Cathedral Valley

Panoramic of Upper South Desert Overlook

After doing a fairly long bike ride yesterday we decided to rest our legs & drive out to see Cathedral Valley. On our last visit to the area we never explored that part of the park. The Park's description said it was a desolate area with little traffic. One thing really stood out in the description was 'prepare for self-rescue' since help may not arrive for hours to days...certainly sounds like our kind of drive. 

Hartnet Road

We headed off for the 6-8 hour drive of 57.6 miles along a remote dirt road. It was highly recommended to drive the loop clockwise due to fording the Freemont River. Oh boy no bridge! 

The river wasn't too high for the truck, but we could see how that would be a bummer to drive the loop from the opposite direction only to find it impassable and have to turn back.

Bentonite Hills

Bentonite Hills

Bentonite Hills

We rounded a turn and saw the banded hills of browns, reds, purple & gray...the bentonite clay is what makes the road slick & gummy when wet. Thankfully we had a beautiful bluebird day to travel without the worry of getting stuck. 

The drive was beautiful & very remote. By the end of the day we counted only 5 cars heading towards us and 3 cars going our direction. We started the drive along the southern half of the Cathedral Valley driving 27 miles along Hartnet Road and then made the turn onto Cathedral Drive for another 27+ miles of very fine dirt which covered the truck’s interior and bed. 

So much for having a clean truck, but dirty equals fun!

Bill at Glass Mountain

Close up of the selenite...aka 'glass'

Selenite crystals stacked

We made several stops along the way and managed couple of short hikes to various overlooks for better views of the valley. One of the weirdest sites along the way was called Glass Mountain...from a distance it looked like someone had piled up their trash. It glistened in the sun which made it impossible to get a good shot. We found out later that it was made entirely of selenite crystals...a variety of gypsum. 

Sink hole

Not too far away from the mountain we found a sinkhole over 200 feet deep. It formed when groundwater dissolved a gypsum plug. The cavity left behind collapsed from the weight of the rock on top. Really strange & totally different looking spots.

Monoliths on Cathedral Valley floor

View of Cathedral Valley from overlook

 

*click to enlarge pictures

First Ride in Capital Reef

We planned on doing a bike ride in Capital Reef
during the early morning hours. A few reasons for a fairly early ride...beat the heat, finish before the wind increased, & car traffic. At 8:00 AM we mounted the bikes & left camp well before most people were driving into the park. We headed down the Scenic Drive for 7 miles towards the end of the pavement. 

Since we were so early we decided to add a side trip down the Grand Wash dirt road to the trail heads for Cassidy Arch & Grand Wash... only a mile & a half. Riding the bike allowed us to see more of the canyon walls. An added bonus was still no car traffic so we could stop and take a few pictures of the wildflowers. 

Howard's Evening-Primrose

Largeflower skeletonweed

Pale Evening Primrose

Scarlet gilia

Uranium mines and 'glowing' people

Bill riding his Sunny Daze EMB

We turned and rode back to the pavement to continue the ride to Pleasant Creek Road. Just before we hit the pavement Bill asked a couple if ‘they were glowing’ after we spotted them looking in the old uranium mines at Grand Wash Junction. The conversation between the men went on for a good amount of time...discussing electric mountain bikes vs regular bikes. Forty-five minutes later we finally turned the bikes back on and continued on our ride...with the temperature a wee bit warmer.

View of Golden Throne in the distance

It was a beautiful ride with red rock cliffs to the north and lots of color along the road. Only 1 car drove past as we rode along the Pleasant Creek's dirt road for 3 miles. The ride ended when Pleasant Creek actually crossed the road. Since we couldn’t see the bottom of the creek bed we decided to turn around and head back to our campsite.

 

  

View from our campsite

Our total ride for the day was 22 miles in about 2 ½ hours...absolutely love my EMB.

Golden Throne from Pleasant Creek Road

*click pictures to enlarge

Heading to Fruita, UT

Up and ready to pull out of Willard Bay State Park at 6:00 AM we headed toward Salt Lake City. We hoped that the early hour and holiday would keep the nasty traffic at bay. Thankfully traffic was light & accident free. We decided to stop for some breakfast & gas in Provo, UT on our way to Fruita Campground in Capital Reef National Park. A drive of only 284 miles but, we made a number of stops along the way...made easier by towing a rolling rest stop. Too many big drinks!

There is only one developed campground in Capital Reed National Park. It's located in an area settled in the 1880's by Mormon pioneers along the Freemont River. Huge cottonwoods & large orchards of approximately 1900 trees including apple, pear, cherry, apricot, peach, nectarine, plum, mulberry, quince, almond, pecan, & walnut are still kicking after all these years. If you visit when the fruit is ripe you can eat as much as you want in the orchard & buy fruit to take home.

Campsite view

Old Cottonwood

The Gifford House still stands & depicts a rural Utah farm home from 1900. It has been restored and sells fruit pies...strawberry/rhubarb, mixed berry, cherry, apple & peach. Yummy! Yes, we did indulge in a couple while we were camping...actually it may have been a total of 5 pies. We bought 3 more to take on the road with us. Yes, we were so bad!

Since it was a bit too late to start a hike we drove the Scenic Road to Grand Wash... only 7 miles of pavement and a couple of miles of dirt road. The red & cream rock cliffs are stunning. Too bad the photos cannot quite capture the beauty & size of the cliffs. Lots of wildflowers were blooming along the road.

