Forth and back TOR '20

[RBMann]

One restaurant and a food trailer cross the street.

[Swamper]

I've been through there a number of time and never seen anything that looks open. Almost a ghost town look. Seems like we always like to visit the NP there but usually end up in Ely, Delta or Beaver.

[flatbutt]

You guys are better men than I as I cancelled my annual solo trip due to the pandemic. I'm wobbly enough as is I don't need to tempt fate any further.

[RBMann]

Seems silly FB but I didn't want to give up my reservation at Capital Reef. We were outside 99+% of the time too. In July there were fewer cases in ID, OR, NV, UT, CO, WY and MT combined then in WA, where the first COVID came ashore. The nursing home outbreak was about three miles from my house.

Nothing better about that FB. You are still riding and that says it all. I hope to see everyone again at TOR.

[RBMann]

Day 7 - Camp to Wheel Peak to Baker 45 miles

No map as it was not a riding day. Because of difficulty with camping we decided to spend Saturday hiking in Great Basin and go to Capitol Reef on Sunday. We rode up Wheeler Peak and did a lake loop trail at 10,000' elevation. We both noticed the thin air.

The water appeared to be cold in Stella Lake-



I look like I just lost my balance-



My trusty man servant scouting the trail-



Theresa Lake-



Natural art from a tough life-



A pretty and enjoyable day for a hike-







Looking at Baker from halfway down the mountain-



After the hike Ralf was looking slightly jaundiced. I don't remember what was on the table causing the reflected light-



We had a late lunch and ice cream at the cafe in the visitor center. Life is good.

[RBMann]

Day 8 - Great Basin to Capitol Reef 258 miles



Nice place to spend a couple days including access to running water and a morning visitor as we packed up camp-





The nice part of this day was knowing we had a camp site waiting for us. We gassed but in Baker then headed out across the desert to Beaver, UT. The ride past Eagle Point ski area on UT 153 was enjoyable but there were an amazing number of trucks with camping trailers all over in the woods and meadows. People escaping the plague?-







After a casual riding day we set up our camp at Fruita. Last year I hiked up into Cohab Canyon and I wanted to share that with Ralf so in late afternoon we hit the trail-

[RBMann]

Day 8 - Continued

Beautiful vibrant colors in the afternoon light and the temperature was just right-







I think Ralf liked the hike too-







Safely back down at camp. I feel lucky I get enjoy to great moments like this-

[Swamper]

Is 153 suitable for street bikes?

[RBMann]

153 is paved on the west side up to the ski area. The east side is a graded dirt road that could be done on an S but it might not be fun. I have done worst roads on the S. You can look at it in street view on Google Maps.

[Swamper]

I wouldn't be talking about taking an S but perhaps my standard type bikes, R1150R with Shinko 705's.

[RBMann]

Should be fine with the 705s on that bike.

[Swamper]

I've always passed that road up but have wanted to go on it for years. Maybe next year, on our way to ride the Burr Trail Road, Boulder to Bullfrog.

[signit98]

Originally Posted by Swamper

I've always passed that road up but have wanted to go on it for years. Maybe next year, on our way to ride the Burr Trail Road, Boulder to Bullfrog.

That's a good one.... if you do, don't pass by the Strike Valley overlook.

[Swamper]

Thanks for the tip, how rough is that road out to it off the Burr Trail Rd. Most likely be taking these R1150R's, did the Colorado roads with them a couple summers ago, pretty good with the Shinko's.

[signit98]

Originally Posted by Swamper

Thanks for the tip, how rough is that road out to it off the Burr Trail Rd. Most likely be taking these R1150R's, did the Colorado roads with them a couple summers ago, pretty good with the Shinko's.

The whole Burr Trail leading in and through is fine, no major issues... the side trail that leads to the Strike Valley overlook can be a tad rough, but still perfectly doable. Ricky did it on the AT.

[RBMann]

Swamper-

Ralf and I did the Burr Trail from Bull Frog to Boulder in 2019. Some pics here on post #47-

Forth and back TOR '19

The road to Strike Valley Overlook is a dry river bed/wash at the bottom of a canyon. A little lumping and sandy in spots. Don't go in if there is rain.

[RBMann]

Day 9 - Around Fruita 25 miles

Not moving camp today so time for a hike and going to town for food.

The day started by walking to the old farm house next to the campground and show Ralf what he missed last year. Fresh made cinnamon rolls and pies. I believe they sold over 40,000 rolls last year-







After breakfast we rode over to the visitor center and hiked up Sulfur Creek to a un-named waterfall. Very enjoyable late morning walk in the canyon before it got hot-







I think I passed more water that day than the waterfall did-



Ralf has a child-like curiosity. If there is a stream, cross it. If there is something tall, climb it. Today it was I wonder what will happen if I recline in the afternoon sun, burn it-



With that out of the way we went for another walk over to the old school house on the Fremont River in Fruita. Named Fruita because there are a lot of fruit trees planted in the area. Fresh apricots last year. I found the carved rock behind the school house more interesting-



And finally for our evening entertainment we watched our new neighbors(first time tenting) set up their camp. Really a very nice couple when all was said and done-

[RBMann]

Day 10 - Fruita to Scofield Reservoir 208 miles



Making our way toward Fish Lake-



When we left camp Ralf wanted to see the Pando Clone aspen grove. Pando is believed to be the largest, most dense organism ever found at nearly 13 million pounds and covering 106 acres. It is also believed to have started at the end of the last ice age and consisting of over 40,000 individual trees with a single root system. Intellectually it sounds cool but to the human eye it looks like just another beautiful aspen grove on a mountainside next to a lake-





Our real goal for the day was to ride Skyline Drive paralleling Hwy 89 from I-70 through the Manti-La Sal National Forest north to Hwy 31-



75 Miles of mostly graded dirt road except where they were making it better. We came around a corner and saw a big machine churning up the road producing 6" of fresh gravel then a muddy section through a snow bank-







We found food and gas just before the reservoir then we were happy to find hot showers
at the campground.

[ckcarr]

Excellent imagery RBMann!
Combo of Nikon and iPhone, or what?

Those wide open spaces in western Washington and other areas, small towns, look really interesting.

Looks like Ralph has the 1970's Jackson Brown rock star hairstyle going!

The ride past Eagle Point ski area on UT 153 was enjoyable but there were an amazing number of trucks with camping trailers all over in the woods and meadows. People escaping the plague?-

More like spreaders of the plague. In March and April it was great here, completely deserted, which I haven't seen in like 20 years. But then they started coming, from California, Idaho, Colorado... Like gathering in the desert for an alien arrival. Seemed they were coming from states with the most restrictive lockdowns... Now they still haven't left. I guess many don't have jobs to go back to either. Or they just used the opportunity, plus the extra $900 a week to go on perma-vacation...

[signit98]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Looks like Ralph has the 1970's Jackson Brown rock star hairstyle going!.

I take that.... I'd also take is bank account...

Originally Posted by ckcarr

Or they just used the opportunity, plus the extra $900 a week to go on perma-vacation...

It was $600 and it has long gone away. I'm not sure how people do it...