Durango-to-Moab Mountain Bike Adventure - DAY FIVE 8-9-11

On Day Five we reluctantly left the outstanding views from the Wedding Bell hut. Suzanne's attempt to catch the lone Hut Mouse failed in the night. Sleep was minimal for all, but that's OK. We were fired up and ready to go. The ride through Davis Mesa was awesome! At the end, we took a 45-minute nap at Bedrock on the porch of the country store. It was so quiet and pleasant. Sad about the lack of a cold beverage but Kristin managed to score a couple drinks from passersby. Our hut was 1/10th mile past the local Bed and Breakfast, so what-the-heck, we stopped in to see if we could purchase an icy drink. Relaxed on the irrigated green grass, 100 degrees in the shade. Alas, no one home. Rode onto the hut - more fantastic views. Doused marching ants with rubbing alcohol before they consumed all the open food. Great game of Phase 10 - it became a nightly ritual.

View from the Wedding Bell Hut early on Day Five.  Looks out over the Delores River.

Bye bye Wedding Bell Hut.  Onto Paradox Hut.

Reluctant to leave Wedding Bell Hut - Kristin, Emma, Suzanne

Plenty of old uranium mines along the route.  Emma shoots photos and Suzanne checks our route.

Top of big climb looking out over Davis Mesa. Kristin stops to shoot photos of the Emma and Suzanne riding uphill.

Emma cresting the hill. Cheered on by employees from the Dept of Energy working on a uranium mining EIS.

Kristin relaxes and enjoys the views of Davis Mesa and Paradox Valley beyond.

Super fun downhill two-track on Davis Mesa to a single-track leading to the down climb.  And I mean DOWN.

After an arduous hike-a-bike downhill, we stopped for a cold beverage at this store.  Unfortunately, the store was for sale.  We scored a diet coke and cold bottled water from tourists.

Looking out over Paradox Valley.  Absolutely spectacular!

90+ degrees in the shade down here.  What do you expect for August?

Riding into Paradox Valley.