Day 26 started off slow and peaceful. I woke up rested, although I had to deal with yet another deflated air mattress during the night. I spent the morning patching a new set of pinholes, making breakfast, and relaxing by the river. My cough had improved noticeably, and I was excited to keep things light with a short ride ahead. Today also marked the start of a new chapter, I officially joined the Western Express Bicycle Route. It’s a welcome change to be on an established cycling route, with designated campgrounds, local bike shop listings, and loads of helpful resources curated by the folks at the Adventure Cycling Association. Their site, adventurecycling.org, is an amazing hub for anyone planning a long ride. I rolled out and immediately turned onto scenic Highway 12. The route climbed through Red Canyon, and it was absolutely gorgeous. A dedicated bike path paralleled the road through much of the canyon, winding between bright red rock walls and eroded sandstone cliffs. This was the kind of riding I had imagined when dreaming up this tour. At the top of the canyon, I stopped at a small sandwich shop for lunch, then began a long descent past Bryce Canyon and toward Capitol Reef. After just over 30 miles, I rolled into the town of Cannonville and grabbed a campsite listed along the bicycle route.