Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The End - Road to Minneapolis

We spent two more days in Canyonlands ripping up the jeep roads playing our little two track cat and mouse game. I didn't take my camera on these last days. We just rode.

Highlights include:

- Hiking back to a very cool little natural spring to get water. The ranger gave us the coordinates on our topo map. It was fun putting the bikes down and going on a search for this little natural spring. There was a rusted out half barrel filled from trickling water and some old horse tie downs in this little shaded cove. You could just imagine cowboys refueling themselves and their horses here. I filtered the water and we were off.
- Seeing all the pictographs and old ruins. Unbelievable. The natives were so gifted in understanding the environment and finding ways to not only survive, but to prosper. We as modern Americans are so weak.
- Our campfires and time in the desert. Nothing like riding all day and then spending the evening under the stars in the company of good friends.
- Finishing my trip. I love things that have a starting point and an ending point.

With that, we rode back to our cars at the Flint Overlook and headed back to Minneapolis. It was the end. I was gone just shy of 3 months. Thousands of miles behind me. More memories than my brain can remember.

So....Where is this blog going? Great question.

First, I'll be digging into the gear that I used. What I used and why? I'll also be commenting on some of the newer gear out there for travels such as this. I'm a gear snob. Lot's of good stuff, but still lots of product opportunities for the right brands.

Beyond that, you'll have to wait and see. I'm still mapping out my plan.

Thanks for riding a long with me on this journey. I've met some new friends as a result of this little experiment. Also, for many of friends and family, this blog has inspired some folks to journal, look at old photo's, and dig back into their own tour memories. At least that is what they tell me.

Anyway, stay tuned. Thanks again.

3 comments:

Jason said...

Jason,

Thanks for taking me (us) along on your journey. I'll be interested in reading about the gear, but even more than than that, I'd like to hear about how you mentally and spiritually got back to "real" life after such a journey. It really seems that your travels gave you time to try to map out a plan on your life's direction. You touch on it some in these posts, but I'd love to read more.

Than again, those may be thoughts that are best shared after a long ride and a few beers in person sometime. :)

Take care.

Jason

GNAT said...

Thanks Jason. Both for the encouragement and for the idea. I'll definitely delve into that a bit.

That said, someday we'll get to do a ride together followed by food and a good beer.

Stay tuned.....

Guitar Ted said...

Oh yeah, thanks and what a great ride! You certainly motivated my thoughts and memories on tours past. I found myself spinning yarns down at the shop to the younger guys. Pretty fun to see the looks on their faces!

Looking forward to the new posts, the gear, and where ever else this blog of yours takes you.