Dry country

September 4th/09 - KOA, Green River, Utah
Mileage: 101 km
Total mileage: 2004 km
Ride time: 4:24 hrs

Ready to go this morning; Deby's Surly had a flat tire. Discovered a nail in it. Took it out, patched the tube and were on our way.

All downhill to Green River with a headwind that slowed us a bit. Also, according to the map there was supposed to be a town, called Woodside, that actually existed at the halfway point...it didn't. We stopped there for a break anyway. I discovered I had a flat tire. Fixed it and we were on our way. It was about 100 degrees.

The lack of the town we had expected left us hurting for water. By the time we pulled into Green River we pretty much drank everything that was liquid at the 1st service station we came across. Sure felt good.

Beautiful ride...solemn stretch, but busy with traffic. Everyone with a camper, a motorhome, a boat or a 4 wheel drive anything seemed to be heading south to Moab or Powell Lake. Today was the Friday before the Labor Day long weekend. Deby and I made the decision to hide out in Green River on Saturday and head to Moab on Sunday. We had little desire to catch up to that crowd.

As we travelled south from Wellington the valley widened. The valley also got increasingly dry. Truly desert. By the time we got just west of Green River the valley consisted of white hard pan and some very sparse sage and tuft grass. Mountains visible on both sides, plateaus really, and several buttes. The town of Green River is a bit of an oasis on the river. The Green River flows through it.