Day 8 - The prestigious Cave Cadet badge

Before I left Zion I had to take another hike - this place is gorgeous! I headed up to Emerald Lake after a huge breakfast and the walk felt great. It was a dry winter so there wasn't much of a lake to be seen but I took a picture from behind the waterfall, meager though it may be. Then it was off to Nevada! After all these days in the mountains getting back out into the open plains was something. Long roads as straight as an arrow for 20+ miles at a time. I stopped in Minersville to get gas and water and there I met Mike and Michelle (see below). Mike told me he used to live in Decatur GA but it was crime ridden and so he had to get out. I told him it was one of the hottest parts of Atlanta these days and he was surprised. He wanted to talk a while so I did but then i had to head west like a young man. I headed across the state line and on into Grand Basin National Park. My first stop was Lehman Caves - a million+ year old cave system discovered by Mr Absolom Lehman in the 1880's. Unfortunately he used to invite people into his cave for parties, tourists, etc and had a "you break it you take it" attitude so there is a lot of damage. But there are still many really cool stalactites and stalagmites and other neat underground pools, shields and caves (see below). I was asked to be "Ranger Ralph" and hold up the rear of the tour which I gladly did and is how I earned the Cave Cadet award (see a picture of the ceremony below).
A very quiet day today as I was (and still am) out of cell phone and internet service range almost the entire timel. It can be a bit lonely when its like that but that is not necessarily a bad thing. A big part of this trip is just to enjoy my company and that I am! I am camping again tonight (3rd night out of 8) and I am lying down on my sleeping bag in my tent as I write this. A couple if deer stop by right outside my tent to make sure i am doing well (see picture below). Nice deer. The bears and mountain lions can stay away though, thank you. It is so quiet again my ears are ringing. The sky is supposed to get really dark here so the stars will really be bright. I am looking forward to it! PS - I don't know how to put the pictures in order, it just sorts them randomly. Sorry. PSS - Thanks to all of you - I now have 9 people who want postcards. Excellent! The more the merrier! Just email me at ralphcurt@gmail.com to get on the list!

ODO - 1211 to

Day 7 - Ed Campbell and Pumpkin his chicken

I made an early start today and saw the beautiful moon still sitting in the morning sky (see pic below). I love the moon - it means so many different things to so many people, me included. A great way to start the day. My first stop was Bryce National Park, an amazing landscape that single handedly can prove how old our planet really is with its millions of sandstone fins! I enjoyed my first cup of coffee looking over this amazing park. I then headed west to Zion National Park, a short 60 miles away. I got caught in the rain again and saw this huge tree hanging over the road, perfect for hiding under and putting on my rain gear. No sooner had I pulled over than a car pulls up in front of me and out steps Mr. Ed Campbell. "Get caught in the rain did you?" he yells so I can hear him over the rain. "Yes Sir!" I reply with a smile on my face. Something tells me I am in for another experience here! Ed then introduces himself to me and tells me he owns the tree and the adjacent land and that he sees motorcyclists pulling up under his tree all the time trying to get out of the sun or the rain. I thank him kindly for the use of his tree and then notice all the chickens in his front yard. Never one to miss a chance to take a picture of a chicken (who would?), I ask him if I may take a few pictures of them and of him. Without a moments hesitation Ed heads into his yard and invites me to tag along. It soon becomes obvious that he is searching for one particular bird. Suddenly he stands up with this big white chicken in his arms and proclaims "This is Pumpkin, my favorite chicken!" Snap! I got my favorite picture of the day (see below)! I love it! God bless you Ed Campbell and your chicken too. I am now in Zion National Park, staying in a hotel for the first time in 3 days. I have to let the pictures tell the story as I am out of superlatives. I walked through the canyon narrows having to wade through the Virgin River to get there. Trees grow out of the cliffs here fed by water from the aquifer that seeps out through the rock. And tunnels big and small burrowed through the red rock (see a very small one below) look so cool to me. I tell you, I don't know much about Salt Lake City but this is one beautiful state. I will have fine memories of Utah as I head into Nevada tomorrow.

Day 6 - I love the rain!

Today was my first rain day and I have no complaints at all. The advantage of traveling on a motorcycle is that I get to experience everything nature has to offer. When it started to rain I could smell the deep rich smell of the red earth and the Juniper trees. I could feel the temperature drop around me as the rains cooled the road and surrounding areas. Every now and then I would hit the wall of a thermal and the temperature would drop 10 or 15 degrees - it felt wonderful! Yes, I did get the occasional body slam of water from the 18 wheeler going the other way, but so what? That's what showers and washing machines are for. I pulled over once to try to take some pictures of the rain (failed) and I had to laugh - I was getting soaked! So instead I turned my face up into the rain, stretched out my arms like that scene in Shawshack Redemption and laughed! Insane? Certainly, but I have always loved the rain and this was no different. I loved every minute of it. I am staying in Escalante Utah tonight. I have no idea how I picked this place (see picture of downtown below) but I have a good campsite, a hot shower and they serve cold beer and decent pizza next door. I am now heading to go to sleep in this fresh and cool mountain air. I am a happy camper tonight.

