Jacob Lake, 2010.
2 buddies and I are on an epic around the continent tour. We've already been on the road for about 2 weeks of a 3 week trip. The one and only reservation for the entire trip I made was at Jacob Lake. This reservation was made a month before our departure date.
We ride UT12 and are in Bryce. My head is pounding, days riding in a heatwave, dipping in and out of dehydration are taking its toll on me. Hey, I'm Canadian. I don't 'do' hot. I do cold. Anyway, I choose to miss Zion and head straight down 89A to the North Rim to Jacob Lake and get myself right. The other 2 will show later in the evening after Zion.
I get to Jacob Lake after crossing the desert only to find the parking lot full of tour buses. I am told at the front desk that I have no reservation. I give them the confirmation number. No Reservation, and they are full. I was bumped. Nice. I'm not happy. I ask if their is a campground nearby.
"Yes, but you don't want to stay there"
"Why not"
"They have a tarantula problem"
Moose, bears, wolves, badgers, black flies all no problem. Tarantulas. Ya, I'm out.
I hop on the bike and blast North across the desert again on 89A into Kanab UT. I get the last room at the hotel. I text my buddies theirs a change of plans. I text them the hotel and room number.
They show up a little after 1 am after riding about 18hrs in the heat.
Fun times!
The next day we rode about 600 miles to Taos NM. After stopping at the North Rim for 45 minutes.
Damn, I need another trip like that!