April 10th, 2016
Hi Folks,
Got away from Cache Valley 3 days ago. I kind of wanted to stay around for one more going away party- a great social life was emerging just as I had to go. Had a little drama pulling away for the first mile; Melanie’s boy Leif managed to step on a prickly pear I have in the front yard and we had to take out a few thousand microscopic, fuzzy spines from the bottom of his foot. He cried (screamed!) through the whole process but with 2/3 of them out we discovered that he was perfectly capable, willing and happy, at five years old, to pull them out himself without all the uncertainties of a bunch of adults jacking him around.
Anyway, Sardine Canyon was the first milestone and, lo and behold, Paul Vaslet drove passed at the summit and pulled off to bid farewell. And it was a good thing- he was able to give me directions to the liquor store in Brigham City. Camped that night in the foothills above Willard.
Next Day saw me 55 miles to Gail’s in SLC. Stopped at Loyals bike shop in Farmington looking for a replacement to my bike pump that appears not to exist anymore. But thanks none-the-less to Jeff Hepworth, the owner, who loaded me up with spare tubes, patch kits, water bottles et al, all free gratis. When I got to Gail’s she treated me to pizza, red wine and a place to stay. Nearly 30 years into dealing with multiple sclerosis, she’s as active and involved politically as ever. She still keeps an office at the U of U’s economics department, publishes papers, works with the the Utah Rivers Council and UCAN, and volunteers at the Galavin Center teaching English.
Left Gail yesterday after a late morning of coffee and conversation. Took an unnostalgic and nerve wracking ride out State Street to about a millionth south shopping for everything from bike stuff to a solar charger for the computer (the latter I didn’t know existed till a few days ago and had to have one). Managed to kill the balance of the day doing that and camped in a copse of trees near Camp Williams where the extent of Salt Lake valley housing development is unbelievable. I’m at a Betos wifi cafe now in Saratoga Springs and will ride the west side of Utah Lake today and camp, hopefully, in Goshen Canyon tonight. Cheers, SW
Sorry we missed you with the solar charger. Jeff went over on Tuesdsy or Wednesday after we saw you but it was too late :(. Glad to see you made it off safely on your adventure!
Steve, so very glad we crossed paths south of Utah Lake somewhere. Who woulda thunk it? Stay strong, and keep on keeping on. Looking forward to all your adventures!
I’m so sorry I didn’t get to see you, Steve. Maybe somewhere along the way, whatever that turns out to be, out paths will cross. I’ll definitely be reading your updates.
Moving right along!
Good luck and safe travels. I will get the details from Gail.