Utah 2007 Motorcycle Ride - Day 3

Blandng - Natural Bridges

I spent a great time with my Grandmother. My brother and his family had to leave at 8:30 but we talked for quite a while.

I attended church with Grandma. After 4 years as ward clerk with 2-3 hours of meeting before church, it was wonderful to just attend a regular 3 hour block then go home.

In the afternoon I took a ride out to Natural Bridges National Monument. The road out has some really great views and a few very unique passes.

The monument has a 9 mile loop drive with great views of 3 bridges. You can hike to each of those bridges and several others that aren't viewable from the road. 2 of the bridge overlooks have well paved paths that you could even take a wheelchair down to.

I took 2 hikes and sat on one of the park benches for 40 minutes just reading and listening to the wind whistling through the canyons. I don't know why, but there's no sound quite like the wind going through trees and canyons.

I rode back to my Grandmothers and spent the evening talking and eating her home made cherry pie and ice cream. The cherries are from her own tree. Life doesn't get any better.

My brother and his family eating Breakfast

 

Grandma and my brother's son Jase

My brother and son playing with the marble ladder

His family and Grandma in the traditional Grandma's house pose

Jase could be the next biker in the family

Rob and I, I'm the one with only a little bit of gray

Bicentennial highway on the way to Natural Bridges

Dropping off of White Mesa into Butler Wash

This north/south escarpment greeted pioneers on their arrival

Looking back at the pass through the escarpment

Names from my childhood, places my dad used to take me

 

One lane road looping through the monument

One of the Natural Bridges

Native American cliff dwelling in one of the canyons

Another Natural Bridge

Salvation Hill Pass

Back up the escarpment

Blue Mountain near Blanding (Abajo Peak)