Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Day 40: Heber City, UT Elevation: 5,604

Miles:  73.53
Average Speed:  9.35
Max Speed:  29.32
Total Miles:  1,399

Left Duchesne early after usual breakfast of poached eggs & pancakes.  Duchesne is really in distress, I think.  Most homes are trailers, the streets are strewn with trash, half the businesses are boarded up & the people in the cafe talk about scripture.

Big climb today.  Thought to camp at Strawberry Reservoir but campgrounds are 6 miles off the highway so made for Heber City.  Last 17 miles were down  hill all the way which brought average speed above 9.  One grade was 11.5 miles - first gear all the way - took about 2.5 hours to so the 11.5.  Had another flat - damn!  This time had to use new tube & tire to get back on the road.  Lucky to be close to Salt Lake for resupply.

There were no services for 55 miles but there is a lodge and restaurant at Daniels Summit where I was able to have a big pasta dinner - power bars and dried fruit just don't get it.

Heber City is just 45 miles from Salt Lake and all the famous Utah ski resorts are near by.  As a consequence they've dressed up Main Street and it looks primed for visitors.


Leaving Duchesne

Starvation Reservoir - 5-6 miles out of Duchesne

Something about this is unsettling

Looking back at Starvation Lake

Pinon Pines dominating now

Splendiforous Panorama

Splendiforous Panorama with oil rig

Triumph club from Seattle en route to Breckenridge, CO for Triumph rally

TR-3s -4s & 5s - 8 total

 
Fall-ing rock - shoulder littered with rock

Strawberry Reservoir - Giant lake - brochure said it's at 7800 ft

Landscape becoming more alpine

Little Strawberry that feeds the giant reservoir

Daniel's Summit - ~17 miles from Heber City



Beginning of 17 mile descent

More & more alpine

Salt Lake City tomorrow. Lay over for bike repairs and resupply.  Salt Flats and Nevada next.

Stay well.


4 comments:

  1. That descent must have felt great...

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  2. beautiful photos. the descent does look like it was pretty awesome. good work on the summit, that's pretty high. Only one higher in california yet to come. I hope you get some good rest in salt lake and are mentally and otherwise prepared for the flats into nevada.

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  3. Wow, what an impressive day - 73 miles and over a 2000 ft. climb. Your rest in Duschene served you well. It has been amazing watching the landscape change through your great photos. Thanks for telling the slow bike ride story. I hope you get a little R&R in Salt Lake. Ann

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