WE ARE OUT OF CHOCOLATE AND PASTIRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Merrick gets the blueberry pancakes and sausages ready for the hungry crowd . . . see here movie here!
We go through the coffee by the POT! It takes about 30 minutes to brew another pot so we had to enlist our resident scientist/chemist to dole out the 8oz per drinker until the next pot is brewed!
Dave and I thought the tour was down right civilized due to our request for Half and Half being filled!!!
The “Priest’s Member”, as it is locally called, was our sundial to begin pedaling. When the sun it the top . . . we had to start riding.
. . . but not before one more cup of coffee!
Time for the lunch Deli . . . nice spread!
Greg had maps for everyone and we’d have a morning meeting explaining the route. Key factor . . . stay on the road!!!!!!
As we head out . . . Merrick starts his usual morning wind down and more importantly probably his QUIET ALONE time, because we are on the road!!!
The long and winding road . . . . .
OK, Let’s head up the hill we were talking so smart about last night during happy hour.
The start of the climb with our camp in the background.
Our biking resulted in the same experience as the riders last night had . . . walking the 20% grade
But what a great downhill to the river.
Canoes, kayaks and rafts along the way . . .
. . . heading towards our biggest climb of the trip, Mineral Bottom.
. . . it took us an hour to get to the top as we moved up the seven switchback. Several years ago a downpour washed out the climb and thee Fed’s spent over $3 million dollars reconstructing it.
One BIG climb!!!
. . . here comes Merrick, but everybody made the climb.
Once we got to the top it was another 15 miles of a steady 3 mile uphill. We finally hit the high point for the day. The old half of us took the sweet 25 mile downhill into Moab.
DaveK heads out on the first stretch of an 8% 7 mile downhill. Bonzai!!!!!
A great view of the LaSalle Mountains AND the desert. Quite a combo!
Once we hit Highway 191 we connected to the 15 mile paved trail that led us to Moab.
Smooth as a baby’s but or Gaylord’s head!!!!!!!!!!!
We all tied up back at Moab Cyclery and had a final beer with our host extraordinaire, Merrick. We wished him the best in his life ahead. We moved on with the rest of our trip and he moved back into his van!!!
Terry missed the group photo because, in his usual caring manner, he was at the City Market buying the group more beer. He bought more beer than anyone on the trip and drank the least!!!
Merrick had not ridden the White Rim Trail with a group for three years. Not sure if he actually had to refer to the manual for this ride but we’re sure he added an addendum for his peers on how to deal with 10 old guys from Wisconsin!!!!!