Jeremy's Bike Blog

After a nice hotel morning, spreading everything out and doing first on-road total organization, getting in some good stretches, I geared up, checked out, and met a woman I’d met online the evening before.  I use Tinder to meet local people while I travel, and it works really well…and no, not for cheap hookups, obvs (if you know me).  Anyways, case in point, and I’ll leave my account it at this:  We had a delightful talk and walk, she’s a long-term constant traveler, but so happens, as luck has it, she’s wrapping up her visit with parents in Steamboat Springs by biking the 100 mile White Rim Road with them in a week.  THAT’S ABOUT WHEN I WAS PLANNING ON GETTING THERE!!  But I willfully neglected to reserve (commit to) camping spots as is mandated, or to devise a realistic plan for going 100 miles between potable water sources – carry 25lbs of water?  big sign on back saying “1L water: $5 and my mortal gratitude”?  Still, I had real, albeit diminishing hope that I could somehow do this famous bike trip so deep into canyon country.

As I dipped into the lake valley containing Stagecoach State Park, and out of my last pocket of cellular signal for the day, I got word that she had checked with her mom, who has done all the planning, that the permits cover up to 6, and that I’d be welcome to make #4.  Her mom will ride with us and her dad will drive the support vehicle.

After I watched a spectacular sunset, while an intense rain or snow storm passed by less than a mile away, in a beautiful campground I have all but to myself, I set up camp, made a hot pot of Trader Joes Vanilla Flavored Hemp Protein powder for dinner (not amazing tasting) with my beer can stove and $4 aluminum pot I picked up in Fort Collins.

The clouds have disappeared.  Stars twinkle and a (at least very near) full moon blazes.  The temperature is dropping but I’m cozy in my bag and bivy.  The old thermarest chair I recently converted to headboard is working like a champ, and my hands are warm as I write this on a keyboard inside my sleeping bag connected by bluetooth to a phone on bivy lid.

I’m floored by how good my fortune has been, and I’m probably too excited about my now actual plans for one week from now to get to sleep , but I should sign off and make the effort.  Factoring in the advice of Carolyn (of two posts ago), I’m going the Southern, more mountainous route to Moab, because it’s prettier.  It won’t be a huge feat to cover the additional miles and climbing , but it won’t be a cake walk either .