Bruisin' On A Sunday Afternoon...(.Cruisin Part II)

As I was leaving Causey Dam and heading back home from a fabulous day I was moving to pull onto HWY 39 to head back to Ogden. I saw a group of motor cyclist and waited for them to pass before getting on the hwy behind them.



It just so happens this year I've been conscious of sharing the road with bikers and cyclist because if the recent deaths of regarding cyclist and bikers in the Salt Lake Valley. I remembered the signs saying something like "SHARE THE ROAD."

As I was driving I found myself catching up the them pretty quickly. I kind of thought that if I were on a motorcycle I would be a little nervous if a car or truck rolled up on me to the point where it felt like tailgating. So I kept a pretty good distance back, at lest a car length.



(Yes I took a picture because I thought it was cool watching the formations of the bikers going up hill and around corners.)
You couldn't help feeling a little jealousy watching them ride synchronized like a well orchestra ballet. It was such a great day for a roadtrip, couldn't ask for better weather or scenery.
I'm in my car with the air conditioning blowing away and singing at the top of my lungs to the radio.
Out of the corner of my left eye I saw a truck passing me. My heart caught in my throat as I looked in from of me because there was no room for him to go especially at the rate of speed he was traveling. This truck passed me as if I was standing still so I slowed down allowing room for him between me and the cyclist.
This JERKHOLE was going so fast that he didn't immediately slow down. He had to run of the shoulder and slam on his breaks 2 or 3 times so as not to run into the bikers. And even after doing that he was still tailgating them. From behind it looked as if he wss inches away from the 2 bikes directly in front of me. You would think with narrow roads, blind curves Mr Jerkhole would have caught a clue and slowed his row. But nooo, not mr Jerkhole. As soon as an oncoming car passed he ,not even fully in the oncoming lane passed the two bikers he was tailgating and jumped in front of the next group of bikers. When he passed he was very close to the bikes he was passing. I couldn't believe how dangerous this guy was driving. I kind of kept a distance waiting for him to make another dumb-ass move.

We drove without further incident until we got to the main intersection that would direct us back into the Ogden Canyon.

What happened next was like scene from a movie: One of the motorcyclist slowly road up to the side of the truck and said something to the truck driver. Next thing I know the a fist comes flying out of the truck. The biker backed up so as not to get hit. Then dude started backing his truck and then turns towards the one biker who scrambles out of the way. Then the truck turns and starts reversing towards the other group of bikers in front of my car. They have to scramble and reverse out of the way which means the truck is now backing up towards me.

IT JUST GOT PERSONAL! I was minding my own business trying to stay out of other people's business but this Dumb-ass just put me in their business.The truck suddenly stops and dude jumps out and charges the bikers and starts swinging on them.
I guess I got my other dumb-ass move. One of the bikers took one swing and then blood all over. By this time the intersection is blocked: Because dumb-ass' truck blocked most of the road, and cars were stopping to call the police and stop the fighting. Dumb-ass truck driver suddenly jumps back in his truck and drives away. I pull my car as much as I can to the shoulder and flip my hazards on. Another spectator called 911. We gathered on the side of the road waiting for authorities to show up. I decided if police were getting involved I wanted to be a witness.

Someone from the parks and forest services showed up first. He got the details of the situation and radio'd the Sheriff's department. He asked everyone who had stopped what the situation was. Most stopped because of the fighting in the middle of the intersection. Since I saw everything from the time jerkhole passed me until the time he pulled away hw asked if I would stay to give my statement to the police. I didn't have one problem getting someone like that off the roads, before he kills someone. I was able to get some of what happened on my camera.
Within a few minutes a police showed up and everyone began to relay the experience to him. He let us know they were able to find Dumb-ass and he was in police custody down the street at the Chevron and asked if we all wouldn't mind driving down there to speak to the over officers.
We drove to the Chevron and there was a paramedic, firetruck, police car and a man in hand cuff's around the side of the building.


(Dumb-ass is being blocked by the officer giving him a drink of water)

The officer who was with us at the intersection went and spoke to the officers who had dumb-ass in cuff's around the other side of the building. After a few moments he asked to speak to me and wanted to know what I witnessed. I relayed to him what happened. After asking the group if they wanted to press charges he asked if I could give an official statement. I agreed. It appears Dumb-ass said the reason he jumped out of his truck was because the biker who rolled up to his window threw a punch at him.
Does this make sense to you: A man sitting on a motorcycle sitting at least 2 feet lower and 3ft away throwing a punch at someone in 1/4 ton pick up truck? I DON'T THINK SO!
The officer agreed. In time 2 other officers would come and ask me again to relay to them what happened. Each time they asked me if I was sure Dumb-ass threw the first punch. Dumb-ass jumped out of his truck swinging. There was really no question who the aggressor was. The motorcyclists were pretty much on their bikes the whole time until he started swinging on the 2 women. I believe the Biker who connected to his fist to dumb-ass' nose was on his bike when he did it. (but I'm willing to be wrong)
Finally 2.5 hours later the police had the evidence and statements they needed make their reports. They asked me to be prepared to be summons back to Huntsville if dumb-ass keeps being a dumb-ass. I'm prepared to do that. Because we also find out during this whole process Dumb-ass had an "opened container." While driving. WOW, REALLY! BONUS! That's just icing in the Dumb-ass cake if you ask me.
I think most people would have just went along their merry way with a story to tell. I believe if more people stopped minding their own business when things like this happened the country wouldn't be going to hell. We have an obligation to stand up to those dumb-asses in the world and let them know we're not going to just stand down and let them get away with stuff like this. All the devil needs to get ahead in this world is for good people to stand around... and do nothing.
The good thing about this whole incident?

