JULY 23, Panguitch, Utah, to Cedar City, Utah, 60 miles via Utah Routes 143, 148 and 14. Average speed today, 10.6 mph. Total trip mileage to date, 3,096. Average daily mileage since June 1,  58.4.

Looming this morning was the highest remaining pass on the trip – a 10,000-foot summit between Panguitch and  Cedar City. We started at about 6:30 a.m. and in temperatures in the low 50s. But the highway began climbing right away and we warmed quickly.

Enjoyed a breakfast burrito at Panguitch Lake and pedaled on toward the summit at 8 mph. But a few miles from the pass a wildly bleating flock of  sheep blocked our way. No problem – Ben bike-herded strays out of the road and earned a bark of thanks from the resident sheep dog.

“You guys must be from Montana,” said a passing driver, impressed with out work.

Just short of the pass we enjoyed a catered lunch – turkey and ham sandwiches courtesy of Randy, who had visited Zion National Park as we had climbed. An hour later, near the Cedar Breaks National Monument entrance, we hit the summit and began a furious, 20-plus mile drop into Cedar City, our destination.

There we dropped the bikes off for a pre-Nevada mechanical check. I got a new chain and brake pads, but no major problems.