Day 18 to Day 21- Blanding, UT to Telluride, Colorado

Blanding- Day 18. We planned to take the day off today to drive up to Arches National PArk, about 80 miles north of Blanding. The park was beautiful with many great sites. Pictures to follow later. We went on a supposed 3.0 mile trail (1.5 to one of the Arches and back) and it took over 2 1/2 hours. I managed to get lost on a trail to complete the "lost at least once in every state I have traveled" title. I think it should be hard to get lost in Kansas...The Utah 4 (Steve, Mike, Dave and Dana) have been wonderful to travel with. They are all really strong riders ( much stronger than I am) yet they have taken turns driving to allow me to ride all day. Dave has fixed my tires three times now, put up with sharing a room with me, and despite being a vegan, tolerated some of the less than desirable eating establishements we have frequented. Steve has been the cautious one for us, keeping us from doing something stupid (steep downhills with 90 degree turns and cattle guards at the bottom) and been a library of knowledge on about everything. We all decided it would be very scary to spend five minutes in that man's brain. Dana has put up with the four of us ( no small feat), did laundry for us a few times, and slowed down her pace riding to keep me company because I was so far back. Mike was always there when I needed someone to eat something with. I think he also always hungry.The first three weeks have been especialy fun because of my traveling companions- California Jerome, Nevada Suzy, and the Utah 4. I am now in Telluride and passed off to Venu Akuthota and Sonja STilp and the beautiful Akuthota boys - Everest and Clark (age 6 months- pictures to follow) Today I am resting in Telluride- no hikes today. My first three week totals according to Garmin 1248 miles, 104 hours of riding, 65,000 calories burned, 64,912 feet of climbing and 56,573 feet of descent. Actually, I feel pretty good.