While we truly love our fair city of Seattle and the state of Washington, this year the rain, mud and dreary days were just too much for us.  We set out in search of sun.  Sturdy Bitches Ady, Jenn and myself, accompanied by fellow Washingtonians Amy and Doug set out to retrace the paths of Sturdy Bitches Angela and Kathy - both having set out for the same destination a week earlier.

Met our friends from California (escaping from the record amounts of snow in Tahoe/Truckee) in Utah in May.  First stop was Moab, Utah, that mountain biking mecca that really must be experienced by those loving fat tire fun, climbing crazy rocks, and being awed by views.

Day 1 we rode the Sovereign Trail - this was to get us warmed up and exposed to the heat (hallelujah!), the sand and the slickrock.  We met Sturdy Bitch Angela for one ride in Moab before they started on to their next destination.  We quickly got the first endo out of the way (ouch Doug!) and with a few bandages finished up that first ride smiling in the sun.  Was a bit windy but we tempered that with some Georgetown Lucille for a post-ride celebratory beer.  Was wonderful to have a couple of kegs on tap in the back of the truck - Georgetown Brewing Company makes minis kegs which were perfect for the trip.  Highly recommend checking out their website for those in the Seattle area and considering bringing this stuff along.  Nothing quite like a damn fine beer on a hot day!  After some discussion, Doug decided to head down and have his arm checked out. With some XRays and a brace we saw them in the camp later - ah and reminder for next time, avoid the clinic (they don't - or at least this time - take insurance - go to the Moab hospital!). 


Day 2 dawned - well it must have but we didn't see a sunrise due to clouds, rain, hail and thunderstorms. Damn - must have followed us.  In Moab (and Fruita) there's no riding in the rain - in Seattle we just git to it otherwise we'd never hit the trails. The soil in Moab and Fruita is different so in deference to the delicate trails we decided to head to Arches.  A pile of yard tools reminded us that wherever we go there are groups putting in the time to maintain the trails and reminded us to shed a little cash towards the maintenance as well.  As we drove through checking out the amazing rock formations the sun made short appearances periodically and occasionally the rain spit on us a bit.  We got a short hike around the area and made our way back to our little cabins at the Moab Valley RV Resort.  Clean, reasonably priced, showers and little cabins.  Not bad accomodations for those on a budget.

With the weather clearing and the trails quickly drying out we headed out to Amasa Back. Another Moab classic trail that is primarily slickrock.  It's an out and back with great views and we got lots of practice on uphill obstacles along the way.  With time passing and sun starting to sink down we turned from the views and blasted back down to the bottom for our date with Lucille.  As we hit the bottom we met a couple from Seattle one of whom races for another local team, with a trail recommendation to them we hit the cars.  We had also met  a nice couple from France and shared some Lucille with them before we packed up and headed  to town for some well-earned grub. 


Day 3 the weather looked pretty good so we decided to book a morning shuttle and chance getting out on Porcupine Rim and having it be a bit sketchy.  It was cold when we were picked up and Coyote Shuttle Service (operates out of Chile Pepper Bike Shop)  took us on a "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride", reminiscent of a bygone shuttle driven by Marla Streb out to China Camp.  I could see Amy leaning in away from the cliffs on the side of the road as our driver tore up the mountain to drop us off.  We didn't get as far up on the trail as we would have liked but where we did get dropped it was snowing so I think that was good enough for us.  As usual, Porcupine Rim served up slickrock goodness, incredible views and drop after drop after drop.  This ride is always a good time and should not be missed.  The weather turned hot and sunny and we shed clothes before we crossed over the creek and headed down the last technical section that runs above the Colorado River.  Here's where we had mishap number 2.  Jenn had been riding well and must have just gotten a little distracted and endo'd possibly breaking her nose and getting dinged up.  Damn!!  Yvette evaluated, we got Jenn cleaned up and sent the rest of the riders down with the plan being that they would finish the ride, bust out the road ride back to the campsite and snag a car and come and get us.  Jenn was a trooper, with the bleeding stopped we walked/rode back out to the bottom of the trail for our shuttle back home.