Arches National Park

My friend Jim takes months long trips by himself. I have known him to drive 4,000 miles on road, then 500 miles on dirt and then hike 50 miles into the wilderness. Taking nothing but food, water, paper and pen it is Jim and nature. No emergency beacon, no satellite telephone, nothing, just Jim and some beautiful place on this earth. He says it invigorates his soul (my words). I have always envied his courage in taking these trips and played a big part in my willingness to take this trip. At this moment I am writing from within the "wash" in the Primitive Loop of the Devils Garden, a part of Arches National Park in Utah. It is desolate and stunning. This place, suggested by Jim and described in "Desert Solitaire" by Edward Abbey (a perfect gift from Elaine - thank you), reminds me of why I took this trip. At 7:00 am this morning, Independence Day, I took off for a 6 mile quite difficult hike with nary another soul in sight. I took a break after 2 hours and as i was sitting there I noticed how quiet it was, so quiet my ears were ringing. The sun was just beginning to break over the mountain tops and a thought came to me - I wanted to pray. So I did .... and it was a very moving experience. In a place like this the word humility takes on a whole new meaning to me. Certainly I have much to be thankful for, from simply being here to knowing each and every one of you, my family and friends. But more than that I am humbled that a place like this exists. I felt as though this place was "proof" to me that my Creator's grace is unimaginable by me. And thank God for that as I could never come up with something like this! A dear friend of mine reminded me yesterday that I do not have a fixed schedule, that by trying to race around to make up for lost time would take away from the main purpose of this trip. Thank you, because it was that advice that kept me here another day and it has been an amazing day! One last thing - I love sending postcards; I just love it! If you would like to get some from me along the way please email me at ralphcurt@gmail.com and send me your address. As with phone calls, you would be doing ME a huge favor! I love sending them. Happy July 4th everyone!!

ODO - 1514 to 1626

Day 4 - 436 miles and I am exhausted!

Today was a day of extremes - the first half beautiful mountains, georgeous streams and deep green forests and the second half was wide open plains and huge cliffs of red rock for hundreds of miles in all directions. For some reason I got a big kick out of going through Durango, like I was expecting to see Clint Eastwood or something. And let me tell you there is a huge difference between doing a u-turn in a parking lot during training class and doing a u-turn on a 10-mile an hour hairpin turn in the Rockies with 1,000 ft drop on the edges! Geez!! I loved the mountains (!) and beautiful towns like Telluride and Silverton but I was so ready to see the wide open plains as I crossed into Utah. I already miss Colorado and had good thoughts as I left CO but I look forward to heading back in August. For now..... UTAH!! After a good nights rest.
ODO - 1078 to 1514

Day 3: There are no guarantees

After consulting with the local doctor, local surgeon (see below flexing our biceps), my doctor in Atlanta and God I have decided to continue on my trip and have the surgery when I get home. Yes it is possible it may be too late by then but even if I had the surgery today (and was out of commission for 12 weeks) there is no guarantee it would hold. Once a tendon goes out, man cannot restore it to its original strength. I am not in any pain and my arm is already starting to compensate for the weakness. Worst case long term damage is about a 25% loss of strength in my arm and a little difficulty twisting things - I can live with that if worst case happens. C'est la vie. I took a 50 mile ride today and although a little timid when I started, I was in good steed when I got back. Another positive: I am being extra careful! I waved cars past me on a downhill 2 lane road as I was going 5 mph over the speed limit and I was not going to be rushed. So on to Utah tomorrow!
I met Sam and Kristie of Sturgis SD this morning (see below) and wow! Sam (a Bank President and HD biker!) gave me a ton of great pointers about how to deal with the Motorcycle Rally in August in Sturgis (where to stay, where to park, what to see, what to avoid, where to eat, where to drink, etc) and Kristie and I shared stories of places we've both been and places we hope to go one day. Terrific people and I look forward to seeing them in South Dakota in August. Finally these pictures do not do the Black Canyon National Park justice - an AMAZING chasm! If you are ever near Gunnison CO you need to stop by.
ODO: 1029 to 1078

An inconvienience

Perhaps I was a bit too optimistic yesterday. I found out that I need surgery to repair my arm. I will leave out the details but I have to get it repaired before I can continue my trip. I hope to have the surgery today or tomorrow. I am not in pain or anything, I just want to get my arm fixed and get back on the road!! My appointment is at 9:00 am this morning (2 hours) when I will find out when he can do it and how long after that before I can ride again.
At the same time, I have been welcomed into this community in a way that is remarkable! Invitations to dinner, to beer at the local brewery, to park my bike in their garage, to go to a comedy show, to give me a ride an hour away to the airport, etc. Wow!
I would like to send a special shout out to Tom, Cathy and Mary - you 3 are very special people and I feel very fortunate to have met you. THANK YOU for everything but most of all for your friendship.
God sure does work in mysterious ways...