Team 12 at the Helie’s for dinner (Salt Lake City Utah)

Our team has finally left the beautiful state of Utah. After a two-day stay at Delta High School and passing through Lyndyll, we pushed on to Saratoga Springs and stayed in South Jordan in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City marked our first rest day in nine days since powering through all of Nevada. During our relaxing day off, the team spent the majority of our time exploring the city and visiting local bike shops for necessary repairs. That afternoon, the team was graciously offered dinner at the Helie family's home, allowing us to enjoy the rest of the beautiful day. It was a perfect way to recharge before continuing our journey.

Team 12 enjoying the campfire at Strawberry Utah campsite

On June 7, we hopped right back on our bikes and rode to Heber City, where we camped at the Mountain Valley Resort. The resort's pool provided us with lots of entertainment for the night, offering a fun and refreshing way to unwind. From Heber City, we rode to Strawberry, situated near Duchesne. We crossed Strawberry Reservoir and camped at the lakeside RV Campground. The team set up camp, made a fire, and enjoyed intense rounds of cornhole. Showers were known to be slimy, so some team members used the lake to freshen up. It was a memorable evening by the water, adding to our adventure.

From Strawberry, we rode to Vernal and stayed at the Vernal Christian Church. Vernal would be our last stop before heading into Colorado, our longest stay in any state. The welcoming atmosphere of the church made us feel at home, providing a comforting end to our time in Utah. Utah was a very quick state, as will be the case with other states on our journey. As a team, we enjoyed our stay, meeting new people and experiencing the unique beauty of the state. Other than the occasional bike problem, we had fairly good luck with the bikes being in good shape. Our journey through Utah left us with wonderful memories and new friends.

Colorado begins some of the most challenging rides of the entire trip, including our first century ride and Rabbit Ears Pass. The team feels very fit and confident at this point, although the days will be longer with the increase in daily mileage. We are prepared for the tough roads ahead and excited to take on these new challenges. The scenic beauty and physical demands of Colorado will undoubtedly test our endurance, but we are ready to tackle them with determination and teamwork.