Day 10
June 10, 2005
What a day, I’m soaked. Well, not anymore, but I was – to the bone… Today was a “short day.” Toady I learned a “short day” doesn’t necessarily mean an “easy day.”
We got up, broke down camp, got a bite to eat and set out for New Meadows, 48 miles away. The first half of the day wasn’t too bad. We made descent time and stopped in Counsil for a little snack as lunch.
The past few days we’ve had great luck in finding little characters to just make the little towns that much more memorable. Today in Counsil we met two seven-year-old boys who had been friends since they were 3. They told us about where they lived, their families, sisters giving them “Mondo Wedgies,” how they beat their video game, Halo 2 – and most impressive, the one kid told us a great story of how he and his Dad took 7 people up in his helicopter, which he hand built with the help of 63 people, for a tour of the area. Unfortunately, the blades caught some trees and everyone died except him and his Dad, they were they only ones able to jump out. When we asked if it was in the news or anything he said no, and he wasn’t supposed to tell anyone about it. We thought it might be a good time to take away the video games for a while.
As we got back on the road to knock out the remaining 24 miles to New Meadows, my knee started giving me real problems.
I never mentioned it, but ever since the hundred-mile, century day to Baker, my knee has been growing increasingly more irritable. Today, coming out of Counsil, it was quite painful. A sharp pain came to my left knee every time I’d dip into the lowest part of the stroke with my leg almost fully extended. I thought about stopping and adjusting the saddle but figured it was probably a problem that would need more attention than that. Instead, I just popped three Ibuprofen, prayed, and hobbled up the road.
Thankfully, the pain subsided a little ways down the road, I felt good enough to get to New Meadow. I felt relatively good, however, the stretch from Counsil to New Meadow was the longest 24-mile ride ever. There was another pretty strong headwind to fight in addition to the hills on the way. I just can’t wait to get out of the hills, they’re pretty but they can really be rough sometimes. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a while.
Little over halfway to town I met Kaye, an older lady making the trip east as well. She started in Florence on May 18th and is leisurely making her way. She is very nice and was a pleasure to talk to. I told her of my knee problems and she told me one of her friends had to quit in Kansas because his knee hurt so badly. I was thinking about taking the day off tomorrow, and after talking with Kaye, I was sure of it. Sadly, that meant I’d have to day goodbye to the guys.
About 6 miles from New Meadow the drizzle came back. About a mile after that, the rain came for the first time of the trip. All the “precip” that had come before today’s shower had been, at most, a steady little nasty drizzle; today it flat out rained. After three minutes I was drenched, but then I didn’t care, it was good. I was soaked, making my way up the last hill before the drop into town, when the onslaught of eighteen-wheelers added their spray to the violent rinse cycle I was already apart of. All I kept thinking was, “This has got to be what it feels like to be caught in a storm out at sea.”
When I got to New Meadow I rode around for five minutes looking for the guys, then went and checked into the Hartland Inn and Motel for a warm shower and refuge for the night. For the record, this is the nicest place I’ve stayed the whole trip. Nothing elaborate, just nice, clean lodging with real friendly owners.
I talked to my sister, took a shower, and headed to the Sagebrush restaurant for dinner. The food was great and I was just finishing dinner when the guys came in for their dinner. They were staying at the Methodist church up the road. They joined me and we enjoyed the live music of a man with his guitar and harmonica while we waited over an hour for their order. I ended up having some great, warm blackberry cobbler a la mode for dessert; great food, not-so-great service – but what are ya gonna do, right?
Over dinner I told the guys about my knee and how I was taking the day off tomorrow which meant the end of our long, glorious love affair. It was kinda sad to say goodbye to them. We will be in touch, but it’ll be rough getting back to riding solo again for a while. I’m sure I’ll meet up with some others somewhere along the way, we’ve been hearing of several groups of people on the trail.
But if you would, say a little prayer for my joints. Somehow I knew this was coming – stupid for going so hard so early... But I am feeling pretty good about taking a few days to get it all back on track, I don’t think I pushed it beyond the point of recovery. I will have to pack my pride though. To this point, one of the things I was pretty pleased with was how I hadn’t walked up any hills; I climbed them all on my bike. I think that might have to take a back seat here shortly, there are some ridiculous passes coming up between here and Missoula.
