Day Fifteen

The big boys saddling-up from the SAG. Phil, Sooner Rick, Kevin, and Rob

When you see the BIG melon you know you're in Green River.

Not today but please please please tomorrow.

If I ever open a coffee shop I'm gonna put a turquoise toilet planter outside too. There's a sign that says, "This is not an ashtray!"...oh...

Onward Christian Soldiers

Hey it’s Sunday and it’s Father’s Day. Although there’s a stained glass window in the Congregational Church on the common in Grafton in memory of my father, he wasn’t much of a churchgoer. But he did like the music and he loved to sing and OCS was one of his favorites. Today’s virtual rider(s) are fathers everywhere who hopefully enjoyed memories and were also remembered. Thank you to both of my sons for remembering me.

Last night in Price the route rap theme was how easy today was going to be…short miles, mostly downhill…everyone will be done by noon. Well it might have happened if the wind had cooperated. I got in around 12:30 and there were a lot of people behind me including some who SAGed in. Of course it also might have had something to do with the karaoke last night at the Holiday Inn. Robb and I left early enough partly because of the watery beer and the ability to get scotch only one ounce at a time. (The bartender offered to make it seem like more by adding ice!) Some of our riders stayed late including Robert and his new singing partner, Bump & Grind Cindy (I did not give her that name). My guess is that everyone will be early to bed tonight facing another 100 mile day tomorrow and temps headed to the 90’s.

We spent most of the day on US Route 6 (yup the same one that goes all the way to Cape Cod) and the look was so different from yesterday. Someone said it was desert and sometimes it looked like grasslands. We left Price as an efficient train for about 10 miles but then the riders busted apart and it was every biker for him/herself. During the entire desolate ride we didn’t see any sign of civilization except for some power lines and train tracks.

I’m trying to figure out why Green River exists. It is on the river but there’s nothing here except for truckstops and the type of businesses that might cater to people passing through. The Holiday Inn here had NO VACANCY last night so clearly people come here for some reason. There are 900 residents and their only real product is a melon crop (watermelons, cantaloupes) that is harvested in August. Some people come to hike and go white water rafting.

We broke 1000 miles today so we’re more than a quarter of the way across and tomorrow we knock off another state where they thankfully have real beer. See you in Grand Junction!

Today’s ratings: (higher means better or easier)

Scenery: 5

Road conditions: 7

Grunt factor: 5