After a tough ride through the Colorado mountains the day before I convinced Zandra that we really didn’t need to tackle the “million dollar highway” the next day heading to Page, Arizona. http://www.dangerousroads.org/north-america/usa/635-million-dollar-highway-usa.html
The alternate route started off beautifully and gave us the opportunity to check out the Bridal Veil Falls in Telluride, Colorado.
As we continued on our journey southwest, the changing landscape and temperature made it hard to believe that we had just left this lush, green, cool view mere hours before.
Shortly after crossing the state line into Arizona we stopped for lunch at Jack and Janelle’s Country Kitchen where we received a hearty welcome from Janelle herself. Discovering we were Canadians they asked for some Canadian currency to add to their collection. Being Canadian, we obliged of course.
About 5 miles from the restaurant it was like a wall of heat dropped from the sky. It became abundantly clear that we were now in Arizona. Another 30 miles or so of riding through my first experience of desert we found the infamous Four Corners Monument where four state lines meet. Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.
It may be cheating a little but we stepped into New Mexico so I’m counting it. 😉
After leaving the monument in the oppressive heat we were thrilled and relieved to see what looked like rain on the horizon. We happily rode through a sprinkling of rain without even considering stopping to put on rain gear. Five minutes after it ended I intercomed Zandra to say “…and I’m dry”.
That relief turned into dread a few miles further up the road when fast-moving, dark clouds came over the mountains and lighting lit up the sky. The skies opened with a torrent of rain. We were drenched in minutes and stopping to put on rain gear seemed fruitless. We continued to push through, hoping it would move past us as quickly as the last sprinkle. It was not to be so. The rain and wind were relentless. Those of us on smaller, lighter bikes had the very real fear that our bikes would be tossed into the ditch, or worse, into oncoming traffic. We pulled over.
Standing on the side of the road as 18 wheelers flew by spraying us it was clear that we hadn’t pulled over in the safest location. When there was a brief lull in the storm we moved further down the hill to a little pull out. Still not under cover but better than where we had been.
As we stood on the side of the road considering our options: rain gear, no rain gear, continuing on to shelter, staying put, going pee in the ditch or holding it until whenever, we were strangely light-hearted. We were all ok, the storm would pass and we would continue on. Mind you, I was happy that it wasn’t until the next day that we found out it was actually a monsoon and not just a run-of-the-mill thunder storm. (Note to my family reading this – I am fine and it was 10 days ago).
And so we continued. The air, the land and our clothes dried up. We rode through terrain that I had only ever seen in photos or sci-fi movies. In my mind, I revisited the most recent Mad Max movie which I hated at the time but now have a new respect for.
It was hard to believe that it was still the same day and the same planet as the one we left at Bridal Veil Falls that morning.
After one of the longest riding days so far we finally ended our day at Lake Powell resort. As we rode into town it was reminiscent of my first visit to Iqaluit, Nunuvut – only a 3 hour flight from Ottawa but might as well have landed on Mars.
Whatever you ride – ride safe.
Helen
Colorado ☑️
New Mexico ☑️😉
The Almost 200 Gang 