Utah Cliffs - Day 4 Hurricane/Dixie Springs to Baker Dam Reservoir Campground

Utah  Cliffs  - Day 4  Hurricane/Dixie Springs to Baker Dam Reservoir Campground
Sun  Oct 7th, 2018

Start 2950'
High pt  4950'
Lo pt.  2950
End Elv.  4900'
Climbing 2400'?
Miles 44.2
Total time 6:40
Ride time 5:25

After a 4 day break to mountain bike with some friends around Hurricane, I am back on the route today.
We did have a couple intense rain fronts blow through, including last night, but forecast look pretty clear for next 7 days, with some weather to watch on Thursday.
The house we rented is in Dixie Springs,  which is halfway to St George, and I am not to inclined to back track and also the heavy rain last night can make the desert dirt roads a mess, so a pavement day today, though I would like to ride the skipped Warner Valley some day. It is mostly overcast, but calm as I get my late start.
Some Southern Parkway Highway cruising brings me to Washington Dam Road, and then the Virgin River. There is a nice paved bike path along the river until I rejoin the route in SE St. George.
Several miles of touring the wide boulevards of St George pops me out on the NW side and the Snow Canyon paved bike path. The cloud cover is solid now, and a head wind is picking up as I head toward Snow Canyon State Park.
I turn up beautiful Snow Canyon proper and the wind is getting more of my attention and energy. It is down right chilly and cold. I still have 20ish miles to go, and some of the clouds are looking dark and potentially ripe. Up up I go, I pass a sign informing folks of a bicycle hill climb coming up next weekend for my route. I slowly work my way through the 8 miles of red rock canyons and petrified dunes, with their layer of black lava like frosting on top.
Exiting the park, I rejoin Highway 18, 10 miles to Vwyo, and up up up I go on the wide shoulder, next to the climbing lane for Das Autos. The climbing lanes ends after a couple of miles, I pass a cinder cone and get a good view of the Pine Valley mountains, their peaks and valleys collecting dark clouds. I am hoping that the rain I see stays up high as the roads levels out. After a few miles, I start feeling a few sprinkles, and the road is slowly getting damp as I pedal on, counting the mile to Veyo. I reach veyo, and stop to review maps and info. The Blm campground is only 4 miles further and it is 4:30, so I a bond on looking into lodging in Veto, but the thought of hot show and warm room still sound appealing none the less.
More elevation is required o achieve Baker Dam Campground, so I keep the legs a moving, and it keeps me warm as the  light drizzle becomes a bit more regularly.
At last the turn down the side road to the campground. I quickly setup shelter, and drizzle is back to spitting on me only occassionally, so I will have hot food tonight as well.
Warm food and a dry down bed are welcome after today's ""desert"" riding!