Day 7

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Miles: 264.2
Total Riding Time: ~10 hours
Green River -> Arches -> Moab -> Mesa Verde -> Durango

With the past few days of planning and not hitting the anticipated destination point, we started the day saying "where ever we end up."

It was slightly damp in the morning but NO wind! We entered Arches National Park in about an hour or so. This was my 3rd time to the park and Anne's 2nd time. We entered the park only because of the stamp (Pokemon! Gotta catch em all!). I told Anne that this park is really pretty the first time around, but when it's your third time, it's just a hole in the mountain.

Thanks to another poster's recommendation on BMW forum, we stopped by Moab Diner for brunch. If you ever visit this place, remember to get whatever you ordered "smothered".

Rest of the ride to Mesa Verde was pretty much the same. No wind, few showers, heated vest kept us nice and toasty and beautiful scenaries.

Originally, we thought the ride into Mesa Verde Visitor Center would be quick. We had been here before, so we (ok, me) were here only because we now have the passport. What we didn't remember was that from the gate to the visitor center is 15 miles. Moreover, it's 15 miles of switchbacks up the mountain. Because the road was wet, we were going very slow as we ascended the hill. A quick 30 minute loop turned out to be a 1.5 hour ordeal! When we got to the visitor center, a storm had moved in and began hailing. Hoping that the storm would move on, we waited for about 15 minutes. However, heavy fog started to set in and snow began to fall. Fearing that we would be stuck if the snow starts to pack on the road, we saddled up and began our descent. On the way down, I could not see more than 5 feet in front of me due to the fog and snow collecting on my visor. This was now the worst riding condition I have ever encountered. However, I did get my stamp!


Because I was so eager to descend the hill, I forgot to plug in my heated jacket. I kept wanting to pull over to plug it in, but the testosterone kept me from doing so. After a while, I could no longer tough it out. However, it was too late. Coldness has taken so much out of me that by the time we reached Durango, I could not concentrate anymore. We decided to stay at Motel 8 and resume riding early in the morning.

Dinner at Serious Texas BBQ was awesome. We were so hungry that we pretty much ordered one of each on their menu. Smoked pork loin and Texas taco were the best.

今天天氣一樣不好, 所以也是早早就出發. 為了收集國家公園的章, 我們再度回到Arches國家公園. 由於已經是第三次來這裡, 蓋完章我們就拍拍屁股走人. 之後到了Moab Diner, BMW的車友推薦的餐廳果然不是蓋的. 她們的Green Chili超好吃的. 吃飽喝足之後就向Mesa Verda國家公園出發. 一騎進國家公園之後才發現遊客中心居然離入口有15 miles. 既然來了只好硬著頭皮騎. 不過這個國家公園在山上, 所以山路騎起來真的很可怕 (尤其我有懼高症). 騎著騎著, 天啊, 居然下起雪來了. 這時我心裡不斷的咒罵Eric, 因為我根本不在乎收集那無聊的笨蛋章. 好不容易到了, 停好車, 這時下起冰刨………無語……..真是什麼倒楣天氣都給我碰上了.

到了遊客中心之後, 有很多騎摩車的人和我們一樣被天氣困在這裡, 等了15分鐘之後, 天氣一點都沒有變好的跡象. 和Eric討論一下, 我們決定下山. 因為要是等一下開始積雪, 我們就絕對下不了山了. 由於能見度很差, 所以我們是以龜速下山, 還好開車的人都對我們很有耐心, 只要到可以超車的地方我們就讓他們先過. 一路上有可加熱外套, 所以還不算冷. 不過雪不停的積在安全帽的面罩上, 要不時地擦, 所以我們大概每騎一分鐘就得停下來擦面罩. 本來只要30分鐘的路程, 因為天氣的關係變成1.5個小時. 不過後來總算是平安下山.

下山之後我們都很累了, 所以決定到下一個城鎮休息. 到了Durango之後, 找了個旅館準備過夜. 晚上到一家Serious Texas BBQ吃晚餐 (就在旅館對面), 經過一天的摧殘, 餓的不得了, 我們兩個人居然叫了四份主餐, 而且還全部都吃光光! 每一樣都好吃, 只有牛肉乾了點. 在走回旅館的路上, 我和Eric都覺得這次的旅行很好玩, 雖然我們每天都沒辦法到達預定的目的地, 但是這樣騎到哪裡算到哪裡的玩法, 別有一番風趣. 而且我們路上隨便找的餐廳每一家都很好吃, 算是運氣很好.

今天已經是第七天了, 我們決定明天一定要到家 (因為很想念可愛的Jiro and Yama)! 算了一下, 只要騎300多miles就可以回到Denver, 應該可行. 所以早早就上床睡覺, 打算明天一早就出發.