Jeremiah Watt

It was an early morning, I slept very well up this narrow canyon retreat that I found. I am starting to notice that the little camp mat I have must be for a narrower fella than I am, becasue my shoulders are hanging off the edge and I am finding it a little more uncomfortable as I go. But enough complaining

It is a beautiful Sunday morning and I am thinking of Church this am. I am actually just past Bicknell, and at the very edge of where you fall of into the canyons below. I had noticed a sign for Cowboy Collectables and wanted to stop in for a visit, but never actually spotted the buildings, so maybe missed it a ways back. I am headed now for Torrey, and the roads are good and the canyons in this early am light are drop dead gorgeous, the play of light and mix of vibrant greens and canyon wall reads is just a painters paradise. Its slow going becasue I am off the bike taking pictures more than pedalling. There is a very picturesque spot where there is also a Historical Marker for the Nielsen Thurber Grist Mill, it such a great place for a pic, and I took many believe me.


I finally make it into the very pretty little town of Torrey, its the sort of town that I would like to comeback too at some point with my family. My camera battery is getting low, so I decide to head to a small cafe and look for a place to recharge the thing. I meet 2 couples in the parking lot, and we strike up a conversation. It turns out they are over from Italy for there first visit to America........and let me tell you the WEST is such a special place for these folks. They live to see a cowboy horseback. Had a great cup of coffe and a Croissant and that hit the spot. I waited about an hour for the battery to charge, and in that time managed to meet a very nice couple from Alberta. So we talked about the old times and the happenings in Alberta while I was waiting. It was a real nice visit all in all, they love America but are deathe affraid of our healthcare system, so would never spend much time over here becasue of that reason.
Its time to ride, and I am headed into the deeper narrower canyons, I just bail off the top and bam, I hit a goats head burr and I am flat on the side of the road. So I push my bike up near a Juniper so I can work in the shade on my flat.

In about 15 minutes or so, I am up and running and ready to ride again. The canyons are just gorgeous and the pitch is hitting about 6-8 %, so all I have to do is coast basically. I take anotehr stop to see the Petroglyphs near the side of the road, and while there I also met a family from France and had a short very broken visit. They also came expecting to see cowboys out moving cattle...............which got me to thinking, maybe its time we parked those Quads and saddle up the horses?? Just a thought.

I also met the same couple from Alberta once again, and had a nother brief visit. I told them to be sure and drive the Colorado National Monument Loop while they stopped in Grand Junction. So on I went, and rode my canyons to the east headed to Hanksville today. I rounded a bend a came upon a really special old school house, the Fremont School house.

Right across the road was a small orchard of Pears, and I noticed that several trees had branches hanging over onto the free side of the fence line, so I availed my self of a couple and dang they were good. So I kept a keen eye out for any branches that hung on the free side........I ate enough free ones that I was starting to be concerned with maybe having the green-apple two step late on that afternoon.


Finally broke out of canyons proper and into the rolling and winding terrain that stretches from about cainville to Hanksville, this is not exactly a garden spot folks, and it loks like maybe it is an income desparity region as well. Gotta be tough folks that make a living out that way.

It is a long hot road to finally get into Hanksville, but I make it and am glad to finally find a Store to buy some Gatorade and wash down some dust.

I finally got out on my Cingular and talked to my wife. I found a small RV park, and hit the showers then done some clothes washing. Cooked a fine meal of noodles, and ate a quite dry biscuit. Road back into town later and called my darling Mother to wish her a happy Birthday.

Good Night and God Bless