Biking through God's Country

I know I am only the support crew to a biking team of one, but I love my job and I love my biker.  LeGrand was pretty sad to leave the joys of St. George's biking opportunities when we moved to Monticello.  But he was thrilled to learn there are guys here who love to bike and are enthusiastic to share the routes they take.

One of our recent favorite biking routes is a lonely and beautiful road through the farmlands of Ucola to tiny LaSal.  We pass a huge copper mine but the traffic is so sparse it is hard to believe there is anybody home.

While LeGrand rides his bike, I hike, take pictures, read, listen to books on tape, and have a ball. These few pictures show the area we are enjoying this week.  Find the move-in ready real estate beckoning to us. . .

Natural Bridges with Jodi

Jodi came to visit for the weekend.  Her bucket list included a fun hike so we went to Natural Bridges.  We didn't want to do more than a 5.5 mile journey so I horrified my daughter and actually hitch-hiked from the first to the second bridge so we didn't have to do the overland hike.  Worked out great. We didn't get murdered and we didn't have to hike two or three miles after we were back out of the canyon just to get back to our car. 

Photobomb as only Jodi can (and regularly does):

Only one drawback to a perfect day: Jodi touched something she was very allergic to and really had some uncomfortable moments on the trail.  Her hands looked like red baseball mits. By the time we hiked out she was feeling fine but decided that in the future she ought to travel with Benedryl.

Photographer's note:  I love beautiful landscape photography, but unless a person is in the photo, it just isn't quite as interesting to me.  Guess that is why I love taking pictures of families.

Kindred Spirits

One of the most important truths I took away from Anne of Green Gables was the notion of "kindred spirits" or people you meet here on earth that you must have known before you came to earth and are just destined to become bosom buddies.  Susanne is that kind of friend.  When they moved next to us in Monticello as we were both just starting out, it felt like we had always known each other.  We moved away but now that we are back, it sometimes feels like we never left.  I walk with the same gals I walked with as a young mom 30 years ago.  Cassie, Susanne, Cyndra as well as a few new faces (Tanya and Julie) meet at the same corner early every morning and hike up to the reservoir and back.  Balm for the soul. These friends are the same great people they were all those years ago only more refined and more wonderful than ever. 

Susanne had a Grandma school and I offered to take them to Blanding for a few fun festivities.  I couldn't resist taking pictures.  My favorite shot was the one of Great-grandmother Ruth Nielson and little Ruthie.  

Coronado Island

Kellie and Scott told us about their fun day biking around Coronado Island so LeGrand put that adventure on his California Bucket-List.  Just before we left, we drove to the coast to explore this awesome biking trail.  

LeGrand is a meticulous person and it takes awhile to get outfitted for a big ride. But man oh man does he make it look good!  Then once he bikes around the bend, I start exploring and taking fun pictures of what I find.  

The best part of any adventure with LeGrand is actually seeing him return to me whole and healthy.

Arches

      Going to Moab for bike repairs has it's perks.  Anyone over 62 years can buy a lifetime National Parks Pass for $10 or something ridiculous like that and enjoy any National Park anytime for the rest of their feeble years.  You get the feeling they are betting against us.  

      It is so fun to be here where we have Arches, Canyonlands, Natural Bridges and Hovenweep so close to us. Then on the other side of the State we have all the other gorgeous parks to explore.  For nothing.  

     My dear bike-rider hubby was pretty nervous about leaving St. George and all those developed trails to come to San Juan.  But he has discovered the most beautifully breathtaking rides since we got to Monticello.  A bike rider's paradise.  

     Anyway, this is a blog, not a book, so this day was in Moab on the River and at Arches waiting for a repair to LeGrand's bike.