Day 36 - 60 Miles to Riverside, WY

Monday, June 30 - Rawlins, WY to Riverside, WY, 60 miles, after sleeping in to 7:15 and leaving at about 9:45. 1,930 total miles. Today was my first time cycling on the Interstate. I had to go about 13 miles on I-80 out of Sinclair, WY - no other roads; it was noisy, it was good to get off. Continued barren and desolate 'til Saratoga (40 mi.) where we began to see trees and some green grass. We saw at least 92 antelope, mostly on the 20-mile highway into Saratoga. Also saw a bald eagle, an osprey, and white American pelicans near Saratoga. We found a nice campsite, shade trees, too, beside the Encampment River, Riverside, WY - elevation 7,260, pop. 59. Kathy prepared sliced potatoes & onions and a veggie mix cooked in aluminum foil next to a couple of steaks. Yum!! Thundershower missed us. Eating shouldn't be this good!! I'm sure enjoying it while I can. A bit of trivia. I lost 5 lbs. in the first 4 weeks despite eating huge portions. That's what happens when more calories are burned pedaling than are taken in eating. Bring on the chow!

Thanks for all the comments and encouragement. Time and internet access don't permit me to acknowledge comments on the road. I do read them and I love hearing from all of you. Thanks!!! --Tom

Day 35 - Unintended Century - 123 Miles

June 29 - Lander to Rawlins, 123 miles, my second century and longest century by 11 miles. I left Lander at 8:00 and rode 55 miles until Kathy caught up with me. She had gone for a walk and grocery shopping for our intended camp at Jeffrey City campground at mile 63. Well, Jeffrey City was all boarded up except for a small bar and what may have been a small motel. The only thing missing from the scene was tumbleweed blowing down the street. We decided to move on from this uninviting place 22 miles to Muddy Gap. Nothing there but Kathy got permission to camp in a guy's front yard. Picture a trailer (his home) and gravel and sage brush front yard without a tree within 50 miles. On to the next option - Grandma's Cafe 11 miles down the road - closed. I met Kathy there and told Kathy "I can do Rawlins" another 40 miles. She suggested a KOA campsite. I said a "Comfort Inn" with cold air conditioning sounded better after 123 miles. Done!

I had an unexpected 1,000-foot climb late morning and crossed the Continental Divide twice in the afternoon. I took nutritional aid from Kathy twice late afternoon, otherwise, pedaled my 70-pound rig & ate & drank from my supplies. Water was available sparingly along the way; at Muddy Gap gas station, I had a chocolate ice cream bar and an iced green tea. Ate peanut butter bagel for lunch and during the day had 3 apples, 10 Fig Newtons, 3 or 4 bananas, 2 Gatorades, and lots of water. During the day I crossed the Great Divide Basin, a vast, seemingly barren and desolate area. Not a cloud in the sky, temp in mid 80s. Used lots of SPF 70 and chapstick for lips. Fairly certain I saw wild horses today far from any ranch on Bureau of Land Management (BLM land). Saw a couple dozen antelope. It was a fine day and I felt good at the end of it.

Day 34 - 72 Miles to Lander

June 28, Day 34, ending the day at Lander, WY (pop. 6867), after 72 miles today, 1,747 total miles. Those miles were hard gained with a steady head wind - in dramatic contrast to yesterday's, dreamy tail winds! It amazes me to see how much the topography can change day to day. We had mostly high desert plains as we passed through the Wind River [Shoshone] Indian Reservation. Some might describe the landscape as barren and desolate. I loved the raw beauty and muted colors. When stopped, the silence was profound. Saw two antelope and one deer, and a variety of interesting birds. I'm told there are wild horses in the area, and I may have seen some, but how do you know if the horses are wild or belong to the ranch ten miles back? Tidbits: Remember me losing my cell phone on the third day. I was talking to a bicycle touring couple on Monday at Flagg Ranch while waiting for Kathy. We were discussing one of the biggest challenges, that is staying organized and not misplacing/losing things. Well, I mentioned losing my cell phone and they said they had lost their phone on their third day out. Then they mentioned finding several cell phones along the road. Today I found my first cell phone on the side of the road, and ironically it was the same model as the one I had lost. At breakfast this morning I received the now standard "large pancake" warning, and I gave my standard reply, "Bring 'em on!" That's it for now. It's great to be "back on the Road Again..." Mass tonight at Holy Rosary. --Tom

Day 33 - 54 Miles to Dubois

Friday, June 27 - Total to date 1,675 miles. Finished at Dubois, WY camping by the Wind River. Climbed through 9.658-foot Togwotee Pass. Plenty of snow remains. Good tail wind to Dubois. Saw 4 deer early on. Dinner at the Cowboy Cafe. Disclosure statement: some of you may be wondering if I am still riding a 105-pound rig or if I'm slack packing. I'm "letting" Kathy carry about 35 pounds of unnecessary gear leaving me pushing 70 pounds over the mountains. Truth is, next week when we part at Pubelo, I'm sending cold weather gear and other stuff back with her. So, I guess I'm pseudo slack-packing.

Grand Teton Hiking Day - No Biking Miles

No biking today (Thursday) but total so far is 1,621 miles. Back on the road tomorrow. We went to Grand Teton National Park which is close to Jackson, Wyoming & hiked a 6.6 mile trail along Jenny Lake. The Tetons are so spectacular with snow covering the peaks. Wildlife seen included marmot (sunbathing), deer, merganzer duck, ravens, and a squirrel. Jenny Lake is crystal clear.

Haven't talked about food lately but it's been good eating - trout & salmon dinner on Monday at Flagg Ranch Restaurant, lasagna & manicotti dinners at Pete's Pizza & Pasta on Tuesday in West Yellowstone, the best pancakes ever (buttermilk & blueberry buckwheat) at Running Bear Pancake house Wed. morning (Kathy ate bacon & eggs), shrimp & spinach quesadilas for both of us at Merry Piglets in Jackson last nite, black bean soup, elk chili, salad, and cornbread at Signal Mt. Lodge in the Tetons for lunch, and beef brisket sandwich, potato salad, barbecue chicken, and coleslaw at Bubba's in Jackson for this evening's dinner.

Met Richard Edwards from Farragut in Yellowstone on Tuesday. It seems that most people fly to Denver, Salt Lake City, or some other "nearby" city and rent cars rather than drive the long distance to get to Yellowstone & the Grand Tetons.

The Grand Teton from Jenny Lake Hike

Not All the Beauty Has Been on the Grand Scale - Flower at Grand Teton