Blessed Beyond Measure

Grueling.   It actually wasn’t that bad, but that’s the first word that comes to mind.  Today we biked to Rand, CO.  It took us a long time to get there: over five hours of biking to go 57.2 miles.  Our slowest pace so far.   The day consisted of a slight climb compounded by a head wind.  During the day we had to stop once for a cattle drive, and twice for thunderstorms. We saw the first thunderstorm coming at us from our right.   It was dark and ominous.  We were four miles from the town of Cowdry, CO and we pedaled as fast as we could.  When we arrived we found that the town consisted of a half dozen houses and a very small post office.  With less than a minute to spare we dashed to the shelter of the post office.  There we spent over a half hour waiting out the storm.  Extremely high wind, thunder, driving rain, and hail.  So glad we didn't get caught on the road in that.   We were lucky, and happy.   The local postmaster was most hospitable as we waited it out in her tiny

(This is posted a day late due to lack of internet and cell phone service) Today we biked 72.6 miles from Rawlins, WY to east of Riverside, WY.   It was another good day for a ride, but the rest of this post is about thirteen very specific miles along today’s route. A few days ago we were looking ahead on our maps.   A practice we often do.   And then we saw it.   “What?   That can’t be right!”   According to our map we were to bike thirteen miles on a freeway.   Interstate 80 to be specific.   How can that be?   Isn’t it against the law to ride a bike on an interstate?   Isn’t it unsafe to ride a bike on an interstate?   But a closer look indicated that thirteen miles on I-80 from Sinclair, WY to Walcott, WY was indeed part of our “bike” route. As the day to ride the interstate grew closer we discussed it on occasion.   This morning I woke up and realized the dreaded day had arrived.   I began the morning by googling, “is it legal to ride on an interstate in Wyoming?”  

Today we started just east of Sweetwater Station, WY and biked 91.9 miles to Rawlins, WY.   On the way we crossed the Continental Divide twice. When we started today we didn’t intend to climb the second summit and we didn’t intend to ride 92 miles.   We told Bruce to drive toward us at 5:30 and when he found us that would be our stopping point for the day.   We thought that would be about 70 miles down the road and long before the second Continental Divide.   But we misjudged and by 3:45 we had already completed 70 miles. So why the push?   We keep telling ourselves we have no schedule.   It is not a race.   But when we get to a situation like the one described above it can quickly become a challenge to do more.   We have time, we feel good, the conditions are good, we have fuel in the tank (or Gatorade in the belly).   And the desire to prove to ourselves we can take the final summit and get all the way to Rawlins just takes over.   It feels good to take on the challenge that

Today we biked 77.8 miles from Crowheart, WY to five miles east of Sweetwater Station, WY.   We had not planned to bike that far, but once again we felt great when we arrived at our original end point, and so we asked Bruce to come get us wherever we are two hours further down the road. Throughout the entire day we could see mountains in the distance, but the terrain we traveled is best described as beautiful rolling hills.   Big rolling hills. When we self-assuredly told Bruce we wanted to bike another two hours, we completely forgot there was a 1,000-foot incline at the end.   Not expecting a climb, it seemed like it went on and on and on.   Each time we rounded another curve; there was some more incline.   It wasn’t until we got to the top and Bruce came to pick us up that we remembered, “Oh yeah, there’s a big incline somewhere on this road.”   But once we remembered that and realized we just got a big climb out of the way, there were full-size smiles all around.   Gratifi

Today was the tale of two different bike rides in one day, and both were wonderful: the climb and the descent. The Climb: The morning started cold and gray, but no rain, so I was happy.   Temps were in the 30’s as we began our climb up the second highest mountain we will face on this entire trip.   I was apprehensive to say the least.   Over the course of the next 20 miles we scaled almost 3,000 feet to the top of Togwotee Mountain, which is 9,658 feet high, and once again at the Continental Divide.   Before I knew it I had scaled 1,000 feet and I felt good.   I was surprised.   To make things even better there was a slight wind at my back, obviously making up for treating me so poorly a few days ago.   At 8,000 feet I could tell I was in thinner air, but it was easier than I expected.   I must have already built up some acclimation to the higher altitude.   When I reached the summit I was surprised by the ease of it all.   Don’t get me wrong – it was difficult.   But nothing cl

It’s raining, and it’s cold.   So after eight straight days of biking we are taking a day off.   It is probably for the best, as tomorrow our ride begins with a climb up the second highest mountain we will bike on this journey.   We will summit the Togwotee Pass, which is 9,658 feet high.   We are starting at about 6,700 feet so it will be almost a 3,000-foot climb.   Looking forward to seeing how we handle the climb with the added challenge of thinner air. It rained all day, and the clouds obstructed the view of the Tetons so we spent the afternoon loading up on supplies and food at Jackson Hole, WY.   Below are a couple pictures from last night’s cloudy, but still spectacular, sunset. Togwotee Pass – here we come.

Today I did not want our bike ride to end.   We rode 52 miles from Grant Village, WY to Moran, WY, which is just northeast of Jackson Hole.   Said another way: we biked 20 miles in Yellowstone National Park followed by 32 miles in Grand Teton National Park.   Riding along the mountain range of The Grand Tetons is by far the most majestic scenery thus far and I would be surprised if we see anything better.   If you have not seen The Grand Tetons put it on your to-do list.   Seriously – go experience them.   This summer if possible. The temps were in the 30’s and 40’s today so a bit brisk.   But I will take cold over wind or rain any day.   We are able to dress for the cold so we are very comfortable. We finished a little early today, providing time for a few other great experiences.   We are in an area that is sparsely populated and restaurants are few and far between.   But we stumbled onto a resort called The Signal Mountain Lodge, which has a couple restaurants.   We had gre

Today we biked 51.4 miles from West Yellowstone, MT to Grant Village, WY, which is in Yellowstone National Park.   We had hoped to bike the entire 71 miles through the park, but the wind finally took its toll on us.   Most of the day we had head winds or cross winds of up to 20 mph and occasional gusts greater than that.   It is the first day we have had significant wind.   I like mountains better because they have a summit and a descent.   One knows there will be an end at some point, and then a big reward.   The wind just mocks me all day. Yellowstone is a beautiful park and we saw a lot of wildlife.   We hadn’t been riding in the park for more than a half hour before we had to stop for Buffalo in the road.   I have been to Yellowstone previously and had to stop for buffalo that time also.   But it is a much different experience on a bike versus in a car.   By the way, it took me completely by surprise that Brian and I each had to pay a $15 fee to ride our bikes through Yellowst

We had another beautiful day.   Sunshine all day.   We were on a busy highway, but had a shoulder the majority of the time.   We biked 71.9 miles from Ennis, MT to West Yellowstone, MT. I thought today would be an easy ride.   We had no major climbs, just a gentle ascent over the course of the 71.9 miles.   But between the ascent, and a head wind of anywhere from 5 mph to 15 mph, the day became very challenging.   My body was sore and my legs felt like rubber.   I don’t know how else to explain it, my legs just seemed to have no ambition.   I am blaming it on the ascent being a little more than it appeared or the head wind having a bigger impact than I assumed.   Either way, it felt good to just get this day finished. Despite my legs slight mutiny, I was able to once again find beautiful distractions.   For a good portion of our ride we traveled alongside the Madison River and Hebgen Lake.    And we continued to view scenic mountains. Mountain range from beginning of toda