I’ve always enjoyed a pint or two of cold beer. There is nothing better tasting after a long day in the saddle. I always had my favorite brews too. Usually it was “more taste and less filling”. One of the biggest disappointments last year was during the dreaded days when I had my taste buds nuked and lost my taste for beer. The world just wasn’t right without my 2 favorite food groups, beer and wings. Slowly I got some tastes buds back but beer has never been the same for me. I decided to be open minded and try some different brews on this trip. Last night we ate at Cruisers in Williams, AZ. It’s a small microbrewery/restaurant. I tried one of their pale ales and it was one of the best beers I’ve had in a year. I learned a lesson last night. Be more open to other kinds of beer next time I’m doing the 12 oz. curls.
When we woke up this morning and looked out the window the sun was shining again. When I walked outside at 6:30 to load the bike the air smelled so fresh. The temperature gauge showed 54 degrees. It was a nice change from the heat we had been riding in for the last 2 days. We were back in the green landscape were the pine trees are huge, and out of the arid harsh desert climate were the biggest plant is as high as your knees. It didn’t last long. By the afternoon is was back up to 95 but it was totally different today because we were in the best riding area of the trip so far.
We started up 64 North for about 50 miles to the south entrance of the Grand Canyon NP. Within minutes of being inside the park we pulled over to a scenic look out. I can not describe my first vision of the canyon. It was spectacular. We continued on to 89 North pass Echo Cliffs and Marble Canyon making a few more stops. There were areas inside the park where they were doing control burns. Apparently they feel this will help prevent big fires and will also promote new growth.
We continued on to Zion NP which was about 125 miles north. At one gas/food stop in Fredonia we met a native American man named Navajo Elroy who taught us a few phrases in his native Navajo dialect.
When we arrived at Zion and as we drove through the park I had the same feelings as I did earlier in the day. Breath taking! What a beautiful park. The rock formations were so vivid in coral, pink and red colors. It was a great day for riding.
After exiting the park and driving through the quaint little of Zion we got on I15 North and stopped in Cedar City, Utah for the night. We decided to try another camp ground. Hopefully it will be better than the last.
Tomorrow we head northeast toward Bryce and Canyonlands NP and into Colorado.
Life is good.
Total miles: 377 Butt factor: 2
