Saturday, July 19

Saturday, July 19

Today we rode about 95 miles from Willard Bay State Park to Park City, Utah. This was our longest ride yet. We climbed quite a ways, but it was a blast. Well, before I go on about today’s adventures I should write about yesterday because we have not blogged on that yet.

So yesterday, Friday, July 18 we rode from Snowville to Willard Bay State Park. We were off and rolling from the tiny town off Snowville at about 7:30 am, but we stopped about 0.1 miles down the road for coffee and hot chocolate at Mollie’s Cafe. The coffee was calling my dad. We sat and talked while we sipped our coffee about the day ahead. We learned a little about Snowville from the two ladies running the café. The kids in Snowville get bused 38 miles to Tremonton(?) for school. Wow! Snowville is popular stop before the long, straight, drawn-out, nothing, but desert trip to Burley where we were the night before for gas and food. Snowville is home to O.S.I. which if I heard right fishes for brine shrimp out of the Great Salt Lake. Brine shrimp is really the only thing that lives in the lake.
Well we got done with our talking and sipping and the sweep team pulled up. My dad phoned work so we stayed and chatted some more while he talked on the phone. I (Eric) decided to just ride with the sweep team, primarily Heidi, Denise, and Theo. About 15 miles down the interstate which I guess we could not avoid riding on Heidi took a spill and needed a new wheel so we waited in the shade of an overpass for a new wheel from support crew. No worries and we got back rolling. Heidi is a tough cookie.
Further down the trail off the interstate we had fun taking goofy pictures at a rocket display. I guess out here in the dessert at this rocket sight they test rockets for space shuttles and stuff like that. As we got to Corrine at about mile 50 out of 65 we stopped at a local café called the Gold Spike Café. Heidi, Denise, and I have had a ravish hankering for French toast. Upon special request the cook cooked us up some French toast even though it was on the breakfast menu. Many bikers had stopped into this café earlier but since we were taking up the rear we were the only ones there.
We pedaled our last 15 miles on a great meal of French toast and lots of syrup in the heat and finally ended up at Willard Bay State Park, our camp spot, at 5 pm. Right by our camp was a beach to go swimming at on a big fresh water lake at the state park. Mountains towered around the camp. We had some delicious cheesecake with cherries on it along with chili and chips for dinner. Everyone was starting to get anxious for today so it was an early bed time at about 9:30 – 10 pm.

Today, Saturday, July 19, every one woke up early and anxious for this long 95 mile day with two long climbs that did not come until after the 60 mile mark. Breakfast was served at 6 am, a half of an hour early, and most people were out of camp by 7 am. We covered 55 miles by 10:15 am. We were fly down the flat to Salt Lake City where our climb for the day would begin. 1st CRC provided snacks for us in Salt Lake City and at the top of our first climb out of Salt Lake City. Thanks!
In Salt Lake City we – my dad, brother Mark, and I - took a couple side adventures. We visited the Mormon temple downtown and took pictures by some sweet cars at a local Ferrari dealer. We even handed out cars to the guys there and the owner. Maybe something will come of it, but at least we tried.
The rest of the day was a long, slow climb to camp through the mountains, tough but a total blast if you ask me. Some may beg to differ with me. Climbs do take work, but the scenery is beautiful, and the downhills are a rush.
We arrived at Jarnelle State Park at 4:30 pm. Some people did not arrive until after 8 pm because of the long day but they made it. The state park has a beautiful lake and we are looking forward to the day of rest tomorrow.