Sensory Overload

Today's Mileage: 479
Loop Mileage: 2979
Quest Total: 8474
State Total: 20
Current Location: Bicknell, Utah

Started heading north today, went thru the petrified forest and the painted desert.  Back tracked a little from the other day, and then cut over to go thru Monument Valley.  All were very cool, and I would not have been one bit surprised to see John Wayne come riding over the horizon.
Then things really got interesting.  I had seen a secondary road that looked good on the map, so i took it.  Shortly after turning on to it I started seeing signs stating 'not recommended for vehicles pulling trailers', 'no trucks'  '10 degree grade etc.  To me this was starting to sound good, but as I proceeded this escarpment that looked like a shear wall started looming in the distance. I thought this looked interesting until the sign stating 'one way gravel road ahead for next three miles. Normally I would not ride on a gravel road, but I decided to give it a try, because I wanted to see how the road got over this wall.  I really think the road might have been a former goat trail the way it clung to the side of the escarpment, but it finally topped out and the road turned back to pavement.  I was glad to be finished, because my engine temp guage had been climbing as steadily as I had, but I have to admit, it was one of the most interesting roads I have been on to date.  I never once got over 10 mph.
The day was far from over though.  The next road was now following the rim of the Fry and White Canyons.  Then I went into Glen Canyon, crossed the Colorado River, skirted Lake Powell and ended up the day by riding thru Capital Reef National Park.  There were just to many great scenes to describe, and at the end of the day, my brain is full.