Rose heath

Stansbury cliffrose...smells amazing!

Sunset ride

Red cliffs 

After dinner we took off for a quick bike ride of 4 miles down the Scenic Road. The ride back was all downhill so that was a blast. 

When we turned west the sunset lit up the rocks. Spectacular scenery to ride in & very few cars were out driving after supper. A perfect ending to our day.

View at Fruita Campground Entrance

*click picture to enlarge

 

Off We Go

Overnight setup

Off we head on our 1st camping trip without Bridger. He gets a 14 day stay at his favorite doggie spa, Bark City. We're heading to Utah & figured he'd be happier staying in a much cooler environment in Montana. We could actually do some hiking & biking in the National Parks if he's not with us. 

Left Bozeman, MT heading to Willard Bay State Park 372 miles away midmorning. Our plan was to overnight in Cottonwood Campground in Willard Bay State Park in Willard, UT on our way to Capital Reef National Park. We hit the campground a bit after noon & never left the campsite. A quick site setup & we ate our lunch listening to the I-15 traffic heading in & out of Salt Lake City, UT. 

The only reason to stop at this particular campground is its proximity to I-15 and only 40 miles west of Salt Lake. Unfortunately, the noise from the Interstate only 50 yards away made sleep difficult until well past midnight. Lucky for us Monday was a holiday so traffic through the city was significantly less than it should have been for rush hour. No backups, accidents or wrong way drivers on this trip through Salt Lake City.

Smoke!?

Smoky sunset

We're back in our other happy place. Unfortunately, our mountains are obscured by heavy smoke from the Alberta wildfires. On our trip north we hit hazy skies in Percival, Iowa...the halfway point. It is much too early to tolerate the smoke from wildfires. We had figured this year would be somewhat better with the heavy snows over the winter in California. Canada was not on our radar for fire...especially mid-May. 

Hopefully the winds will shift and blow it back to Canada. Fingers crossed! 

Now time to break out Tin Can Allie from her winter slumber. Let's hope we find everything in good working order. Our plan is to head out for some early camping adventures in Utah & Wyoming.

Back-to-Back and It Hits 100+

Field of dame's rocket

Well how about that...back-to-back days with rides over 25 miles. It is the first time I have ever ridden so far on back-to-back days. I'm feeling pretty happy with myself. Over the last 7 days I managed to ride 21.2 miles, 13 miles, 12.2 miles, 30.2 miles and 27.2 miles. I did skip riding 2 days. The total mileage for the last 7 days hit my target of 100 miles...actually it was 103.8 miles. Now if only I had gotten on my bike those 2 skipped days!

Last Friday I rode the Huckleberry Trail from Heritage Park to the 460 underpass towards Virginia Tech. The trail ends at the Blacksburg Library. I usually ride through Tech's campus & pick up a road that will take me towards home. I probably should start taking a different route when Tech's in session. Any ride these days around campus makes one a bit nervous. The college kids are so wrapped up with their phones they walk right out in front of you...never looking to see what may be coming. One of these days something bad is going to happen. I just hope I'm not the one it happens to...

Curious cow along trail

On Wednesday I decided to head off for Huckleberry Trail since it was such a beautiful day. I really enjoy long rides when there are bright blue skies and lots of sunshine. I decided to ride out to Heritage Park from the house & pick up Huckleberry Trail to Christiansburg.  Once I get to the trail I usually ride to the bridge over Peppers Ferry Road. I'll hit 15 miles at the bottom of the foot bridge over the highway & make the turn to head back towards Blacksburg. Depending on my return route home I can hit between 27 to 30 miles for the total ride. Feeling pretty good I meandered my way around town until I hit 30 miles.

Thursday was another spectacular day for a ride. I needed only 23.4 miles to hit 100 miles over the last 7 days. I wasn't too sure that I could ride 23+ miles after Wednesday. I ride almost every day, but usually after a long ride I stick to much shorter & easier rides.  I thought 'what the heck' I really wanted to have a 100-mile week of rides. If I got too tired I could easily cut the ride short and finish off the last few miles in a couple of neighborhoods, but I got caught up in the beauty of the green fields & bright blue skies. I ended up riding the whole trail to the NR Mall.

Lots of wildflowers were blooming along with plenty of those often called 'invasive species'. The Dame's Rocket & Multiflora roses have been everywhere this Spring...terribly difficult to get rid of but still beautiful when in bloom. The blackberry vines are starting to bloom & the honeysuckle smell was heavy in several spots along the trail. I did enjoy listening & watching the birds fly off the fences as I rode along...goldfinches, mockingbirds & thrushes were the most frequent ones. A pair of pileated woodpeckers are always heard in the woods and occasionally I will catch sight of them as they do a flyover. Early this week I spotted a pair of Baltimore Orioles chasing off a mockingbird. I would loved to have been able to get a picture, but one never stops going up a big hill.

Dame's Rocket

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Multiflora rose

Which brings me to a little pine tree along the trail...on the last little hill before crossing Glade Road. I did stop there to take a quick shot since these birds don't fly. Someone likes to decorate the tree from time to time. In November it was decked out with ornaments for Christmas. Now it has tiny bird ornaments. It makes me smile as I ride by it. Thanks to whoever is responsible for bringing some joy to everyone's day!

The bird tree...always makes me smile.

*click pictures to enlarge