We had enjoyed our small cozy visit to Moab with its rugged red cliffs surrounding the town like a warm blanket (photo 1). We pointed the Goldwing north across the Colorado River (photo 2), and out of town. We wanted to see a little of Arches National Park before heading on to Orem but we soon found out that there is no way to see just a "little" of Arches National Park.

The road from the entrance station leads you upward into a fantasy land of ochre red stone figures created over the millennium into imposing shapes, broken forms, huge balancing toys, and awe inspiring vistas (photos 4,5,6,7,8,9, &10). We found ourselves continuously stopping to take pictures or pointing at another unusual stone shape or imposing red monolith (photos 11,12 & 13).

The place is called "Arches" National Park, so we wanted to see some. Off in the distance we could see some "holes" in the rocks (photos 14 & 15), but this was just a tease. What we found, of course, is that if you want to see the really good stuff, you have to hike a little; in very warm conditions I might add.

We continued on to see the Delicate Arch; you know the one Utah puts on its license plates. We could only see it by either hiking a couple of miles or so up to the arch itself, or hiking a half-mile to a vista point. We chose the latter. The trail climbed from the parking lot (photo 16), about 300 feet into a small valley surrounded by a variety of small rock formations. Some looked like an asphalt road had been broken up and left behind, others were slightly rounded squares of light brown, one with a tree growing out of its center (photos 17 & 18). At long last, sweating profusely in the 102-degree temperatures, we could see the Delicate Arch from our vantage point across the valley floor (photos 19 & 20).

There was just so much to see and we didn't have enough time to see it all. The curse of a "speedy" trip across country, I guess. We stopped one last time at the Balancing Rock (photo 21). We passed through a "garden" of rock columns (photo 22), and then left the park behind and continued northwest towards Orem. Linda and I both agreed that Arches is our favorite park next to Glacier, both spectacular but both very different in content.

It was now just a matter of keeping the bike moving in the right direction. We anticipated about a four-hour ride to Orem, which would be an easy day. Of course, that would only be true if the rain held off. As we got closer to I-70, the dark clouds started to drop some raindrops on us to let us know that if we continued to "drag our feet" we were going to get wet. At 75 mph, we skirted that thunderhead and turned west on I-70.

We started to cover the miles quickly now but it was getting close to lunch and I also needed some gas. We stopped at Green River, UT where a sign informed us that it was 101 miles to the next services. We took on fuel and food at a small restaurant located right on the riverbank. I was surprised to see just how low the river was. When my son Steve and I canoed this river about eight years ago, it was full from bank to bank and was moving at a very quick pace. What a difference a drought makes.

We headed northwest on SR 191/SR 6 into a barren desert of ash gray and light brown surrounded by red, green, and brown buttes. The road would take us through, what seemed like piles of light gray ash that some giant cowboy has kicked around from a cold campfire. Then it was into the light brown desert with the ever-present buttes following along on our right and far left. The clouds continued to build and threatened (photos 23 & 24).

Once we passed Price, UT, we entered a valley between the semi-arid mountains where the road followed the Price River for several miles. Now the clouds were getting serious looking and we could see rain falling always just a sprinkle away as the road continued to take us away from the main event. Then luck seemed to leave us and SR 6 took us back into the thunderheads and the road was wet from an obvious recent rain. It was time to get on the raingear, even though it was still in the high eighty degrees. I hate to wear this stuff in hot weather but better safe than sorry.

After stopping at a Connoco station and getting suited up, we continued northwest towards Provo. Sure enough several large drops of rain started to hit us and the cars in front threw muddy spray from the wet road. Well, that was about it. We got no more drops for the remainder of the ride to Orem.

We hit I-15, took it north for the last fifteen miles to Orem, and got a room at a Hampton Inn. It was now time to visit our nephews and their families.

My wife is a twin, and her twin sister's sons both live in Orem or the area. This allowed us to see both of them on the one trip. Dave the younger of the two picked us up and took us over to his house. We then went over to see one of our great nephews, Eric, in a soccer game (photo 25). Eric is John's son, and John is Dave's older brother. Are you getting all of this? At any rate, we got to pretend we were not on a 54-day ride and just an ordinary Aunt and Uncle visiting relatives.

Now John is quite proud of his new car, a 2004 Ford Mustang convertible (photo 26). Of course he let his motorcycle riding uncle drive the beast and I must admit, if I couldn't own a bike, I might think about a convertible. It does allow for better views than you get from most cages.

After the game, we all went back over to John's home for a group picture of the Aunt and Uncle with the great nephews and nieces (minus Logan, the oldest, who was at a Boy Scout meeting) (photo 27). After a truly enjoyable night of visiting Sherry & Dave, John & Renee (photo 28), and the children we headed back to our room for a good nights sleep.

Tomorrow we stay in Orem and visit more relatives and family friends, and then it's off to Bryce Canyon to visit Linda's sister. You may want to skip ahead to Day 56.

Today's Route: SR 191 North, I-70 West just past Green River, SR 191N/SR 6W towards Provo, I-15 N to Orem, UT