Stay tuned…
Today: 49.52 Total: 601.46
What a day, I’m soaked. Well, not anymore, but I was – to the bone… Today was a “short day.” Toady I learned a “short day” doesn’t necessarily mean an “easy day.”
We got up, broke down camp, got a bite to eat and set out for New Meadows, 48 miles away. The first half of the day wasn’t too bad. We made descent time and stopped in Counsil for a little snack as lunch.
The past few days we’ve had great luck in finding little characters to just make the little towns that much more memorable. Today in Counsil we met two seven-year-old boys who had been friends since they were 3. They told us about where they lived, their families, sisters giving them “Mondo Wedgies,” how they beat their video game, Halo 2 – and most impressive, the one kid told us a great story of how he and his Dad took 7 people up in his helicopter, which he hand built with the help of 63 people, for a tour of the area. Unfortunately, the blades caught some trees and everyone died except him and his Dad, they were they only ones able to jump out. When we asked if it was in the news or anything he said no, and he wasn’t supposed to tell anyone about it. We thought it might be a good time to take away the video games for a while.
As we got back on the road to knock out the remaining 24 miles to New Meadows, my knee started giving me real problems.
I never mentioned it, but ever since the hundred-mile, century day to Baker, my knee has been growing increasingly more irritable. Today, coming out of Counsil, it was quite painful. A sharp pain came to my left knee every time I’d dip into the lowest part of the stroke with my leg almost fully extended. I thought about stopping and adjusting the saddle but figured it was probably a problem that would need more attention than that. Instead, I just popped three Ibuprofen, prayed, and hobbled up the road.
Thankfully, the pain subsided a little ways down the road, I felt good enough to get to New Meadow. I felt relatively good, however, the stretch from Counsil to New Meadow was the longest 24-mile ride ever. There was another pretty strong headwind to fight in addition to the hills on the way. I just can’t wait to get out of the hills, they’re pretty but they can really be rough sometimes. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a while.
Little over halfway to town I met Kaye, an older lady making the trip east as well. She started in Florence on May 18th and is leisurely making her way. She is very nice and was a pleasure to talk to. I told her of my knee problems and she told me one of her friends had to quit in Kansas because his knee hurt so badly. I was thinking about taking the day off tomorrow, and after talking with Kaye, I was sure of it. Sadly, that meant I’d have to day goodbye to the guys.
About 6 miles from New Meadow the drizzle came back. About a mile after that, the rain came for the first time of the trip. All the “precip” that had come before today’s shower had been, at most, a steady little nasty drizzle; today it flat out rained. After three minutes I was drenched, but then I didn’t care, it was good. I was soaked, making my way up the last hill before the drop into town, when the onslaught of eighteen-wheelers added their spray to the violent rinse cycle I was already apart of. All I kept thinking was, “This has got to be what it feels like to be caught in a storm out at sea.”
When I got to New Meadow I rode around for five minutes looking for the guys, then went and checked into the Hartland Inn and Motel for a warm shower and refuge for the night. For the record, this is the nicest place I’ve stayed the whole trip. Nothing elaborate, just nice, clean lodging with real friendly owners.
I talked to my sister, took a shower, and headed to the Sagebrush restaurant for dinner. The food was great and I was just finishing dinner when the guys came in for their dinner. They were staying at the Methodist church up the road. They joined me and we enjoyed the live music of a man with his guitar and harmonica while we waited over an hour for their order. I ended up having some great, warm blackberry cobbler a la mode for dessert; great food, not-so-great service – but what are ya gonna do, right?
Over dinner I told the guys about my knee and how I was taking the day off tomorrow which meant the end of our long, glorious love affair. It was kinda sad to say goodbye to them. We will be in touch, but it’ll be rough getting back to riding solo again for a while. I’m sure I’ll meet up with some others somewhere along the way, we’ve been hearing of several groups of people on the trail.
But if you would, say a little prayer for my joints. Somehow I knew this was coming – stupid for going so hard so early... But I am feeling pretty good about taking a few days to get it all back on track, I don’t think I pushed it beyond the point of recovery. I will have to pack my pride though. To this point, one of the things I was pretty pleased with was how I hadn’t walked up any hills; I climbed them all on my bike. I think that might have to take a back seat here shortly, there are some ridiculous passes coming up between here and Missoula.
Stay tuned…
Today: 49.52 Total: 601.46
posted by SuperByron3000 at 6/11/2005
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