OrangeTomato: Moonshadows in Moab

(Wow - just found this draft from last year! 2010, slightly less busy schedule and definitely got more biking in, heh!)

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Saturday June 26th, three friends and I drove down to Moab, to do this crazy road ride. It went from just off the main road into town, up to Dead Horse Point and back.

If you've never driven up to Dead Horse, you really should. It's phenomenal, the views are stunning, so totally worth the drive.

If you have been there, and have been to Moab in the summertime heat, then the following will mean a lot to you:

The ride was low enough that we had to ride UP that first scary steep switchback
It was June
We were going around sunset

The ride was a total of about 44 miles, out and back, and we wanted to stay long enough to watch sunset over the desert, and then the moon rise a half hour later. We'd brought bike lights so we could ride back down. It was my first time night riding....and was phenomenal! Well worth the miserable beginning in the miserable heat.

I won't bore you with the ride details, except to say that I made it up the steep climb without stopping, and got my heart rate up to 198 at one point. And didn't die. And that it was one of the most fun road rides I've ever done. Great ladies, great scenery, great organization, great sunset, great ride.

But here are some pics! And, for those of you that have never been, they are pics that are dark enough to not spoil TOO much the great surprise that is the view when you go for the first time. Hint hint.