Day Ride Through the Uintas

      I never would have thought that I would someday travel through the beautiful mountains of both Colorado & Utah. But, as life so often does,  it can throw you a curve, make out a different path than you might have imagined. Not only did I have the pleasure of getting to see these gorgeous places, but I got to see them from the back of a motorcycle!!  And, I got to see them with the love of my life, my best friend, my husband Ronnie.
      I was raised and spent most of my life in Texas, with a short stint in New Mexico. Mountains, real mountains were something I had not seen. Well, once on a family vacation to Mexico I did, but that's a different story. The mountains in and around the place we eventually ended up, Vernal, UT are really beautiful. Driving through them in a car you can be awestruck by the colors and winding roads.
But, on the back of a Harley, well, that is an entirely different experience. I know Ronnie enjoys his ride, he loves riding his bike and he's in his own world when he does. Between the wind and the sound of those loud, rumbling pipes there is needless to say no conversations. So, you converse with yourself, or maybe with God. It's comfortable back there, I completely trust him and so I just sit back, relax and ride.
       I look up and the sun is shining through the tops of the trees, pines and aspens. The pines a dark green and the aspens bright green with their stark white trunks.  The sky is a brilliant blue the clouds really do look like big cotton balls. You can smell everything. Good and bad!! I can smell the leather of my jacket, the scents from the cedars and sage, there's a sweet smell every so often that wafts down on me. The sun is warming and feels so good, I can turn and look up and it's shining on my face, bright and warm. As the roads twist and turn, they go steadily up, your ears begin to pop, and the temperature will drop a few degrees, this is when I'm always grateful for the leather jacket and chaps. There will be spots in the road that are in the shadows of steep hills or thick forest.  You will see the occasional cow and deer. There are beautiful meadows with tall green grass and wild flowers yellow, pink and white. The steady rumbling of the pipes is soothing and your thoughts just run freely through your mind.
      After the ride up the mountain there is the bridge at Flaming Gorge Dam, this is the Green River. The dam is a fine example of engineering and design, and always standing guard, are the State Troopers. It's easy to drive down and get right up on the bank of the river. Looking up at the expansive dam it's very impressive. The river along that spot is so pretty. The water is absolutely clear, the sound of the water rushing over the rocks is a beautiful sound. I sit on a rock and listen to all those sounds, the wind, the water, birds, leaves rustling and those sounds coupled with the sight is breathtaking. It's a perfect spot for taking off your boots and socks and dipping your toes in the cool, clear water. A nice spot for a conversation or simply enjoying the beauty.
     On the way back we stop at Red Canyon lodge for a late lunch. It has a large wooden deck and the tables have big green umbrellas. There are chipmunks scurrying all around, looking for bits of bread or maybe a stray french fry, hummingbirds buzzing in and out around the feeders. After lunch you can walk up to the overlook and that is truly a spectacular sight. The river miles and miles down below loos like a thin blue green line cutting it's way through the mountain.
      The ride home is nice and I might tend to wrap my arms around Ronnie rather than sitting back, it's been a nice day, nothing to exciting, but oh so special and memorable.