Vernal, UT

September 14
Very windy and rainy overnight - and cold - even saw some snowflakes! I'm glad we didn't have those conditions for the race! We decided to leave the Park City area a little earlier than planned - forecast for the rest of the week was just more ugliness. Hot beverages and breakfast once again, then headed east, towards Vernal, UT. We stopped in Roosevelt for some Chinese buffet - really my only post-race splurge! I just love those nasty buffets once in a while - especially when they have hard ice cream instead of soft serve :) Back to 70s and sunny and desert landscape!


We stopped just outside of Vernal for 'Can You Moo' trail. Rudy biked while I did a quick review of my race report...now to find some good service and get the blog updated - so behind! The recent rains left a lot of washout for the trail, and Rudy ended up riding up and down a dry creek bed instead.

Looked like a promising start to the trail...

Dinner was random snacks and leftovers following our large, late lunch. Then more GOT.

September 15
A cool and sunny morning - quite pleasant! We headed to McCoy Flats, more or less across the highway, for more biking. Again, the trails weren't ideal with the recent rain, there is similar red clay to that in Duluth, and just a few wet spots made the bikes a little messy. Nice trails regardless, on the easier side - good for me! I took on Got Milk?, And Cookies!, plus Combo.

McCoy Flats trailhead with Boy Scout art

Nice deserty views, and some jackrabbit and lizard sightings made for a fun ride.

Well marked trails with cool signs

While Rudy was exploring the more advanced trails of this little system, I got in some basking in the sun and a little stretching. After Rudy's return, more hanging out in the sun, reading, watching other riders come and go, including the local High School team getting in their evening practice - always fun to see kids playing on bikes! We cooked up overnight soaked red beans for some dinner, watched the full moon rising, and took in yet more GOT - I see withdrawals may be coming when we finish the 6th season, likely in a  couple weeks.

September 16
Another pleasant morning. After a leisurely breakfast, we headed to the bike shop in Vernal to supplies for brake bleeding and hopefully some local knowledge.
 
Altitude Cycle was a nice little shop, Rudy got what he needed plus some good information on the trails we planned to visit that day at Red Mountain. We made our way north of town and parked along the road that is the Red Mountain Trail. The dirt road quickly turned into a rugged jeep trail, and more like an ATV trail further up. Rudy biked and I hiked up the Rojo trail - mostly over large slabs of sandstone with white paint marking the way.

I was only planning on an hour or two, but felt good and decided to hike the whole trail, a little over 7 miles round trip, in about 3 hours - with plenty of stops for pictures, mostly on the way up.
  

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Rudy continued up the Red Mountain Trail where Rojo ended, then came back on it, beating me to the van by a few minutes. Next we headed up Highway 191 to Ashley National Forest for some dispersed camping. The highway has a lot of signs informing travelers of the rock formations and what fossils they hold - nifty. Interestingly we ended up in some aspens - a little different landscape from just a few miles down the road.

Being Friday night, there were a few other people around, but pretty quiet. It was cool though - low 50s when we arrived! For dinner, we started on the 12-pack of Annies Shells and Aged Cheddar recently purchased for (relatively) cheap. We both thought it was tastier than standard mac 'n cheese, but definately less food per box. Fun for the evening was a couple games of cribbage (Rudy won both, I should start a tally) and watching the final episode of Game of Thrones Season 4.

September 17
Below 50F in the van - brrrr! At least the sun was out and warm up was quick! We headed to the Red Fleet Reservior Trail system, which seemed to be the best trails in the Vernal area we checked out. I only did the Jass Chrome Molly loop - maybe a little easier than its blue designation, but it was plenty for me! I'll chalk it up to the 100-miler, but every little climb (really not a lot) had my heart racing and out of breath pretty quickly! The trail was in good condition and fun though, of course, nice scenery. Rudy got even more great shots of his longer ride. Post-bike, I got in some yoga and more laying around in the sun, then into Vernal to take care of laundry, then on to find the next camping spot. We ended up near Green River, next to a marshy area - seems out of place with the arid country side. It was cool to see and hear the sights and sounds of a wetter ecosystem. Dinner was split peas with sweet potatoes - Rudy had a grilled cheese too, I was content with some caraway bread and red wine to go with my gruel :) We got in a quick game of Trivial Pursuit, and a start on GOT Season 5.