Snowville, Utah

July 22, 2025

Dear Family & Friends:

July 20. This was not my favorite day on the BTAT. I left Ouray in the morning and traveled 163 miles from Ouray to Green River, Utah. The trip took me down the mountains of Colorado, through the high desert of Colorado and into the plains and flatlands of Utah. Here is why this was not my favorite day:

— most of the day, the heat was extreme
—high winds increased the challenge
— I spent most of the day on busy highway 70, where the speed limit is 80 and everyone, except me, travels at, or above, that speed limit
—most of the landscape was dull, desert brown and monotonous.

I arrived in Green River at 2:45pm and checked into a Holiday Inn motel. Please don’t get me wrong. Utah is home to some of the most beautiful and famous national parks in the country. I have visited those national parks many times, on vehicle and motorcycle trips. This was just an off day as far as scenery.

July 21. What a difference a day makes! The ride today in Utah was a Scenic Wonderland. Instead of trying to describe the beauty, I direct you to the photos in this post and the videos in my Eight Summits Facebook page. I stopped for lunch at Mom’s Cafe in Salina. I had a delicious meatloaf sandwich. Thanks Mom! I love and search for these hometown cafes. Tonight, I am lodging in Springville, Utah at Microtel Inn & Suites. $85 per night. Miles traveled today: over 200.

July 22. I rode into Salt Lake City in the morning to meet with The Automobile Club and collect some maps and trip ideas. I will use this information to map out the remainder of my trip to Port Orford, Oregon. The ride into and out of Salt Lake City was perilous because of the heavy traffic and complicated highway interchanges. I rode to Snoville, Utah, had lunch at the Ranch House Diner and booked the last available room at the Black Pine Inn.

Tomorrow, I will ride into Idaho.