The sun is a powerful force everywhere on the planet, but you feel it more in the desert. Riding the White Rim Road through Canyonlands National Park in Utah, you quickly discover that there's not much shade during the day and you really have to have good, warm layers for the night. We rode up until sunset, and I'd breathe a sigh of relief when the sun would finally dip behind the horizon because it meant the heat and exhaustion of the day could melt away into the cold of the night. Then, in the morning, burrowed in my sleeping bag, I'd eagerly await the sun's rays to finally hit my body again. When they finally did, it was like being plugged in. Batteries sufficiently charged for the night, ready for another day.