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Published: July 21st 2014
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OUT OF THIS WORLD literally describes every facet of the landscape we rode through today in Utah. It will take days for it all to sink in, once again. It was an unexpectedly long, intense 10 hour day, leaving Torrey around 9 and riding through Capitol Reef National Park, and back the same 35 miles because in our eagerness to see the park, we rode right past Junction 12 on the edge of town to take us back to route 89 to connect with route 9 leading us into (no temptation, I'm afraid, Ian is still married to only one wife) St. George, Utah. I thought Capitol Reef was spectacular, and then we rode through Boulder Canyon, and Dixie Forest, and finally Zion National Park. WOW. It just got more and more mindblowing as the day went on, and the feelings welled up once again. The photos do the talking. As did the little voice inside my head all day. Last year, you may recall (how could one forget lol !), the long Bridget Jone's blog I wrote about the meaning of life having just ridden highway 70 in Utah through mind boggling canyons and sea beds, and onto the Loneliest
Road in America. I'm not about to do the same, or am I?
In many ways, I knew what to expect this year, or so I thought. I was looking forward to seeing a rainbow of oranges, yellows, creams, and beiges complementing each other in rockscapes, sandstone dunes, mountains and river beds all millions of years old. It started out innocuously enough, with random thoughts that perhaps this particular area is what inspired Benjamin Moore to label its desert hue paint colour wheels with their creative names like Burnt Cinnamon (my living room walls), Bryce Canyon, Utah Sky, Marble Canyon, Red River Clay. These thoughts progressed to my thinking about the rest of the decor in my own home, and the sobering realization of my use of all these warm colours throughout. Home. It feels like I am so far away from the security of what we call home. I miss home. This thought prompted me to speak silently and gently to myself as I progressed through today's ride, telling myself "you've got this" and "you can get through this ride". Little did it help. BUT, my thoughts were radically different from last year's thoughts of what does life
mean, why are we here, what's the point and purpose of it all given we are such minutia in this universe. It's not that I have all that figured out beyond knowing that family and friends is what life is all about. Indeed, that's the crux of it. I thought an awful lot today about my family and friends. And about what a great life I have in spite of the odds I faced when I was a child and teenager and normality was so far off the charts in my world. I have a life that I never want to take for granted. A life that I love, a life that I want to share with my family and friends. A life elevated, as Utah's licence plate slogan reads. And that led to me thinking while riding and attempting to absorb my surroundings about the two beautiful redheaded offspring I have and the close relationship we have with each other, and how much I admire their drive at their young age to get an education. And their drive to make a great life for themselves, their drive to travel, their drive and natural ability to be compassionate and caring
women. I miss them very much right now. I thought a lot about my Mum (who passed away in February) and how much I miss her, especially today because I can't share these thoughts with her. She more than anyone understood where I was coming from and could see beauty in most everything, and sadly I'm not able to express to her the allure of my surroundings today and its impact on me. Most of all, I won't receive any comments from her about this blog, which she sent so frequently last year usually at midnight when, at the age of almost 94, she would "surf the net". I thought about my sister and brother in England, and how we have connectivity and closeness even when so far apart geographically, and how I miss them and wish we lived closer to each other, and how much they too would love the magic and spirituality of Utah. And I thought about all my extended family and friends, most of whom I don't see enough but with whom I have strong ties, evident when we do get together. And then I thought many times today about my husband, who just a couple
of days ago in a quiet intimate moment thanked me for introducing him to motorbikes even though it took several years to convince him there is life on a bike, because he is having the time of his life. What an incredible man to be able to share my life with. Always so even tempered (even around tourists), eager to please, generous beyond belief, and warm, caring, kind and affectionate. I wondered what he was thinking today (I mean, we didn't see any single cows along the way - you have to have read last year's blog). But I did think that in all likelihood, he wasn't having the same sort of discussion with himself. Damn this State and its inexplicable power and energy. You have to see it to believe it. Perhaps for me it's the colours that get to me, much like certain music does, or perhaps it was just the 41 degree heat. I can't explain it. People say that Sedona is the most spiritual and sacred place in North America, and it's touted for its uplifting powers. Yet, I've never felt a thing there. There is no connection or awakening of my spirit in Sedona, like
I experience when I am here in this place. Being on the bike, I feel exposed and connected to every facet of the environment. Being able to see the tops of mountains looming down on me, and looking down without any obstruction into the depths of canyons hundreds of feet below, peering over the edge of mountain ridges without barriers, absorbing the vibrant colours, well it all ties together for me and impacts me not only physically but spiritually and emotionally too.
COME TO THIS PLACE, AND YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF.
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Gail
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Amazing journey
Hi Guys Zion national park is on my to do list. Thanks for the great photos and today's entry in the blog. Safe travels.