Bears Ears – Day 1

You have likely heard of a place called Bears Ears. It has been a subject in the news off and on of late especially as different political parties have waxed and waned in Washington DC. I have very little understanding of the politics or the legalities, but I have discovered that it is a beautiful place in South East Utah, as we spent a week pedaling through it. https://www.npr.org/2021/10/07/1044039889/bears-ears-monument-protection-restored-biden

In a very odd twist to our usual rides we actually invited living friends and not just Gumby and Pokey. This is strange on multiple levels. First, I don’t have many friends. Second, my few friends typically think that these types of activities are crazy. Third, Jon has been on one of my “adventures” in the past and either dementia has made him forget the realities of my trips or it’s just been long enough that the counseling has helped.

You can see from the mileage and elevation change that this is a relatively calm undertaking. Although, for the other 3, on e-bikes, up and down really had no meaning. For me, loaded down and weak from winter, the 9% grades were a chance to ride alone while the other three sped off into the distance laughing, (it seemed at me), smiling, and having a great time. The smiles were likekly because they knew, and I didn’t, that the last day included an 11% grade.

We were thrilled to have Jon Smith come with us because he’s a professor of communications at SUU. Accordingly, this will be videoed and you likely will just want to skip to that part of the blog. Additionally, his wife Anne is an expert on the area as a professor of recreation management at SUU. So, we not only had someone to record the entire trip with video but also a tour guide.

Day one we were able to see Cliff Dwellings and walk right up to the edge of a Kiva. Anne shared her expertise to our great benefit. Typically, my only side trips are to 7-Elevens but the side trips and short hikes were well worth while.

If you ever have the opportunity to name a town, don’t name it BLANDing. What were they thinking? It’s sad enough with its only redeeming feature an A&W, but we enjoyed a stay in the motel with the closed pool. Oh well, we were ready for the next day.