Travels with Samantha Slide Show Page 20

It was with a slightly heavy heart that I began my trek back east through the Oregon plains

[BIG] in late August.

I rushed through Boise then down the most desolate stretch of Interstate I can recall and arrived at the Mormon Temple ready to ask lots of questions about polygamy .

David, a retired Salt Laker, and his son Doug, an engineer from California, sat next to me. They were quite anxious for me to join the 8.5 million Mormons, as was Doug's wife Sue, a convert 23 years ago (and now mother of six).

"We like Jews, especially Israeli Jews, and pray for the Jews to return to Israel because that brings Jesus closer."

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Driving through coal mine country

brought me to the hedonism capital of Utah, Moab.

This is the home of the fabled Slickrock mountain biking trail where people come from as far as Holland to face the challenge of staying out of Negro Bill Canyon [BIG].

Moab is convenient to guess which national park [BIG] [BIG] [BIG] [BIG] [BIG]

Her Isuzu Trooper loaded with bike and camping gear, Lisa sat on a streamside rock reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Only about 15% of her elfin tawny body was covered with shorts and halter top.

Lisa has been out of college for three years and wants to do something with her degree but can't get the travel bug out of her system.

"I can save $5000 in one winter waitressing in Vail. Then I'm off. My first trip was a $600 five-month tour of France, England, and Ireland. I hitch-hiked with ex-cons, stowed away on ferries, and ate spaghetti and porridge until it made me sick to look at either again."

Was she alone?

"Just as I was leaving the U.S., my friend Brett said `I've always wanted to do that.' He quit his law firm and came with me. We were barely speaking to each other after a few months. He was always flaunting his Yale degree but never really impressed me or anyone else with his learning or intelligence.

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