DAY 15: JUNE 15: PRICE (UT) TO GREEN RIVER (UT)

Time Zone : Mountain (GMT -7)
Todays Distance: 66 miles
Cycling time: 4hrs 39 mins
Average Speed: 14.2 mph
Today’s cumulative ascent: 1239 ft
Average Heart rate: 107 bpm

Distance so far: 1053 miles
Ascent so far: 35,200ft.

Today’s profile:

Today’s Route: PRICE is located just west of Carbon County.

Dedication: Today is for all the children in Providence that have been taught by Abbey students and who have themselves taught vocational skills to Abbey students like Kyrshan and Wanaibor.




It was decided to bring forward departure this morning so as to have most of the cycling done before it got too warm. It turned out to be a good move as temperature were at 86 degrees when I arrived in Green River at 11.45. I was sure glad to be in out of that. I presume this will be a feature when temperatures threaten to soar.
Just outside Price we merged onto Route 6 and stayed with it for most of today’s route. For the duration we again had the railway alongside but no action on Sunday.
The skyline again was lined with flat-topped hills and became more and more spectacular as the day went on. They appeared as if someone had flattened them out with a spade. There was a craggy skyline visible in the very early stages off to our left.
At one stage I spotted an operational sign for a Dinosaur Quarry (many remains of dinosaurs have been located around this general area) . Looking at the landscape about it was possible to visualise the scarce trees being snatched up by these monsters to be consumed. I had the others posted to report any sightings! Our group today was the same that started yesterday (Steve, Suresh, Jeff and self) and we maintained contact from start to finish.
Our route today promised to be favourable – more descent than ascent and there was no significant wind. We were being compensated for yesterday as we moved across the Utah desert with the usual long stretches ahead.
Speed was up and the heart-rate was down; just 4.5 hours in the saddle. However the altitude we lost today will have to be regained in the coming days. “We’ll pay for this” as the pessimist said when he saw the fine morning.
The early miles on Route 6 were under construction and the surface was a little bumpy but no work was being done and all machinery was rested up. It just meant more attention to the immediate surface and less opportunity to admire the surroundings. At one stage in the first half we had a lovely drop down for a mile or so and then on to a long stretch off into the distance. On either side there was no vegetation worth talking about but the skyline made up for that.
“SAG ahead on the right.” SAG was at the 33 mile mark and was located in a perfectly scenic lay-by and the views distracted us from the snacks and the refilling of water-bottles. Temperatures were rising a bit (it was still only 9 am) and the coolness of the early morning had disappeared.
At one stage I decided to scale a hill to get a better view of the surroundings and a vantage point of the approaching cyclists and their surroundings.
Returning to resume cycling I realised that I had left my mark on the Utah desert and wondered how long those footprints would remain there. Would someone mistake them for those of a dinosaur?
Just before noon we dropped onto Interstate 70 before entering Green River located on Green River that flows southwards………………………………….. It is a small town and was extremely quiet, but then it was Sunday morning.
For some reason or other, I was fascinated with trucks today. Pulled in by one, had a few words with the driver and complimented him on his lovely unit. He was visibly chuffed. Indeed these trans-continental drivers spend as much time in those cabs as they probably do in their houses. A few other trucks there had power written all over them
One muscle machine was parked up in a shade of yellow but would have benefited with a splash of red (the colour combintion on the best trucks).
Just before going to the hotel I dropped into a gas station to pick up a lunch to help the system recover and my eye was caught by a brochure for GOLDEN….small town, big fun. Inside I discovered ‘With so much to see and so much to do, better plan on a day or two.’ Coors beer is brewed there in the largest single-site brewery in the world and it gives ‘ the true taste of the Rockies’ as it says in the ad.
The Green river that give the name to the town is 730 miles long and flows soutwards carry much silt and joins the Colorado river before flowing on to the Pacific. All rivers till we cross Monarch Pass flow to the Pacific.
So at 12.30 with temperatures of 86 we pulled into Holiday Inn at the eastern end of town and had an afternoon to recover. Nice to finish in the early afternoon. We were in for the 'minor match', as one might say.

A lovely relaxing day’s cycling. We needed it after the travails of yesterday. A chance now to catch up on a few things. I see that Wexford and Dublin drew in the semi-final.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy,

HEARD TODAY: Possibly inspired by the landscape (typical of Westerns) and the early contact with the saddle, one was heard to light-heartedly sing “Rollin’, Rollin’ Rollin…….., Oh my butt is swollen…….,Rawhide…., Rawhide”.