UT - Day 10

Today, I slugged out 435 miles across Utah. 🚀 Being the longest single day of this trip, I finished the afternoon tired and ready for a glass of wine in Ely, NV. 🍷

Utah is a magical and beautiful state. With wild, red rock formations, vast open skies, desert shrubbery, and canyons throughout, every minute of today's ride blew my mind. 🌄🏜️ With dozens of rest stops for sightseeing along I-70, I used the time gained from riding at high speeds to photograph slices of heaven. 📸✨

Along the way, I stopped at a ghost town called Cisco. The dilapidated buildings made the perfect backdrop for visiting motorcyclists, vandals, films, and music. Johnny Cash sang about the town in "Cisco Clifton's Fillin Station," and it was featured in the movies Vanishing Point, Thelma and Louise, and Don't Come Knocking. 🎥🏚️

“Pay attention to the sky”

I flew across the state at break-neck speeds... except for 15 miles of sheer hell. 🏍️ About 1/3 of the way into the ride, I saw that I was approaching what looked to be a white mass connecting the sky and earth. Having no idea what it was, I headed straight for it.

However, I should have listened to the counsel of a fellow rider in Ohio. She specifically told me to “pay attention to the sky.” 🌤️ She appropriately warned that the weather can change dramatically and suddenly and to avoid riding through ominous skies. But I didn’t listen.

Once I entered the white mass, there was no turning back. And quickly, I realized I wasn't riding into a cloud but a wall of snow and sleet. 🌨️ With my lens immediately fogging up, I opened my face shield and Mother Nature stung me with an onslaught of ice pellets. (No blood was drawn.) ❄️

At one point, while riding on I-15 for a short jaunt, I felt the ice accumulating on the road under my boots and knew I was not in a good place. 🚦 With the hazard lights on and taking every action with extra caution, I safely got off my exit and away from the storm. 🚨

After one more brief encounter with the storm, I celebrated in relief after punching through to sunny skies and warming temperatures. ☀️😅

Cheers to surviving another adventure! 🏍️✨