Day 283 Sat 13th Aug Play Day In Moab + Arches National Park 183km

The Springboks might have had a Shitty day, but ours is turning out to be rather spectacular. We took the panniers and Tank Bags off 4 of the bikes this morning and then we went to the Side By Side Rental Agency where Andy Boy and his Dad rented one SBS (Side By Side) and Tex and Uncle Bob rented a 2nd, the rest of us took our bikes and then we set off into the mountains to play.

Peens and I decided to ride a Trail of 100km and Pie and Milsy decided to follow the SBS’s, which turned out to be a mistake as the angle of the climbs over the mountain (one big rock) was too steep and the back-wheel would start spinning, sending the rider to go tumbling down , breaking mirrors etc, plus lots of damage to the ego, so they were licking their wounds over the rim of a drink of Margarita  before the sun reached midday and before the temperature reached 42 Degrees. But Rocky and Andy Boy’s day got much worse. Andy Boy drove well all morning, probably threatened by this Daddy took over and promptly rolled said buggy down the mountain. They had to be rescued and as I type this, the SBS is being “recovered” Dankie Tog for Insurance !!!!

Andy Boy smiling wide, he should not have let his dad drive!!!!

There were very few photos from Milsy and Pie’s day, this is the only one I could use, (they other few were taken into the sun,) but note how the used Photo Shop to make their route look dangerous and scary, note how the extended the Fore-Ground for dramatic effect:

Peens and I did the Trail of 100km and most of it was just rocky climbs and rocky down-hill, jumping from rock to rock, then there would be some loose sand and a track for a while before more climbing on slate-rock. But we followed the river for a while and went over a pass where there was very little road, Here are some of our photos:

Yes, there was some mud and yes, I did get caught-out.

There were a few of these “steps” as in photo above, but with our tyre pressure down to 1,5 Bar DadAss handled the rough stuff like a dream.

Yes, and there was some loose soft sand dunes and well, and yes, I did fall once again. When I fell I broke the Rear Brake Fluid Reservoir and had to ride the last 20km without back-breaks. I have bought some Epoxy and new Brake-fluid, so hopefully Pie can repair it. But he is now taking a nap before out  next outing at 17h00 to Arches National Park, so I will probably have no back-brake during that ride either.

Peens did strip, and yes, he did scare some children and mothers who approached us for directions.

They say there are over 2000 arches in Arches Nations Park, but I presume you have to walk to see the other 1995 as we only saw 5, but the landscape is something special:

I think we are going to sleep well tonight.

Regards

Fleisch