Merrick was usually up at day break and got the coffee going. he would put out a cold breakfast spread for those up early. Cold cereal, pastries, and fruit. Once the whole gang was up he would make a hot breakfast. While we ate he would put out the lunch deli for us to make our bag lunches to eat along the trail

Terry was an early rider and enjoyed a little shredded wheat. The hat, gloves and down jacket are not for show. It was cold in the morning until the sun peaked over the mountain tops.

Our group liked their sweets. The pastries and chocolate always went first. Followed reluctantly by the fruit.

Even with the rough terrain and all the twisting and stretching of the vehicle chassis the two dozen eggs came through unscathed with not even a cracked shell.

Breakfast burritos this morning.

Once everyone started folding their burritos, Gaylord didn’t realize it was BURRITOS and not just eggs and salsa.

Done with breakfast and packed up . . . let’s hit the trail!

Taking care of 9 old guys and on semi-old guy can be taxing not affording the time for Merrick to even set up a tent. He just sleeps out on the ground. Actually he always sleeps out and go caught in the snow storm we experienced earlier in the week.

We hadn’t even left camp when the ravens arrived to clean up after us. The park policy is, you bring it in you take it out. The ravens insure nothing is left.

Down the trail before another BIG climb.

Rule #1 when riding the White Rim . . . don’t get too close to the edge!

The scale of things is amazing . . . it’s hard to pick out the riders that are in the lead, even when they are just across the valley.

Dave demos why you ALWAYS want to now what is in front of you  . . .  long ways down here if one is day dreaming. Would be your last dream!

Kodak moment around every corner (Merrick was young enough not sure if he even knew what a Kodak is/was)

Another splash of color in the brown, gray dessert.

What goes up . . .

. . . luckily also gets to come down.

Sore hands from power braking!

Merrick on the trail behind us driving SAG.

Greg, making sure the flock sticks together and doesn’t get too spread out.

 

 

Between the rock, loose gravel and the GRADE, some are just too hard to get up. Easy to tell it’s going to be one of those as the first rider ahead dismounts. When we do make it up one and fee puffed up, we think of Merrick who rode the whole White Rim Trail in 13 hours on a single speed fixie. It’s taking us 4 days!

A steep ascent usually involves a discussion about how great we are to have gotten up it . . . even if we had to walk!!

Steep ascents mean fast descents as BillyB heads down at breakneck speed!

Not much wildlife to be seen during the day although if you look close enough it’s there. Lots of critter tracks.

Got to stop long enough to smell the roses . . . and it’s a good time for a rest.

Is that Merrick ahead . . .

Trail lunch today by Chef Merrick . . .