Utah & Colorado MTB Trip
Day 10 Sand Flats Road to Moab

While Steve Fenn and Suzanne prepared breakfast, Steve Blum, Lorraine, Dave, Ricardo and I went for an early morning walk. The rising sun added a warm glow the canyons surrounding Gateway. The sky was clear promising a beautiful day.

While we packed, the van arrived to take us around the LaSals. As we prepared to load the bikes, Steve, Richard, and I discovered flat tires. The causes of all three flats were insidious little seeds called "goat heads". These little buggers grow on vine-like weeds along the ground. They are extremely hard with long sharp points that easily puncture bicycle tires.

We fixed our flats and loaded our bikes on the van. Our driver, a retiree named Calvin, rambled on for three hours about how he and his wife were driving to Bakersfield for the weekend to visit relatives. We were all bored silly. In desperation, we tried the radio. The only station we could find was a political talk show out of Grand Junction. Some 80 year old lady complained for 45 minutes about how the Dole campaign never sent her a bumper sticker. Calvin was a nice enough guy who tried to be entraining. But, we were all disappointed at not being able to climb John Brown Canyon. We desperately wanted to be riding in the mountains instead stuck in that van.

Finally, we arrived at the top of Sand Flats Road at the foot of the LaSal Mountains. We unloaded our bikes and began our descent to Moab. The upper portion of Sand Flats Road was ledge with lots of loose sand. It made for a moderately challenging descent. We had excellent views in every direction.

Dave, Steve Blum, Ricardo, Lorraine and Tom at the top of Sand Flats Road

The LaSal Mountains as seen from Sand Flats Road.

Once we passed the Head of the Porcupine Rim Trail, the road became very firm. We descended back to Moab very quickly. We arrived back at Western Spirit headquarters in Moab. We turned in our camping gear. We handed over bikes to be boxed up and shipped home. We said good bye to Richard who needed to get to Grand Junction to catch a flight home.

We stopped to look at this snake crossing the road.

We also thanked Steve Fenn and Suzanne for all their hard work and patience. Both guides worked long hard hours to make sure we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Later that evening, Michael and Rachel joined Steve Blum, Ricardo, Javi, Lorraine and myself for dinner. Suzanne stopped by after dinner for a beer.

Continue to Day 11

Introduction
Day 1 Porcupine Rim
Day 2 Slick Rock Trail, Gemini Bridges and Dead Horse Point S.P.
Day 3 Colorado National Monument
Day 4 Jughandle Loop
Day 5 Telluride Colorado to Last Dollar Pass
Day 6 Uncompaghre Plateau
Day 7 Uncompaghre Plateau
Day 8 Uncompaghre Plateau
Day 9 Gateway Colorado and John Brown Canyon
Day 10 Sand Flats Road to Moab
Day 11 Arches National Park