We were in Arches NP yesterday and today we were going mountain bike riding in Moab's Slick Rock trail located in the plateau above the township. I woke to the sound my alarm at 5.30 am and already I could feel the warmness of the air. It was forecast to be over 100 degrees today. So with no time to waste we hastily ate our breakfast and drove out to the Slick Rock Mountain Bike trail head and eagerly unloaded our bikes.
We started riding at 6.30 am. I was getting a good work out…in the first 2 miles I jumped off my bike many times and half ran as I pushed my bike up the hills, not trusting myself to ride the steep descents that grew steeper as it neared the bottom, then at the bottom bumps, ridges and sand awaited before the ascent tightly twisted upwards…I was getting tired. With 8 more miles to go I realised on this day I did not have the stamina to continue.
So I gave my water bottle to John and watched him disappearing and reappearing as he navigated up and down the trail until he finally disappeared. I felt disappointed in not continuing but then decided in 2 hours I would ride back out to meet him on his way back. I filled in my time watching a tour group of riders unloading their bikes and chatting away in preparation for their ride…..it took them over an hour before they set off. Two hours slowly ticked by and I set off with some ice cold water and soon reached the point where I had turned around. In the distance I recognized a tiny speck at the Abyss Viewpoint…it was John making his way back.
We started riding at 6.30 am. I was getting a good work out…in the first 2 miles I jumped off my bike many times and half ran as I pushed my bike up the hills, not trusting myself to ride the steep descents that grew steeper as it neared the bottom, then at the bottom bumps, ridges and sand awaited before the ascent tightly twisted upwards…I was getting tired. With 8 more miles to go I realised on this day I did not have the stamina to continue.
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| Making the most of the early morning coolness |
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| Watching John riding off into the abyss |
The second time out on the trail I gained a bit more confidence riding down the descents and I continued on until I caught up with him. After a cold drink and a chat we made our way back and this time we rode back via the practice loop, which was no easier that the main trail and I got another work out running up the hills.
By now it was really heating up and we both had the same idea of returning to the RV campground and cooling off in their swimming pool before heading south and into Colorado.
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