Utah Cliffs - Day 3 Hi Roads CG ( by zion east entrance) to Hurricane

Utah  Cliffs  - Day 3  Hi Roads CG ( by zion east entrance) to Hurricane
Tues  Oct 2st, 2018

Start 5823'
High pt  5823'
Lo pt.  2950'
End Elv.  2950'
Climbing 500'?
Miles 50.3
Total time 6:30
Ride time 4:07

There were several waves of gentle rain on Tuesday morning as I tossed and turned before dawn, remnants of hurricane Rosa starting to pump tropical moisture up into the desert SW. Fortunately, it stopped about the time I got up and things weren't too damp, but very overcast.
Today, I will traveling down through Zion, and out to Hurricane, though I will take the highway instead of the routes' dirt backroads over Gooseberry Mesa and through the the Hurricane Cliffs to avoid gripper clay and muddy roads
I have a decision to ride, or wait for my friend at come though Zion later in the day in case of heavy rain.
Weather is dry though breakfast and packing up, so I  am going to ride.
Head out about 9 to the east entrance a half mile away. Drizzle starts as I tour down the empty highway. See a couple of cars near the entrance and then it is 6 miles of empty roads as I start down through Zion,  petrified sand dunes growing around me. It is wonderful riding without traffic through this amazing landscape. I do need to hitch a ride for my steed and I through the Mt Carmel tunnel as bikes are not allowed to be ridden through.
I reach the tunnel and wait for traffic, ying and yang playing with me to balance out the zen of the empty road cruise so far. I am throwing my thumb out at every open bed pickup, with not much luck due to light traffic and not very easy place to pull over. Then the tour busses and larger RVs start arrivng, causing one way traffic and traffic backups. I start approaching pickups that have passed on my thumb, and the 3rd one I talk to is amenable, though it took 1.25 hours. Not a bad place to hang tho.
The generous hunter and daughter are returning from hunting in the same area I was riding yesterday, and we chat about education, kids, and their local country side as they are from Hurricane.
When we get through the tunnel traffic is stopped yet again so crews can clear some sand that washed down last night, so this my stop. I quickly unload my bike and gear and reattach all of the bags, just in time to be at the tail of the line through road work; on to the famous Zion  switchbscks. Since I am slower than the cars, I again have empty road in front and behind as I descend into the heart of Zion. It is marvelous to go at my own pace, taking in the glorious views, without worrying about traffic. I reach Canyon Junction and take the Pa'rus bike path back along the Virgin river, descending more gently, weaving in and out of groves of cottonwoods, and at each grove I exit, the canyon walls greet me along the way.
Alas such play is all too shortlived. I exit the park and have decided to take paved Highway 9 to La Verkin and Hurricane, avoiding the dirt and possible mud/clay of the backroads. As I approach la Verkin and hurricane, I look over to the mesa  I would be riding, glad I am not out there today. Sigh, perhaps those roads will await my return.