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Mount Carmel Junction for a late lunch before heading back to Kanab. Day four of the ride took place entirelyon maintained roads. Anticipating rain, organizers kept the day's schedule simple. We left Kanab early in the morning and rode north up Johnson Canyon to Bryce Canyon National Park, located 50 miles away. The road turned from highway, to gravel road, to dirt road as we made our way to the park. A friendly encounter with a park ranger revealed that the best vantage point of Bryce Canyon was in the opposite direction of our travel. We adjusted our course and followed the ,specified park roads another 40 miles to Ruby's Inn for lunch, stopping along the way to take in the spectacular scenery. Elevations reached well above 9000 feet, with temperatures near freezing. From Ruby's Inn we headed back south along Highway 12 to Cannonville, where we 'rode dirt roads back to Johnson Canyon and than back to Kanab. In all we traveled over 170 miles during the day. The ride's fifth day was canceled due to the predicted rain. Nearly two inches fell on the Kanab area, making the last day of our. ride dust-free. If day two had included a ride through Paradise (Canyon) then day six was a ride through heaven. We left Kanab early in the morning with perfect riding conditions, thanks te;> the previous day's precipitation. We spent the morning exploring a wash located north of Kanab Canyon in an open riding area. We followed a jeep trail as it jumped in and out of a creek bottom until we eventually were funneled up through a narrow ravine that diminished to a point near a gravel road. That road lead us to Orderville.for gas and lunch 30 miles into the ride. The rest of the afternoon was spent riding back 'down the same ravine and wash we had followed in the morning,' until we connected up with about 30 miles of deep, sandy two-track. Time passed quickly as we raced down the sandy, bermed roads. The conditions were almost identical to skiing deep powder snow.. We made our way south to a local geological point known as "the cones," where we arrived just in time to watch the late afternoon shadows rise across the three white, cone-shaped pinnacles. The IS-minute ride back to the motel was casual. As I rode, I refle,cted upon the. last six days and the spectacular scenery that we had witnessed. We had just ridden through the canyon lands of southwest Utah, experiencing up close the geographical wonders that most people only see from a distant vantage !;Joint. Rainer had been right when he said the Kanab area offered some of the most unique riding area in the country, and quite possibly "the Greatest Show on Earth." As we said our goodbyes the following morning Rainer explained why the UTMA doesn't charge a fee for its trail rides. "After closing nearly all of California to open riding, the environmentalists are now just starting to focus on Utah," he said "So (instead of) charging fees, we ask participants of our rides to become activists for our cause - even if it just means writing our respective congressmen and letting them know how we feel about leaving the wilderness open to the public. We can't let what happened in California happen here." . Sounds like a deal to me, even at twice the price. For more informatioll on tile UTMA or on allY of tlleir upcoming rides, you can reach Rainer Muck at 801/467-3795. For the nearest dealer call (800) 649-5722 Golf with the stars in 'Las 'Vegas! The world's best motorcycle racers are headed for Las Vegas December 15-16 and you can join them for a round of golf co-hosted by Jeremy McGrath. The tournament highlights a gala weekend featuring the FIM World Championship Prize Giving and the AMA Pro Racing Awards Ceremony. THECLAYTON FOUNDATION Tee up with the stars and feel good about it. ..all golf proceeds benefit the Clayton Foundation for injured riders. For information, call Mark Fishburn at 800-285-5321. , Lf) rl I-< Ili S Ili ::o Z 7