Adventure 16: Rockport State Park, Utah

It's Easy to Like Utah

After Mass at St. Joseph's where Father John came close to fighting words when his rambling homily suggested that evolution was real, that biblical technocrats shouldn't get lost in the small stuff, that the lunatics in Washington should be more respectful, and that eons ago rodents bigger than humans was just wrong, we left muttering to ourselves that our casper milk-toast Presbytery never goes near such topics. Eschewing our normal oatmeal breakfast, Judy fixed apple walnut pancakes, an egg, and some little sausages: a feast. Traveling was uneventful and we were welcomed warmly by Rob, our camp host, at Rockport State Park. The first day the weather was fabulous: warm, clear, calm. The next morning we rode twice. First, we rode the highway on the tandem for about eighty minutes to a little unincorporated town called Peoa. It was uphill against light wind; the scenery a mix of rugged rocks, bright orangish-red oak bush, and cattle spreads. After lunch, we drove down to Wanship, which is a trailhead for a hall of fame rail trail that goes from Park City to Echo reservoir. We rode eight miles uphill toward Park City. The trail was red rock gravel with scattered "sticker" plants on the surface. However, because the weather has been dry here, the surface was firm, which could easily not be the case. Rail riding is much harder than pavement riding, so we kept our distance down (We didn't ride at all during September, so our conditioning is suspect). At any rate we've managed just under eighty miles this first week. I was the Pocatello Open cribbage champion (I always cheat), but Judy (My valiant hunny bunny) was a close second. The weather has changed rapidly. This afternoon the wind is howling, which according to Rob's (the camp host) joints and muscles, means a storm is about to enter the valley. No matter, we're snug bugs in our little Frac where life is good, especially today.

 The view from our front porch. The reservoir, which serves Ogden, is about a quarter full.

 Site number 23, right at water's edge (in summer).

 Our neighbors kayaking.

 Rob, the camp host, delivering wood in his Kawasaki mule.

 I took advantage of the nice afternoon to do a little bicycle cleaning.

 We sat by the fire after dinner.

 Frac looks good even in the dark.

 Wanship trail head: notice the frickin' sixty-seven year old biker chick in the yellow.

The trail heading north to Coalville and beyond.

Smiling since she's going down hill with the wind.

The surface was firm and dry, but the ruts suggest softness is just a rainstorm away.

Judy thinks she will take up skiing next month.