Day 4 we were going to be heading out to our respective next destinations...the Californians towards home and the Washingtonians a little further east to Fruita, Colorado (with a side trip to take Ady to the Grand Junction airport for her return home).  Knowing this was our last day we decided to get up early (5am???) and ride the Slickrock Trail in the hope of seeing the sunrise.  We didn't quite see the sunrise but there was only one car in the parking lot when we hit this incredibly popular ride.  We saw that rider heading out with his dogs, after that, we saw not a soul until we were almost back to the cars.  Was absolutely amazing to be out riding this trail that sees thousands or riders without any company at all.  So much fun and really a treat to stick to the rock and climb (when your legs and lungs let you) up inclines you wouldn't believe you could.  As we departed cars were starting to arrive and a few riders were headed out.  We on the other hand were headed to the Love Muffin - this is another must-see in Moab.  Really, really good coffee and southwestern inspired breakfast to die for.  As we walked into the Love Muffin we found our injured duo of Jenn and Doug enjoying a leisurely breakfast.  We finished every bite put in front of us and plotted our next steps of the trip and then said our tearful goodbyes to the California crew.  Fortunately I'd be seeing them, if all goes well, in October in Downieville. Next stop, Fruita, Colorado.

On our way from Utah to Colorado we were pleasantly surprised to find a real live cattle drive going on.  While the cowboys had their fancy sunglasses on and their cell phones I'm sure, they also were decked out in true cowboy style and their little cattle dogs (dang, missing mine!) were keeping the cows together as they moved the herd across the highway.  Very cool little distraction from the miles of farmland we were traveling!

As we arrived into Fruita we had thunder and lightning - yeah!  Not when you're planning on camping.  We checked out the campsite which normally is more than satisfactory.  This time, with rain threatening and thunder booming in the background we decided to go in search of a hotel for the night.  After a little negotiating, Doug got us a couple of good rooms at the Comfort Inn and we headed into town in search of coffee and a snack.  They grabbed their coffee and I decided on pizza at the Hot Tomato - just a slice prior to dinner of course.   We returned to the Hot Tomato Pizzeria for dinner that night and planned to get up at a reasonable hour to try our luck on some Fruita trails. 

Thankfully Day 5 dawned beautiful and clear and the storm had passed through. We headed out to the Kokepelli trails, Doug to see how his hand held up without the brace and Jenn with a bandage here and there to keep out the dust.  We did the "easy loop" to see how everyone was doing and then headed up towards Molly's Loop and Horsethief Bench.  The trails were in great shape with the terrain and the landscape being just a bit different than Moab.  The trails in Fruita were a little grittier and sandier with less rock but just as lovely.  We made the trek down into Horstheif Bench (well worth a little hike a bike) and then followed Molly's back to the cars - we decided on, yes - again - pizza at the Hot Tomato, to take a nap, and then to get back up and come back out to do the short loop and a trail run. 














Day 6 we split the group again and Jenn and Doug headed home and Amy and I set out towards home with a quick stop in Park City on the menu.  With late snow only the lower trails were open in Park City but we met up with Greg Balch, president of the Mountain Trails Foundation.  Park City has made some great strides for biking and trail access.  They have voted in bonds to maintain open space and they have worked with landowners, developers and the city to make sure that all neighborhoods have biking/hiking trails within them so that the entire city is connected and you can travel by bike darn near anywhere.  Greg showed us a few trails so we could spin our legs out and he told us about a movie premier that evening.  We met up with Greg and his family for the premier of One Revolution.   One Revolution is about local, Park City resident Chris Waddell.  Chris was a promising young skiier who was injured in a skiing accident.  He came back to skiing as a parapalegic skiier on the US Ski Team.  Chris decided to climb Kilamanjaro - on a four-wheeled hand crank bike.  If you have a chance to see the movie it is very inspiring.  After dinner at a local pub we headed back home to pack up so we could head out in the morning.

Overall an incredible trip - we rode diverse trails, our Diamondback Sortie Blacks embraced them all, we drank damn fine beer, we got a little bit of a sunburn and we made a few memories.  Below are the places we stayed, some of the restaurants, and the trails we rode.  Recommend going to Moab in May or October - those in between months are too damn hot and the months outside those unpredictable for weather.  If you love the fat tires - get out there and ride this stuff.  It really is not to be missed.









Moab
Stayed - Moab Valley RV Resort
Ate - The Love Muffin, Moab Brewery, Pasta Jay's, Fiesta Mexicana - we really wanted to try Miguel's Baja Grill but the damn thing was never open. Hilite of the food was definitely the Love Muffin.
Shuttle - Coyote Shuttle
Rode - Sovereign Trail, Amasa Back, Porcupine Rim, Slickrock

Fruita
Stayed - The Comfort Inn but the James Robb State Park is also really good
Ate - The Hot Tomato Cafe & Pizzeria
Rode - Kokepelli Trails - Rustler to Horsethief Bench to Molly's Loop....recommend Bookcliffs too but we just didn't make it there

Park City
Stayed - The Pathman's House - sorry they don't take reservations but HUGE thanks for letting us crash your pad!
Ate - Butcher's Chop House, Whole Foods (stockin' the cooler for the return trip home)
Rode - Round Valley  *Gotta go back when the snow is a little higher up!