7th June
Having spent Sunday doing my chores (laundry etc), plus recovering from a fairly spectacular hangover… I set off at 0900 heading north towards Salt Lake City. I’m approaching 66k miles, when I’m due to do a minor service on the bike. My plan is to get BMW Salt Lake to do an oil & filter change tomorrow (they do a ridiculously cheap deal) and then leave the other service bits until I get to see Jorge and Sheila at the weekend. I ride up the US89, rather than the freeway, which I experienced at Easter, when I had to visit Salt Lake to get new tyres…
I ride through Cedar City and then into Cedar Breaks National Monument. The road climbs to over 10,000ft and the views on the way up are great…
…but pale in comparison by those from the visitor centre…
…and yes, that white stuff is snow
. Further on the views continue to impress…
I follow the road down to Panguitch, where I spent a couple of nights back in April. I stop for brunch at a small diner and the waitress tries to rip me off by charging me for a different breakfast. I’d normally give someone the benefit of the doubt – but in this case I knew it was deliberate – I get the bill adjusted and depart (without leaving a tip). Good breakfast though
I continue up the 89, which is a very pleasant ride – it’s a 'cool' 84º F this morning – a pleasant change from the high temperatures of the last few days. I ride the route Betty & I worked out last night.
I don’t know anything about horses, but there was something about this small herd with a couple of foals that made me turn around and take a picture…
As I near Salt Lake, I become aware of a large Army presence – it seems that this area hosts a major series of supply depots. On the hillside I recognise munitions bunkers and a reference on a street sign to ‘Chemical Stockpile Outreach Program’ – which sounds as odd an idea as I’ve heard of. I also notice, every few miles, these things…
…which, according to the signs on them…
…are some form of warning system. There are also a plethora of blank electronic roadside signs – my suspicious mind turns to evacuation procedures in case of chemical weaponry leaks… But, hell, what do I know…
I spot a Best Western in Tooele (I’ve no idea how to pronounce it*) and check in for the night. Salt Lake City tomorrow, then into Idaho tomorrow evening. Unless something else comes up…
*EDIT: Apparently it's pronounced 'Twilla'
Having spent Sunday doing my chores (laundry etc), plus recovering from a fairly spectacular hangover… I set off at 0900 heading north towards Salt Lake City. I’m approaching 66k miles, when I’m due to do a minor service on the bike. My plan is to get BMW Salt Lake to do an oil & filter change tomorrow (they do a ridiculously cheap deal) and then leave the other service bits until I get to see Jorge and Sheila at the weekend. I ride up the US89, rather than the freeway, which I experienced at Easter, when I had to visit Salt Lake to get new tyres…
I ride through Cedar City and then into Cedar Breaks National Monument. The road climbs to over 10,000ft and the views on the way up are great…
…but pale in comparison by those from the visitor centre…
…and yes, that white stuff is snow
. Further on the views continue to impress…
I follow the road down to Panguitch, where I spent a couple of nights back in April. I stop for brunch at a small diner and the waitress tries to rip me off by charging me for a different breakfast. I’d normally give someone the benefit of the doubt – but in this case I knew it was deliberate – I get the bill adjusted and depart (without leaving a tip). Good breakfast though
I continue up the 89, which is a very pleasant ride – it’s a 'cool' 84º F this morning – a pleasant change from the high temperatures of the last few days. I ride the route Betty & I worked out last night.
I don’t know anything about horses, but there was something about this small herd with a couple of foals that made me turn around and take a picture…
As I near Salt Lake, I become aware of a large Army presence – it seems that this area hosts a major series of supply depots. On the hillside I recognise munitions bunkers and a reference on a street sign to ‘Chemical Stockpile Outreach Program’ – which sounds as odd an idea as I’ve heard of
. I also notice, every few miles, these things…
…which, according to the signs on them…
…are some form of warning system. There are also a plethora of blank electronic roadside signs – my suspicious mind turns to evacuation procedures in case of chemical weaponry leaks… But, hell, what do I know…
I spot a Best Western in Tooele (I’ve no idea how to pronounce it*) and check in for the night. Salt Lake City tomorrow, then into Idaho tomorrow evening. Unless something else comes up…
*EDIT: Apparently it's pronounced 'Twilla'
