May 2001
Detour Version 1.0
Day 19
“Utah has Arizona’s scenery but a better color consultant.”
-Marlow to Steve after driving through Utah
Grand Junction Colorado and the last of Steve’s friends are our city stops.
Stopped for brunch in Delta Utah at the Topps Café. First meal of the trip where the sole coffee creamer option was a petroleum product powder packet. Cook had trouble with delivering stuff at same time. Food was good nonetheless. San Fran gay couple traveling with B&W longhair cat who ate a plate of breakfast eggs. We departed first. As their car caught up and passed us later on I-15, they waved at Steve.
Upon entering Utah, we went on a 20-25 mile long down-slope ride through sheer rock sluices cut for US-50. Damn impressive road construction job and great ride. Throughout Utah, we saw myriad rock formation shapes echoing creatures and machines in SCI FI and fantasy movies we’ve screened during the past forty years.
Almost got run over by a UHaul truck as it veered well left of center. Distracted woman driver let the truck drift. We were less than two beats from a self-initiated emergency pavement departure in search of safer spaces in the roadside flora and fauna. As it was, we were stagger riding the far-right side of our side’s single lane, when she heard or blaring horns, looked up, and jerked her truck hard right.
Observation #14: Passed by a slowly moving pickup truck with a small, “Heinz 57-Variety” breed, dog in the bed in Western Utah. For the first time in my memory, I saw a dog definitely not enjoying his nose-in-the-air time. His neck lay on the truck’s bedside wall. His eyes stared almost mournfully down at the passing pavement. This image has stuck in my mind ever since. Hang dog sad.
Arrived Grand Junction at 430 PM, so the local motorcycle shops could do both bikes’ oil and filter changes. Bikes were spotless after a free power washing. My experienced HD mech and I jabbered about his 2-wheeled trip to the Arctic Circle four years ago. It’s a do-able do.
Stayed at the Mesa Inn for $40. Dined at Boot’s recommended place – Dolce Vita in downtown GJ. It was big city downtown good without the swank.
We met and chatted up one of Steve’s old St Regis College roommates. Seemed very surprised we knew and ate at Dolce Vita.
Daily Windshield Bug Smash Bingo Game winners: no players
Query count as of the end of Day 19:
Where’re you going? – 21
What’s that? (Steve’s Valkyrie) – 8
Damsels in distress? – 9
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