Marty Herbert
Thirty-one SaddleBrooke Cyclemasters spent April 24 through 27 in the Moab, Utah area cycling the local national parks. Club members Ted and Gloria Belanger organized the event which included three nights at the charming Gonzo Inn in downtown Moab, two days of cycling and a dinner and light show on the Colorado River.
The first day of cycling included a ride down Potash Road, just outside of Arches National Park. It was a beautiful ride on a secluded stretch of road with sheer cliffs on one side and a beautiful river on the other. Ride distances varied anywhere from 15 to 45 miles. Rock climbers were observed working their way up the sheer cliffs hundreds of feet above the road. Spectacular!
The second day of cycling took place entirely in Canyonlands National Park; rides varied anywhere from 15 to 37 miles. There’s no better way to see a national park than from the seat of a bicycle. You really capture the essence of what the park is all about. Our non-riders in the group were also treated to tours of the parks in their autos and met up with the cyclists at various viewing locations. Gloria Belanger manned the “sag” vehicle and had treats and refreshments for everyone.
One evening we had dinner and a riverboat cruise. The riverboat company lit up the canyon walls alongside the river while we listened to a narration about the history of the canyon and stories from times past. It was a picture perfect, clear evening and one of the highlights of the trip.
The SaddleBrooke Cyclemasters’ mission is “To cycle for fun, food, fitness and community service.” We have a total of 200 members who cycle thousands of miles per year to those who are in the club merely for the camaraderie. The bicycle is just the vehicle that gets us to our real purpose, spending time with fellow members.
If you would like to learn more about the Cyclemasters and maybe join our group, please check us out at saddlebrookecyclemasters.org. We’d love to have you join us.