Day 8: Into Richfield, UT

Gas in Kanosh
Gas in Richfield



We depart Ely this AM. We decide to book east on the slab to catch the nearest trailhead, as our diversion to hotel last night was about 20 miles off the trail.
Nonetheless, we find this cherry sign, so we should be good


I am weird as I find solace and beauty in the desert. Surrounded by mountains...and until they did this


Western Rednecks are far more ingenious. Remember those games when you were a kid guessing how many gumballs were in a jar? How many antlers does this entrance have?


We found the missing half to the more popular Yosemite's Half Dome


Today, was the time fore seconds. For the second time in my life, I have ridden a bike down a runway. The only reason we knew it was runway was because it was a really, really wide dirt road with a wind sock. We then left to go 60 miles across the Great Basin. And for the second time across the Great Basin, we chased (were chased?) by a lightning storm. But the road was excellent gravel, and we made some excellent time which was welcomed given the big mileage we were facing today. At least it's nice a chilly!


But the plains give way to this sandstone gem





Before 1300, we ended up on an ATV trail into Kanosh. Again, good footing but a bit curvy



As there is no formal restaurant in Kanosh, the old man at the Gas station indicates he has some frozen pizzas for sale. Blaster wants more, so we push on. However, Richfield in 60 miles in our future. So we end up eating trail grope. I am not sure how this is any fancier, and we have scorned a gift. Last time I scorned a gift, it was Jevovah's Witness trying to give me literature at a gas station. A few hours later, I nearly caught the bike on fire as the rear brake seized up. The time before that, @EOD3MC didn't give the woman $20 for a hotel room at a gas station, and from then on his bike was vexed. Really, NEVER EVER scorn the requests on the road.



One of the few vehicles we pass on the trail all day. This guy hops out and picks up a dead squirrel off the road, then puts it in the passenger floor board. I admit the squirrel was big enough for a meal, but still not seeing it.



We pass a bunch of these flowers. They are pretty as they dance in the wind



I think the flowers inspired this video



And this AWESOME Christmas gift


But remember that rain storm earlier? We'll our little outing is about to get really rough. If it wasn't bad enough, it will take us about 1 hour to get off to a bigger trail. You see this trail has recently been graded, so it's really soft. Soft like it will soak up all the 10 rain drops and make sticky mud.



However, unlike the 2012 excursion on sticky mud, we now have high fender bikes. Blaster jumps onto a cow trail to get some traction, meanwhile, I lollygag walking/falling over/and watching him ride my bike. Nonetheless, our lessons in sticky mud have been well learned, and soon enough we make town. Having chased longing cows off the trail for the last few days, I am really hankering for a good stake.