Sunday 3/26

Up and started out by 8:00am. I’m driving into the morning sun and that adds a bit more of a adventure. The track is more rough than anything with patches of deep sand. (That’s a relative term, deep enough it would of been a PITA on the DR650) All in all only one “clunk” when I lost concentration. Back onto #6 gravel road.

Just before hitting the pavement their was a intersection w/ a #6 road, sort of parallel to the paved road, sort of. Drove down a couple hundred yards to read a sign. US191 – 14 miles + some big rocks(think the size that big rock in Australia) Hmmm….nope, had enough dirt the last few days. So I do the high speed back ‘er up trick to the intersection and hop on the pavement.

Hit US191S and before you know it Blanding, “The Gateway to Adventure” (their slogan). Find the post office and mail the pine tar post cards. Next thing the market. Their is only one in the “Gateway” and it isn’t open on Sundays! Really? I actually walked up and rattled the door. HOW can you be a gateway if the only source of supply is closed on Sunday. Regroup, there is a Shopko. Seems like every little town has a “Hometown Shopko”. That’s exactly what they call it. Go in, okay I can fill some of my order.

Fill with fuel. 10.38 mpg. That’s way under the 13 or so I’ve been getting. Attribute to dirt roads. Back on US191. I like that I can poke along in this rig but when needed, baby she moves! Low 50’s is about the right speed but that’s not always possible. Turn onto UT262 which runs into UT414 then UT212. About 40-50 miles of the roads less traveled. Old pavement, faded so you could just occasionally see a faint center line. Frost heaves, curves and beautiful scenery.

As I neared Hovenweep there was a herd of horses galloping to my right.Cool, even cooler we were going about the same pace, I thought they would turn or stop, but no, we are on intersecting lines! I finally slow down ’cause someone has to be an adult and them horses had other things on their minds. Now that I can look at the video, I see one bunch was chasing another. Watch near the end where the brown horse bits the specked horse. I didn’t get on film them crashing onto the road. Too many things happening. So cool and I GOT it!
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