Biking and Running in Arches and Climbing on Potash Road

In the early morning, we headed out on a rented road bike to ride through the park, for the more intimate approaches to the arches. The bike happened to be the same Specialized Ruby Expert that Maria has at home, though with a slightly smaller frame. Someone still has flashbacks from an elbow-breaking mountain bike mishap, who therefore much preferred not to have to do the downhill portions. So, uphills for the wife, and downhills for the husband, which he enjoyed very much, not having to pedal on another "rest day," after the Fourth of July Elephant Butte, Owl Rock, and Arch-to-Arch-to-Arch runs. Plus, you know, cruising downhill at high speed is fun, not terrifying. Then more trail running to, first, Delicate Arch, then Sand Dune Arch (which was smaller than envisioned, but located inside a cool slot canyon corridor) and Landscape Arch. And, by the way, if one is bright pink, one is bound to be mistaken for a big running flower by a butterfly. Later, we drove back fast to town to return the bike by 1 pm. After a mid-day siesta, toward the late afternoon, we drove out to Potash Road to do some crack climbing right next to the road, next to the Colorado River. We did Flakes Of Wrath (5.9) in the waning daylight, and then Flakes Of Wrath Direct under full moon. After gathering up the rope and gear in the dark, in our car's headlights, we headed back to town for a third straight night of dinner at Pasta Jay's, with Shrimp Spaghetti A La Genovese, Mushroom-Garlic-Green Pepper Pizza, and a Minestrone soup that came with another free Minestrone soup. That restaurant has a really nice relaxing patio. 5 July 2009.