this.aint.the.place

UUT (Days 16-18)
Perf day in the La Sals— topped out Mt Peale with plenty of light to fully appreciate how beast the descent is off the Moab side of La Sal pass. Down into Spanish valley for a motel— needed to stay in Moab to take my bike in for a much needed BB service. Did that first thing in the morn while I sorted thru a few errands. Once I got going it was about 2pm in the heat of the day, winds have been really north westerly and I had about 130 miles of northwest travel in front of me. Took a hot sleep just outside green river next to the humming of i70 in the distance which was weirdly soothing, explored town a little as I got started the next day, inspiring in a dilapidated way. Lingered way too long in the Maverik AC after filling up 7.5L liters of water for the burner ahead, peeled myself away and spent the good majority of the day with my head down eating wind, grinding thru the sand and sun. Not many folks out in the San Rafael swell mid June on a 100 degree Wednesday— completely out of water by sunset after coming around Cedar mtn, pulled up on by a nice old man in a jeep, waited thru a minute or so of convo before I impulsively asked if he could spare some water. First time begging from a stranger, he just laughed and handed me a plastic Kirkland bottle of the cold stuff and drove off. Nice not racing, taking whatever from whoever. Wasn’t totally dire but had 10mi until Cleveland so it def helped. V nice town park there, put down abt 2 more L and took a full on sink shower in the bathroom to get myself straightened out— all that sunscreen and sweat by the end of the day I’m almost too sticky/salty to even want to lay down. After the darkness set in, the lack of wind and heat urgency was so rejuvenating, think I had some of the best couple hours of riding in recent days getting to Wellington via quiet farm roads passing thru Elmo. Slept ~4 hrs on the bench, attempting to get moving pretty early today as to simplify the ascent of 9 mile canyon, orienting myself toward the Uintas now. So sick of shitty gas station food— other than that, living the dream. Even during grindsetty times I am continually reminding myself how lucky I am🙏