From: Jim Miller [spinnerman@t-one.net]
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 11:27 PM
To: Campbell, Frank
Subject: BIKE TRIP----5th Report

Friday 7/23---from Stateline to Delta UT, longest leg, 94 miles

Up at 4:45 to get for a cool start and a jump on the "long" day, pitch black, following the white line of the road for the first 45 minutes, no traffic, and then the first streaks of light which blossomed into a beautiful sunrise during the next half hour.

Through the "Confusion Range" at 6500'--through "2 slots in the wall" into Kings Canyon, reaching 40 mph on the decent into "Sevier Dry Lake", about 20 by 10 miles. Then up through Shellrock Pass at 5600'. The temp soared to about 90 in 15 minutes.

This stretch was "boring" with little scenery of significance, and the tendency to lapse into a "stupor", but still enjoying the marvelous fragrance(maquis) of the wild herbs they have had for the last week. The trance was broken by a horrible offensive scent(smell) as the came over a rise to see 4 legs "straight up"---a huge steer on the "free range", probably hit be a truck the day before. After that more chattering Prairie dogs darting into and out of their burrows along the road edge, and finally, still on US 50, and after 7 hours of pedal time, at 2 PM into Delta, and a large "luncheon buffet", where for $7 each, they filled up.

Saturday was a rest day, and they slept in, cleaned the bikes, and then took a side trip to TOPAZ, UT, that in 1942-46 was the 4th largest town in UT. It was one of the Japanese-American internment camps, and had 10,000 people in harsh conditions of captivity. It may soon become a national monument. They also caught a rodeo in Hinkley, and realized it was PIONEER DAY--A STATE HOLIDAY IN UT, celebrating the founding of the state.

While enjoying the rest day, Larry reminisced about the trip from SFO with the "BILL'S (S & G) to the Garcia home with the "talking GPS" bill called "magdalena", and realized they have been on US50, not needing a map for 10 days.

Hans and Inge again sorted their gear, and shipped 8-9# home, including one "pannier"(saddlebag)

Patriotism is alive and well in the small towns, with a bulletin board on the main street of Delta updating everyone with info/letters from service "people" in Afghanistan and Iraq. Will advised they were either Guard or Reserve units.

Larry said they daily meet "well wishers", who generally fall into 3 categories.

1)--sincere, who will tell them to call or send a card when they reach WP

2)--dreamers, young and old, want to take a similar trip, but just do not have the time or means to explore

3)"POSEURS" who say " planned one time to do that, but----or why don't you detour to "x" and see the sights, its only 60 miles out of your way, and we drove over there last year.

Sunday, 7/25, off at 6:30 and by 11 after 15 miles on I-15, into Scipio(pop 350) and an excellent meal at the Shade Tree Cafe---RECOMMENDED! Next came the Scipio Pass climb into terrible headwinds and another "limbo feeling" haul into the Pahvant Range at 7000', with what looked like a wonderful decent into Salina---except they again were in headwinds pedaling 10 miles on the downhill.

They arrived at "Moms Cafe" operated by a South Korean who was engaged in conversation by Will, while the others watched the triumphant victory by Lance Armstrong in Paris.

Monday, up at 6:30--nothing open for breakfast, so on to Sigurd(15 miles) to Dans Cafe--described by Will as a "chuckwagon Chef". When Dan realized Hans was a Swede, he asked about "gun laws" in Sweden. After Hans talked about permits etc, Dan pulled a 6 shooter out and began waving it around, pointing to the 2nd amendment poster on the wall, making quite an impression (at 8 AM) and leaving a lasting vision "of the wild West". After pancakes (with eggs hidden between the layers)they challenged the Koosharem Pass at 8400', a stair

stepping ascent of 30 miles that seemed to last "forever".

Clearing the peak, they observed thunder and lightning all around, with rain in every direction. After waiting for 10 minutes or so, Larry proceeded, and picked up a tailwind all the way into LOA where the 4 got back together, having dodged all but a few drops of rain. Then 8 miles to Bicknell, into a headwind that barely allowed them to do 10 MPH.

After 1450km/906 miles, they arrived in Bicknell at the Aquarius Motel, complete with pool and a 6 person Jacuzzi, with "powerful jets" to massage all the aching parts.

The route will change slightly, since the Fry Canyon Lodge is not open during July, so they will go Hanksville, Greenbrier, Moab and La Sal, putting them back on the itinerary.

Jim