8/7/22

The ride from Moab to Durango wasn't too bad if it weren't for 98F in Moab.

https://goo.gl/maps/5j8H7oUtmNbbnnaJ9

15 miles south of Moab was Hole 'N' The Rock, a road tourist attraction that featured several gift and jewelry shops, random sculptures, a petting zoo and a home carved into the side of the mountain.

After a 30 minute distraction and a huckleberry ice cream to help with the heat, I'm back on 191 south for another 80 miles until Monticello. Then I turn onto 491 east towards Lewis, Colorado. After 100 miles on 491, the temperature is dropping a bit. I can see dark clouds and rain in the distance towards Durango. I'm not sure if I'll get hit by the rain but if I do, it'll be welcomed to help cool off from this intense heat.

As I reach Mancos on 160 east, the temperature continues to drop. From upper 90s to now in the 70s, this feels like paradise. I can still see the rain falling from those dark clouds in Durango. After another 27 miles, the rain has stop, I was lucky to have completely missed the rain storm. Now the temperature in downtown Durango is 60F. Three hours ago, it was a scorching 98F in Moab and now I'm riding in Durango in 60F post rain chills. If I had to ride any further, I'd have to turn on the heated grips.

Another 30 minutes and I reach Carter's house. It's a steep unpaved road up to his house followed by a hard packed unpaved steep driveway into his garage. He has a beautiful house out in the country surrounded by deer and turkeys. Carter came into the garage with a warm greeting. He shows me the room I'll be staying in along with a bathroom both on the second floor. He served me a home cooked chicken stir fry and rice dinner and we chat way into the night about his previous life in LA as an electrician, his Harley and F800GS, and we talk about roads, rides, and trips. I also chatted with his wife Jackie, their old lab, and their indoor/outdoor cat. Another wonder stay with a generous host. I hope to come back another time into Durango and spend some time riding with Carter and explore the town a bit more.