I met some really cool people, who, just like me, were Cruisin, on a Sunday afternoon!

Cruizin... On A Sunday Afternoon...! Part I

Woke up to a beautiful Sabbath on 8/21/2011. Got my praise one in the morning and decided to take a little road trip. What better way to remember the Lord than to be out in his country enjoying his creations. I jumped on I-15 and headed north. No particular place in mind. Just the desire to soak up the last bit of the weekend before the Monday grind. I found myself headed toward Ogden. I’d heard of a camping location up that way and wanted to check it out. Before hand I kind of just drove around the city and the neighborhood where at family home sits. After my quick tour of the city I headed East toward Ogden Canyon. If you’ve never taken this drive you gotta do it. Not only is it a gorgeous view it has elements of danger: Sharp curves, falling rocks…not just rocks… boulders from the eroding mountain ranges from above that have landed in the road and moved to the side.

I hoped this particular road trip was going to be an adventure. The plan was to just go where I have never been before and see where I end up. There’s road construction going into the canyon which is always a delightful joy. Once you get passed it the drive is quite refreshing. This will not be a boring drive and will keep you on your toes.

I came upon a place called Pine View Reservoir and a camping ground Called Anderson Cover. This will become a spot on my list of places to go camping. Its beautiful with the lakes in the background. I had seen the Reservoir and the dam before, but never went passed it. Little did I know I was selling myself short. I have sense learned there is great adventure in the phrase…” let’s just keep going and see what’s up ahead!” That’s exactly what I did. I continued passed Anderson Cove and decided to take the next left turn that came around. The left turn had me then headed north. I traveled North for a small while and decided North looked boring and decided to turn at the next intersection. I took a left and was immediately fascinated by the building and the signs I saw.



I had hit the little town of Huntsville, Ut. I parked my care at Huntsville Square, grabbed my camera and started talking. The air was hot but there was a cool breeze dancing around the sleeves of my blouse causing them to tickle my arm.
I passed a dentist office that looked as if it was façade from “Little House On The Prairie” and right next to it was a bbq house.




I turned the corner and across the street was a small building: Ogden Valley Community Church. I was small and cozy. Visions of a 1 room chapel danced across my mind .

I continued down the block and across the street and before me was the Shooting Star Saloon lined with Motorcycles with laughter and music floating outside from the windows.





Then I turned the corner I saw more of the “Walnut Grove” houses with rustic relics on the houses and in the well manicured lawns. It was truly a step into Norman Rockwell-ville and Old school Americana. I was content and a peace with myself and the world.





I walked the streets and drove the neighborhood and encountered horses,



beautiful lake front homes,





an elderly woman in Pajama’s walking down the street with empty water containers



and a tiny vegetable stand with summer and zucchini squash on it next to a sign with the word “FREE” next to it!





For a moment I wished it was my neighborhood. After about an hour of peaceful roaming I headed back to the intersection that led me to this place and decided to see what the East side has in store for me. The roads were windy and reminded me of the snake river. Along the way there were several turn outs for Camping sites. Cache National Forest: Magpie, Monte Cristo, South fork, perception park, Meadows, Willow.... some of the places were very dense with trees and brush. Once again getting restless with the winding of the road, I decided to turn off at the next main intersection.

But instead I got off on a turn out and headed up a steep incline. The road is immediately narrow with very little visibility in front of me because of the winding around the side of the mountain. A little bit nervous, I press the gas. I'm in intrigued as to where this road will take me. There's a turn out to the right that levels off to less dangerously entry way and I can see several cars parked on what seems to be ledge. Of course I continue up the narrow steep incline. On the passenger side of me, a rail and a steep drop off. On the driver's side the oncoming traffic lane and a mountain. For the most part very little shoulder on each side.

One Thing you learn when traveling narrow mountain roads: You gotta commit! There is no u turning in situations like this and backing up it out of the question. When faced with this kind of thing, you must be sure you are willing to go the distance because the only way out is whatever way you find at the end of the road, sometimes you get a place to turn around on the other end, sometimes the road takes you a scenic byway that ends across the state line. Personally I recommend exploring every wrong turn because it may actually a correct turn. In my case, it was.
I crested a hill and spotted a place with a small shoulder to the side and decided to pull of and see what was over the side of the cliff I was driving on. What I found was absolutely breath taking.











I couldn't stop taking pictures of this place.
I jumped in the car and continued on anxious to see more










<


I looked around and finally got some inkling of where I was:



Still No idea where I was at this point. That Sign meant nothing to me! I lingered at this location for a while and walked down a dirt path to the bridge where the water fall was. I stood on the bridge enjoying the breeze and the mist of the water.

(crystal clear water)



(Off the bridge over the waterfall)

After walking around soaking up the Sun and taking in the Scenery, I recognized it was getting late and I probably needed to head back down to Salt Lake. Much to my reluctance I jumped back into my car and began to head home. It was a perfect day of solitude and peace... UNTIL...(to be continued)