Safe Return Doubtful

55 miles (88 km) – Total so far: 1,691 miles (2,721 km)

Despite its scruffy and run-down appearance the Lazy Lizard Hostel was fine for two nights. It’s considerably cheaper than anywhere else in Moab, I had a private room for $32 a night. The downsides are that there is no air-conditioning, which means you don’t want to hang around your room in the afternoon, and it’s a mile and a half out of town to the south. I met some interesting people there.

It was a big uphill day today having given it all away to get to Moab down at 1200 metres. Monticello is at 2150 metres and there’s 1300 metres of climbing in all, about two thirds of which is in the first 20 miles, so it was slow but steady progress, livened by sharing the road with the first other cyclists I have met for a couple of weeks. Highway 191 is a busy one although it does have a decent shoulder for al,out all of it, and climbing lanes for the bigger hills which really help. The scenery is still as interesting as ever, the desert landscape of Utah. It’s good to be above 2000 metres again, a lot cooler and less mosquitoes, and also in a small town.

There was a good steer from someone on the CGOAB site to stay at the Old West RV Park, it’s at the southern end of town. It’s well named also. Jim, who runs it, gives away a DVD of his Exhibition Shooting, or a web link to YouTube. He must be 70, but carries his holstered gun as you might expect, and a scimitar for good measure. He is an entertaining character and very helpful and a tremendous host. There’s only me here, and it’s $10 for the night with shower and wifi. Compliment his shooting if you stay here, which I completely recommend, as the price on the window says $20. I’ve been searching for someone I can call ‘old timer’ and I think Jim just about fits the bill.

The Lazy Lizard Hostel, ended up being a lot better than I thought it would be

Puncture number 3 – no shade in the desert – again rather obviously caused by a large staple that I assume came off a truck, used for some sort of packing

Puncture number 3 – no shade in the desert – again rather obviously caused by a large staple that I assume came off a truck, used for some sort of packing

Dan and Vickie from Denver have been away two months, cycling on this wonderful tandem from Vancouver – they have 10 days and 24,000 feet of climbing before they get home.

This is at the Hole in the Rock rest area – cold drinking water from a deep spring, wonderful.

I also passed Chris and his dog Ein on the road today again, and a German guy looked a bit like a skinny Santa. He had basically strapped a large rucksack to his handle bars, and carried nothing else. His bottle cage had coke in it. He seemed very ambitious on his second day out though.

The Hole in the Rock

….and in case you didn’t know where it was…

Vandalism. How appalling.

After about 20 miles the highway 191 hits a plateau for 15 miles or so

This is a top guy. While waiting he told me to get some iced water from his cool box. Such things are so much appreciated.

Camp at gunslinger Jim’s Old West RV Park. Only me here. Highly recommended.

Storytime:

Hurricanes

As Hurricane Harvey made landfall for the third time this morning and prepared to dump another 15 inches of rain on Houston, and the rest of south east Texas and Louisiana, it seems the flooding that it has caused has been a tragedy for many and will take some considerable time to recover from. Sandra told me that she had been through 6 such hurricanes, so not to worry, but that really hasn’t stopped family and friends.

I remember the stories Nigel told me from the previous Hurricane, Ike. They were without power for many days although the rainwater never directly affected their property. With their experience they were stocked up and it turned out being a great neighbourhood bonding experience. The community (cup-de-sac) of about 20 houses shared generators and even had street parties to ensure all were looked after. I think the TV and internet being off contributed to that in a big way. In that part of the city it was the winds that did the worst damage from Ike.

Hopefully by the time I pick up the news later this evening there is better news. For almost 5 days now they have been battered and are living in fear of houses being wrecked and themselves being evacuated.