Horseshoe Canyon, No Petroglyphs Today

Because we planned to do some hiking we had the saddlebags on our bikes so we could store our jackets, helmets and boots while on our hike. Our 50 mile trip to the dirt road turned out to be 90 miles. However the 30 mile trip to the parking area was accurate. But the easy 3.5 mile hike to the petroglyphs was listed in the parking area as strenuous and one should allow 5-6 hours for the round trip. This would have us arriving back at the parking area at sunset so we passed on doing the hike although we did walk a little ways down toward the canyon. About 7 miles before the parking area we had seen a sign telling us which way to turn and it also noted that this direction would also take us to Green River in 54 miles. Green River is 50 miles from where we are staying so naturally we will take the "short cut" and the dirt road to Green River. The road in was nice but washboarded. There were a couple of mud crossings that were trying and lots of great views. We could tell immediately though that the road out was going to be more technical. Unfortunately for me I did not notice one of the most "technical" obstacles, a 30" wide ditch, until the last moment. I was going 40-50 mph and suddenly there it was. I just had time to stand and hang on. Off-road motorcycle riders in time develop a nerve that connects legs, arms, jaw, eyes and sphincter so that the brain can fire a message to all these items at one time. The knees grip the gas tank, the elbows lock, the jaw drops, the eyes dilate and the sphincter tightens, all at once. This nerve is a fine example of rapid evolution. My body received the signal and activated all of these functions immediately as well as an instant prayer to my maker requesting survival. It evidently worked as the front wheel just hit the far side of the ditch, the back wheel clobbered it  but I did not endo or otherwise crash. However a sacrifice was demanded and my right hand saddlebag paid the price. An internal latch broke and the poor bag went cartwheeling down the road. Better it than me. I did manage to signal Daren of impending disaster so he slowed down and took the left side of the road where the road had not yet washed out.

The glove is 11" long.

A reduced speed seemed to be a wise choice for the rest of the dirt road so we implemented the new plan and continued on to Green River. Then it was back to Moab for a buffalo burger and a tall, cool beer. Tomorrow we would head for home as Daren had received a call that he needed to be home by 4 PM.