Ride the West: On to Provo, Utah

Friday, June 15, 2018

Day 13
Salt Lake City to Provo, Utah

66.5 miles
5 hours 33 minutes
2,500' climbing
2,500 calories
12.0 mph average

Slept fitfully last night. Teen soccer tournament girls running the halls and slamming doors until midnight. Emergency calls from back east at 1 and 3 am. All's ok, no worries but it affected my riding stamina today. Or that's the excuse I'm giving myself today.

To say the route was complicated would be an understatement. There were 79 turns in just 65 miles. And there was an impromptu detour when one of the bike paths we were to take had been closed and demolished.

At the start of the detour (on a steep incline), just after our first SAG, we were held back until the tour operator could determine an alternate route. I hate starting a climb from a dead start. It was at this part that I fell off the group I was riding with. I had to rely on common sense and my bike computer to get me to the hotel. It was a day of solitude and reaffirming that I could trust my navigation ability. I was by myself but in good company.

Prior to that, the early part of the ride was a pleasant ride following a spaghetti maze of bike trails. Many forks, road crossings, and unmarked entrances along roads. Our group had to retrace our steps a few times but everyone made it to the hotel.

At one point, we had to traverse the Salt Lake City Airport by opening several gates. The leader would hold open the gate until everyone was through and fall to the back of the line. The next lead person would do the same at the following gate much like riding a pace line. We had 5 gates to negotiate. It was pretty cool riding the bike trails parallel to landing aircraft. We were warned not to take pictures as it's forbidden.

Soon were riding a series of bike trails that run from SLC to Provo. Along one stretch we saw what looked like a prison exercise yard. There was also an area known for it's feral cats. People put out food on the trail and the cats pop out of the woods. We got there just around feeding time. I actually saw several cats and odd cat with a pointy snout. Black with a white stripe down its back. Talk about unintended consequences. From what I've seen the Utah trail system is extensive , well maintained and well used. Our group was alert to other trail users; joggers, bikers, strollers.

At about mile 27, we had our first SAG in a mall parking lot outside an In-N-Out burger shop. Diane bought a bag of fries and shared with the group. It was soon after this we ran into the detour on a hill.

The next 20 miles were a solo ride for me. I stopped at a rest stop along the trail and chatted up some teen boys with trail bikes taking a shade break at a picnic table under an overhang. Good kids. They thought Utah was beautiful but on the hot side.

They soon resumed their ride and I decided to take a personal SAG break, drinking a bottle of water and eating a couple of snacksI carried in case of emergency. It was just enough to revive me and I resumed my ride after a 20 minute rest. Surprisingly, I came upon the tour sweepers, who were even more surprised to see me behind them. I guess they passed me on my break.

At that point with 8 or so miles to go, I fell in with them the rest of the way to the hotel. The four of us travelled through the BYU campus. Quite a sprawling campus, huge stadium. We did stop at the BYU Creamery. I snagged a Pistachio single scoop cone and lemon coke. Another good break in the day. The hotel was just a few miles ahed and we arrived at a decent time despite all the breaks.

We are traveling south and into the heat. Not to mention the prevailing southerly headwinds. The next few days should be more of the same. Although it has not been as hot as was expected - just high 80's not 90's.