Along the Hog’s Back – Advinspiration

Last night’s stay was actually in the Boulder Mountain Lodge. Apparently I couldn’t be bothered to walk the 30 feet to get the piece of paper containing all of our trip information and just figured it was the same name as the attached restaurant. My bad… The point being that I could have sat in the hot tub drinking diet coke and watching the ducks play in the water for the rest of the week and been perfectly happy because the hotel and food were amazing, but apparently the point of this trip is to log an obscene amount of mileage on a road bike through some of the most unique scenery in the US…

Sunrise outside our cabin looking out towards the lake — Sunrise looking out towards the lake

SEEE? it's a dead cow. — Skull on a ledge that I was fascinated with.

Just playing with the lighting here because I'm a geek and I like skulls. Don't judge me. — Just playing with the lighting here because I’m a geek and I like skulls. Don’t judge me.

Our ride today took us away from the Boulder Mountain Lodge and on towards Bryce Canyon National Park along a route called the Hog’s Back which runs through Grand Staircase Escalante National Park. I felt more comfortable up on top of the narrow ridge with my little tiny bicycle instead of the giant lumbering Sprinter van. We stopped a few times for pictures. 😉

Jason again. This was when I realized I needed another little bike bag to keep my camera in so I didn't have to keep getting off the bike to get it from the tail bag. — Jason again. This was when I realized I needed another little bike bag to keep my camera in so I didn’t have to keep getting off the bike to get it from the tail bag.

Springtime in the desert. There was a surprising amount of greenery. I think in a few weeks it's going to be unbearably hot here, but for now it's pretty nice! — Springtime in the desert. There was a surprising amount of greenery. I think in a few weeks it’s going to be unbearably hot here, but for now it’s pretty nice!

Pretty little flowers everywhere. I'm glad they let me keep my camera bag in the van. — Pretty little flowers everywhere. I’m glad they let me keep my camera bag in the van.

Butte. Spelled kinda like butt, but way prettier.

This was a gnarly climb. Not steep, just long. and hot. I needed more M&M's. — This was a gnarly climb. Not steep, just long. and hot. I needed more M&M’s.

Jason and I both alive at the top of the big hill! No casualties yet.

SELFIE! ...because it's my blog and I'll post what I damn well please. — SELFIE! …because it’s my blog and I’ll post what I damn well please. I even did this old skool with a real live camera! not an iphone. You youngsters don’t even know what that’s like.

Honestly, I was pretty beat by this point in the day. I don't even remember why there was a wagon here, I just wanted water and food and not to be sitting on the deathtrap of a seat that I chose for myself. Either way, the contrast between the conestoga wagon and a top of the line carbon fiber bicycle amused me. — Honestly, I was pretty beat by this point in the day. I don’t even remember why there was a wagon here, I just wanted water and food and not to be sitting on the deathtrap of a seat that I chose for myself. Either way, the contrast between the conestoga wagon and a top of the line carbon fiber bicycle amused me.

I feel I should also point out that today was my new personal best of 60 miles. Before the trip, the furthest I’d ever ridden was 45 miles and it was truly an awful experience. Although I think I laid in the van for about 45 minutes before a mysterious angel (I think it was Jason…) handed me a powerade. I think I was pretty dehydrated, but after that bottle of lemon-limey goodness I could sit up and have conversations with people. Electrolytes are magical things. A few minutes later we all arrived at the Bryce Canyon Lodge and dispersed to our respective cute-as-shit little log cabins to recover from the day’s ride and get some well-deserved dinner!

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