The End of the Desert.

Hello from Mesa Verde, Colorado.  I decided yesterday morning, after waking up under a light dusting of red sand, that it was time to say goodbye to the desert and its searing heat and head for cooler climates.  I had been in Moab, Utah and it was hot and dusty and well, I've just had enough of it, beautiful as it is...

After Zion and before Brice Canyon, I met up with Luke, the Manager at Bocadillos who happened to be out this way on a little motorcycle adventure.

 We met at the Kawasaki dealership where I was having my oil changed and then met for a little lunch. He rode up with me at the neck-breaking speed of 65 mph to Cedar City, where he was headed back west to California, through the area 51 road.  Turned out to be quite the adventure for him..

The obligatory long road to Monument Valley shot...

Beard check.  Looking good.

Moab.  Heart of the Off-Road, Mountainbiking, Hiking community.  Beautiful as usual and hotter than hell as usual.  I headed up to arches for a nice hike in the blazing sun.  Get ready for some arches...

The trail out was quite rustic and led along some cliffs ..

Past a lot of natural Bonsai.

Weird alien looking rocks

 And of course Beautiful vistas everywhere...

Utah truly is a beautiful and magnificent place.  If it wasn't so ball-sweatingly hot, I would stay and explore some more.  As it is I'm Canyoned, Arched, Sanded, Washed, Dusted, Bouldered, and Red-Sandstoned out.

Today I spent the day exploring Pueblo Indian ruins, that will be in the next post.  For now I'm sitting in the camp cafe having one of these. It seems like every place sells them and I had to try.  

The Verdict?  Not bad, really, not bad. Almost good.