The secrets hidden in the desert never fail to amaze me...







This section was waaay fun! My big fat 17" knobby was totally kicking ass on Eric's wimpy dirt tire in the sand...

It just never stops...



Damn, this stuff is fun...











It's always a good idea to have wet boots as the sun is going down...

These high canyon walls have a way of making one feel extremely humble and insignificant...




Heading towards the Golden Throne...

It's getting dark...time to shut the bikes off for the night...


More on the way...




WoodsChick

Cereal KLR said:

Clean glasses, fresh cup of joe, lap blanket...subscribed.

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Right on! It'll probably take me another day or two to finish so I hope that's a bottomless cup of joe

Nemo Brinker said:

Brilliant. I'm bouncing in my chair with delight...the bit of the Southern Utah desert I've explored has made it one of my favorite places on the face of the earth. And nobody can rock a place like Woodschick.

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Hah! Thanks, Nemo Utah is special, no doubt about it. The place feels downright spiritual to this heathen I could spend the rest of my life exploring southern Utah and not see enough of it. We used to ride our dirt bikes there every spring but it's been a few years since we've been. I think it's on the agenda for next spring, though

Flying Pig said:

Very awesome report and pix. Has it been a few yet?

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Another installment has been posted for your enjoyment




WoodsChick

In case I forgot my manners:

THANK YOU!