It’s clear morning in Torrey UT and weather forecast shows sunny day, and of course, subject to change. I’ll have an easy day, just about 250-300ish miles to Mesquite NV, where I can make a judgement call to go forward or hang in Mesquite – the latter which is the typical and probable. Rick should be crossing the desert and getting home today.

Now you are not going to get any of those nice pictures from the road as Rick has been taking those with his camera. I’ll be stopping because all I have is my phone.

I take advantage to the easier day and get a late start at about 8:30 am. There are a couple of ways to get to Mesquite from Torrey, and I’m choosing a road we did in May and was one of our 15 roads, UT12 scenic byway through the Grand Staircase – Escalante area of Utah. Great roads never get old. This road makes its way across a mountain pass and then through small remote towns along some great ridge routes.

Not a cloud in the sky as I leave Torrey on UT12 heading south. You start to climb immediately from Torrey up into the national forest of Boulder Mountain. I take it slow as there are plenty of deer up here and cattle. Sure enough, plenty of deer I see but no close calls. Most of the close calls are the cows munching just off the road, although no problem, you never know if they will charge you on a bike. I just slow down to a crawl and just meander by.

There are several overlooks along this stretch as you climb up to and descend down Boulder Mountain Pass and I take advantage to stop at these. They overlook vast areas towards Capital Reef National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Pictures do not do it justice.

After descending down the mountain, you enter a dryer windswept area with rounded hills and lots of exposed rocks and canyons. You snake around and climb and dip into these areas. One spot you are riding on the ridge top of the mountain and on both sides of the road are steep drop-offs to the canyon below.

I continue along this 112 mile stretch of UT12 to Bryce Canyon and stop midway in Escalante as my eye catches “Espresso” sign and I turn around to go to a quaint organic coffee/bakery/grocery store for an eye opener and a small break.

The day continues to warm up as I make my way through the next 60 miles and the towns of Henrieville, Cannonville and Tropic before ascending up towards the entrance of Bryce Canyon National Park. When going to Sturgis, this is one of the routes we have used, where you just ride by Bryce Canyon and never enter the park. Last time I entered and explored the park was in 1992. The weather was good, the day still early and Mesquite is only 165 miles away (3 hours) so I wanted to explore Bryce Canyon and stop at every viewpoint, something I never did.

There is just one road into Bryce Canyon and it is a 20 mile road out to a point and you take it right back. All the view point are on the left, so I plan on riding to the point first, then stop at all the other viewpoints on the way back so all my turns are right hand turns.

Again, pictures do not do this place justice, and just riding through probably holds true to that also. I imagine you need to hike it to truly enjoy its natural beauty. This whole area of Southern Utah needs more exploring beyond the roads and more time. There are plenty of other natural bridges and vistas off on the dirt roads and hiking trails. Next on the bucket list, spend more time in Utah.

It is about noon when I finish with Bryce Canyon and in the mid eighties. I check on Rick on Life360 and I see he made it to Orange County, so he beat the desert heat. The clouds here in the sky look promising that the next three plus hours I should make it to Mesquite without a rain shower. It is only 160 miles, but I plan on riding through Zion National Park, which will be slow going but again, a great road should never be missed.

From Bryce Canyon it is a slow descent as I make my way to Mt Carmel Junction where you then climb back up for 13 miles to the east entrance of Zion National Park, where at that point you descent the rest of the way. By the time I arrive at Mt Carmel Junction, it was in the mid 90’s and you can see some clouds gathering to “party”, my way of saying to make showers. On the climb to the parks entrance, it was windy as you can see the party off to my left but the misting was welcome as it cooled me off and it was brief.

As soon as you enter the park from the east entrance, you are in a canyon snaking your way through view after view – almost a slot canyon. For the next 5 miles you take it slow and enjoy the views of Checkboard Mesa and Keyhole Canyon till you get to the tunnel that was completed in 1930 and is 1.1 miles long with viewpoints/air vents along the way carved right through the mountain side. A line of cars had to wait to enter the tunnel as they will stop traffic to let an over sided RV pass through. It is hot and sunny as I wait on the east side of the tunnel, but when we go through the tunnel and come out on the west side, I’m greeted with a steady drizzle that turns to a slow steady rain

I take it very slow for the next 4 miles as you descend on tight switchbacks down the mountain into the canyon floor below. I start to see white foam on the road which brings back memories of our phase 1 ride and the ride into Cortez CO, but this is foam, not hail. As I exit the park on the west side into Springdale UT, the rain returns to a drizzle and as I continue west, it comes to a stop.

My shirt is totally wet but it is 104 degrees on this side of Utah. And it gets hotter as I make my way to St. George. Rick would have been in shock as I stopped in Hurricane to put my jacket on in 110 degree heat because I forgot to pack a long sleeve white shirt for the desert ride. My arms felt like they were on fire with the sun and heat and I needed to cover up the arms for the 50 plus mile ride into ride into Mesquite.

Even though the signs say 110 degrees, you have to remember that is measured in the shade. So it is hotter here in the sun and with black asphalt all around you. Not much you can do but relax, look twice, drink plenty of water, and focus. I actually ride slower in this heat and have trucks pass me while I relax and enjoy the 10 mile ride descending through Virgin River Canyon. It is amazing they crammed an Interstate through this beautiful desert canyon. It can be hectic with the swirling canyon winds, the trucks and cars racing through these long tight corners, all while trying to enjoy the view.

At the west end of the canyon you ride out of a slot canyon where they somehow barely fit the 4 interstate lanes in along with the river and Boom, you bust out and are greeted with a wide flat basin and a blast of hot desert wind with the afternoon sun shining in your face. You only have to ride 12 more miles to Mesquite with the hot strong afternoon wind blowing across the road.

I exit off the first exit and immediately turn right into a gas station to gas up and put my helmet on. I haven’t had to put the helmet on since we exited out of Canada into Wisconsin. At this point it is 112 degrees and I’m 360 miles from home. One time I kept going. It is not going to be this time. I check into the Best Western, turn up the air conditioner, walk next door to get water and energy drink for an early morning departure, then cleaned up. After a bit of relaxing, brave the heat again to walk next door to Peggy Sue’s Dinner and have a salad for dinner before retiring early.

How can one live in this heat….

2023-07-24 ride video