Day 32
July 2, 2005
Today started out much like every other day. We got up, broke down camp, and headed over for breakfast. Paul and Jonathan, the other cyclist camping with us last night, got off a bit earlier than the rest of us, so the Carolyn, the Kiwis, and I enjoyed breakfast at the Cowboy before taking off.
The 30 miles coming out of Dubois were the best of the trip by far. We rode through the Wind Valley which packed the best tail wind we could have ever asked for. We averaged little over 20 mph with minimal effort and got to the next stop in an hour and a half. I managed to shred my rear tire on the way up one of the hills during the ride. Thankfully Jackson took command and changed it out in record time. It was a really great stretch.
When we got to the little gas station, Paul and Jonathan were enjoying a little snack as they rested. About ten minutes after we arrived, Carolyn pulled up and joined in the rest stop.
We each filed back onto the road one by one. I hung around and chatted with Carolyn a bit before firing up the MP3 player and hitting the road myself. The tailwind stuck with me for about 10 miles after the little pit stop. And there really is nothing quite like riding a great tailwind. Just sitting up on the saddle, making yourself as big as possible, letting your open hands fall to your side to catch even more air; I’d spin up to around 30mph and then sit back and let the wind carry me. It was awesome. Shortly before the road turned, I passed Bob heading in the opposite direction. I asked him what it was like to be riding into the beastly gusts and he said he wasn’t going to complain since he had had such a great trip up to that point. I told him he was a better man than me, I can’t stand riding into the wind.
Bob started in Delaware and was headed to the west coast. He’s going to ride down the 101 along the Pacific Coast and then head back east along the southern tier. He said he hopes to make it back to catch the last half of his little girl’s soccer season. He was inspired to make the trip when one of his friends lost a leg in an accident. We chatted about the little things that are easily taken for granted, wished each other luck, and kept moving.
The road turned right shortly after my chat with Bob, which meant I was now fighting a crosswind. I didn’t find it as bad as the others would later describe. I just downshifted, turned up the music, and kept spinning.
We finally pulled into Lander and made our way to the city park where there was to be free camping with nearby showers at the public pool. It didn’t quite work out as planned. The showers were ten blocks away and closed, and the other option of a RV park was on the way out of town with showers. So we opted for the RV park. We lost Jonathan with the decision, and had no way of getting in touch with Carolyn to let here know where we were. She was talking about getting a motel, so we figured that’s what she did after the long second half of fighting the wind.
We got set up at the RV park and set out for dinner. We ended up going to a great little Mexican restaurant. While we were there, the trio continued concocting their plans to hitch a ride to Rawlins.
The 120-mile stretch from Lander to Rawlins has no towns with decent accommodations. The English couple on the tandem a few days prior gave us a nice awful description of ride; it didn’t sound too good. As we were setting up our tents Paul tossed out the idea to hitch a ride to Lander and skip the whole debacle. I right away told them I wouldn’t be able to do that, I was in it for the long haul. But as they mulled it over, the half-joke took shape and became a reality.
As we were eating, Jackson said they could take my load and I could make the whole trip in one shot. Of course that got the wheels turning, and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it. By the end of dinner I set my mind on making the long haul.
When we got back to the campground, they went into the office to solidify the plans for the ride to Rawlins and found the lady had quoted them the wrong price. It was now double the cost and they weren’t willing to pay that much. I was back in limbo, not sure of how the next day would shape up.
We locked down for the night and I planned to hang out with them in the morning and see if they’d get their ride to Rawlins.
Day 32: 76.58 Total: 1,453.76
Today started out much like every other day. We got up, broke down camp, and headed over for breakfast. Paul and Jonathan, the other cyclist camping with us last night, got off a bit earlier than the rest of us, so the Carolyn, the Kiwis, and I enjoyed breakfast at the Cowboy before taking off.
The 30 miles coming out of Dubois were the best of the trip by far. We rode through the Wind Valley which packed the best tail wind we could have ever asked for. We averaged little over 20 mph with minimal effort and got to the next stop in an hour and a half. I managed to shred my rear tire on the way up one of the hills during the ride. Thankfully Jackson took command and changed it out in record time. It was a really great stretch.
When we got to the little gas station, Paul and Jonathan were enjoying a little snack as they rested. About ten minutes after we arrived, Carolyn pulled up and joined in the rest stop.
We each filed back onto the road one by one. I hung around and chatted with Carolyn a bit before firing up the MP3 player and hitting the road myself. The tailwind stuck with me for about 10 miles after the little pit stop. And there really is nothing quite like riding a great tailwind. Just sitting up on the saddle, making yourself as big as possible, letting your open hands fall to your side to catch even more air; I’d spin up to around 30mph and then sit back and let the wind carry me. It was awesome. Shortly before the road turned, I passed Bob heading in the opposite direction. I asked him what it was like to be riding into the beastly gusts and he said he wasn’t going to complain since he had had such a great trip up to that point. I told him he was a better man than me, I can’t stand riding into the wind.
Bob started in Delaware and was headed to the west coast. He’s going to ride down the 101 along the Pacific Coast and then head back east along the southern tier. He said he hopes to make it back to catch the last half of his little girl’s soccer season. He was inspired to make the trip when one of his friends lost a leg in an accident. We chatted about the little things that are easily taken for granted, wished each other luck, and kept moving.
The road turned right shortly after my chat with Bob, which meant I was now fighting a crosswind. I didn’t find it as bad as the others would later describe. I just downshifted, turned up the music, and kept spinning.
We finally pulled into Lander and made our way to the city park where there was to be free camping with nearby showers at the public pool. It didn’t quite work out as planned. The showers were ten blocks away and closed, and the other option of a RV park was on the way out of town with showers. So we opted for the RV park. We lost Jonathan with the decision, and had no way of getting in touch with Carolyn to let here know where we were. She was talking about getting a motel, so we figured that’s what she did after the long second half of fighting the wind.
We got set up at the RV park and set out for dinner. We ended up going to a great little Mexican restaurant. While we were there, the trio continued concocting their plans to hitch a ride to Rawlins.
The 120-mile stretch from Lander to Rawlins has no towns with decent accommodations. The English couple on the tandem a few days prior gave us a nice awful description of ride; it didn’t sound too good. As we were setting up our tents Paul tossed out the idea to hitch a ride to Lander and skip the whole debacle. I right away told them I wouldn’t be able to do that, I was in it for the long haul. But as they mulled it over, the half-joke took shape and became a reality.
As we were eating, Jackson said they could take my load and I could make the whole trip in one shot. Of course that got the wheels turning, and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it. By the end of dinner I set my mind on making the long haul.
When we got back to the campground, they went into the office to solidify the plans for the ride to Rawlins and found the lady had quoted them the wrong price. It was now double the cost and they weren’t willing to pay that much. I was back in limbo, not sure of how the next day would shape up.
We locked down for the night and I planned to hang out with them in the morning and see if they’d get their ride to Rawlins.
Day 32: 76.58 Total: 1,453.76
posted by SuperByron3000 at 7/06/2005
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