Hopkins 4K for Cancer

July 9, 2006

Moab, UT
Riding into Moab was one of my favorite days. We began today earlier than usual, waking up at around 4:30 in the morning. Today would be our first true day in the desert, so we needed to get an early start. It was a very quiet morning riding and it felt like we had the road to ourselves. One of my most favorite parts about today was reaching the Utah sign. Jessica waited for all of the groups so that she could take all of our pictures. Most of our group got to take pictures together and it was great. I always enjoy anything that we do as a true group (for example riding in to Chicago, loved it:).

The first 40 miles or so seemed like the normal terrain that we had seen in Colorado. Just when I was beginning to get bored, I see the red sand and arches off in the distance. I could barely sit still at lunch. I just wanted to see Moab!

The ride was almost completely downhill after lunch. It was such an exciting ride in. We were flying down the hills and I was so scared a semi was going to hit Fumi or me! The red rock terrain was exactly how I had pictured ‘the west.’ There was this one touristy site that was called ‘Hole in the Rock.’ It was a 5000 sq ft. home right off the highway that was carved out of a cliff face in 1947. It was such a neat, quirky little sight to see.

Once we made it into Utah, Fumi and I were hot and tired. We were very anxious to get to the church we were staying at. We rode by it a few times, but eventually found it. It was such a nice, homey church. We even had our own kitchen! We got to shower at the local pool, and ended the evening with a nice meal at the local diner. The milkshakes were great at the diner, (I soon got to try about every flavor of them). What a lovely day! Thank you to our friends at the church and diner. You all are great!

-Lauren S.