Day 35 - September 9 Poky, Sweet, Poky - brrr, it's cold here!

We were ready to go this morning long before our scheduled ride time of 7am.  We held out until dawn, but then we were on the road.  It was about mid-70's in temp but it felt a bit on the cool side.  The plan for the day was a straight shot down I-15 to Pocatello.

Our sights were set on Beaver for our first stop as it was about 100 miles down the road.  The sun was trying to top the mountains as we rode north.  Each time it was about to rise above the peak, we would turn a bit and it would be just enough to keep the sun from shining on us.  It was like getting to watch the sunrise 5 times in one day.  As we passed through the area near Cedar City it was COLD!  Brrr!  Turns out it was 54 degrees. We stopped briefly to add a layer or jacket.

When we reached Beaver we were greeted by our good buddy, Rudy.  He lives nearby and we were happy that we rode out to meet us.  We enjoyed a few cups of warm fluids and some hot breakfast at the Timberline Inn Restaurant together.

    
Rudy joined us on the next leg of our journey.  It had warmed up and was more comfortable riding now. We visited the Timpanogos HD store in Lindon, UT.  It's an old steel mill that Torrey wanted to show Tim & Shannon as they hadn't been there before.  While we were there Rudy got a new du-rag and Tim got his first picture with a real princess.

   
From Lindon, Rudy went south back to Richfield and we continued north towards Tremonton.  It was great to get to see Rudy even though it was a fairly quick visit.  We cruised through the Wasatch Front in the HOV lane quickly and smoothly.  It helped that we managed to hit it at off peak time.  We stopped for our last fuel fill up outside Tremonton.  Just over 100 miles to go! We were back into familiar country.  We even saw a few signs of fall.

A few time over the last couple days the talk has turned to who was ready to be home.  We were all looking forward to sleeping in our own beds and eating some home cooked food.  There were broad smiles across our faces as we passed over the Idaho border.  In approximately 60 miles we were pulling off on the South 5th exit.  We've made it!

 
The long awaited Dream Ride was in the books.  We were all relieved and happy to be back to our home town.  Hard to believe it went by so fast.

Miles traveled today: 481
Time to travel that distance: 9 hours
Total Cumulative miles: 13,079.6

Addendum: Today is the end of week 5.  In the past week, we traveled through the dry, hot deserts of the Southwest.  We captured the fourth corner HD store completing the goal Torrey set forth so long ago.  In the 2,556.5 miles traveled we touched 6 states and tip-toed along the border of Mexico.  We enjoyed the less humid air and the warm dry climate

All told we covered 13,079.6 miles, 32 states and Canada in the past 35 days. We enjoyed all that this country has to offer in scenery, people, and food.  The special request we each made had been addressed.  We had experienced so many different climates traveling from "sea to shining sea".  Woodie Guthrie effectively summed it up when he wrote the early verses of the song "This Land Is Your Land,"

This land is your land This land is my land
From California to the New York island;
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and Me.

 

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,
I saw above me that endless skyway:
I saw below me that golden valley:
This land was made for you and me.

 

I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;
And all around me a voice was sounding:
This land was made for you and me.

 

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me.