Smiling Faces, (very) Warm Places

Though the arid and beautiful landscape of southern Utah filled us with more awe than we could usually handle, the heat and desolation began to grow heavy on our bikes and minds. Then after a frustrating afternoon of constantly just missing our desert mirage, Tasha Darwent drove out of the canyons and met us on the hot shore of Lake Powell. With 8 hours of driving in a car full to the roof with amazing food and treats from the Darwent family we started refuling. Four days, several insane hikes and many full bellies later and we were watching Tasha and all her amazing energy drive off into the desert to head back to the land of Colorado from which she came. Two nights later and we were camping in Colorado still living off the wonderful food that the Darwents send. My belly was full and all that was left of the fire was a few glowing embers. I remembered how biking away from Lake Powell I needed to think about something other than the 45 m.p.h. headwind so I concentrated on replaying everything that had happened in my life in the last 6 months. First I remembered my friends and family and all that they have given me and next I remembered all the generous people in my life. The fire was almost totally extinguished and now the full moon was illuminating the desert trees I turned off my headland and found my way back to the tent with a little help from the moon. Overwhelmend by the generosity of everyone in my life - complete strangers to close family and friends - and I fell asleep a happy man.

Thank you all,
Rush