A rare occasion today, Thomas and I have stayed two nights in the same town. After another long stretch of cycling, we've taken a full day of rest. With its Post Office, two motels and a restaurant I knew there was no way I could relax in town, so I went for a relaxing solo trail ride. The Great Western ATV Trail follows Velvet ridge between Torrey, the next town to the south-east and our current location of Bicknell. The trail wasn't smooth and the cyclocross bike I ride lacks any suspension, but the technical challenge and awe inspiring landscape made for a worthwhile ride. Again today the weather was perfect with no clouds and a cool wind to keep the temperature pleasant.
We've truly crossed the threshold from the American Northwest into the Southwest. Today I was mesmerized at numerous points along the ride. The views are beautiful and completely different from the desert of Alberta. The land is vibrant to such an extent that for the first time the flora is of no interest in comparison. I'm not even at the National Park, yet my jaded, bike-weary attitude has been renewed by spectacular sights.
