Day 28, June 27... Midway regroup. Home

Day 28, Hot Sulphur Springs to Dillon,  60 Miles
Sort of a short day...  Decided to head home to take care of some things on the home front.  The day started pretty darn chilly, I think it was about 40 when I left the Ute Trail Motel.  Quick breakfast then off to Kremmling.  Calm winds this morning made for a 'easy' 17 miles into Kremmling.  Then headed south towards Silverthorne.  Met Chris (www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/ChrisBestLife) on the way around Green Mtn Reservoir.  He's traveling E-W and started almost two months ago.  As I left the reservoir, winds shifted to the south and made the last 20 miles into Silverthorne the same as the last three days.  grinding.  Ran out of H20 just out of Silverthorne as it had warmed significantly.  I went to the REI in Dillon where my friend Justin works in the bike shop and hung out until Shannon made the trip out to pick me up about 7:45pm.  Very weird traveling in a car at 70 mph, when the fastest you gone on occasion is 40-45mph.

Good Morning from Kremmling!

The last I'll see of the mighty Colorado River

Christopher Laskey

Days 26 & 27, So close, yet so far. Almost home...

Day 26, Rawlins to 6 Mile Gap Campground, 85 miles
Contrast of days.  Only 11.4 mph average today.  Today started with a bang.  Headwinds.  Had to ride in the interstate too, which was under construction.   Bad situation.  Eventually moved to the closed side whether or not it was legal.   Headed south through Saratoga and Riverside.  There is a whole lot of nothing out here.  Finally had to call it at the 6 mile CG.  2 miles of washboard road to get there.  Glad it didnt rain overnight.  You know your camped in a wetland when wild irises are growing in your campsite.

Day 27, 6 mile to Hot Sulphur Springs, 90 miles
Another day with a lot of prairies.  And headwinds...  Left the campground on washboard dirt.  Sort of calm to start, but 5 miles in.  Yup headwinds again.  Entered Colorado.  Grind against the wind all the way to Walden.  Ate another breakfast.  Grind away until Rand.  A two building town that was 10 miles from Willow Creek Pass.  A reprieve from the wind as I entered forests..  yey!  Nice downhill to Granby jct, then more grinding against the wind to Hot Sulphur Springs.

Days 23, 24 & 25, Grinding away

Day 23,  Coulter Bay to Dubois, 68 Miles
Chilly start to the day.  Frost on the tent and bike.  Glad to have a good sleeping bag.  Ate an expensive buffet breakfast because of the cold.  But I needed energy for the pass today...  about 20 miles in, started the grind up Togwotee Pass.  This was by far the longest and most vertical gain so far.  Like the message board...  luckily no bears.  Made it to Dubois and went to the bighorn sheep center.  Stayed at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church.  Another guy named Roger stayed.  Kinda a strange guy.  Not sure his story.

Day 24,  Dubois to Lander, 80 miles.
Roger woke me up at 5:45am.  So I decided I might as well get up since was making noise.  Ate breakfast at the church and left just before 7am.  Most of this ride was through the wind river indian reservation.  Huge tailwind all the way to Fort Washakie.  Avg 17.6mph.  Went to see the memorial for Sacajawea.  Slight headwind into Lander.  Stayed with another warmshower host.   Really nice folks, Beth & Dave.  Met up with the Payans for the evening as they were in town to climb.

Day 25, Lander to Rawlins., 126 miles
The big push.  Forecasted NNW high winds didn't pan out.  Winds 25-35 out of the west...  Left Lander a little after 8.  This is a pretty desolate stretch.  It's either a 60 mile day or 125 mile day.  Not too much options.  Decided to test my mettle...  went over 3 high points, 2 were the continental divide.   Got to Rawlins about 7:30.  Opted for a hotel.  $$$

Day 20, 21 & 22. Summer? Hmmm

Day 20, Twin Bridges to Driftwater Resort, 83 miles
Rode with Bob for a while then headed on by myself.  Met a few folks along the way, some touring, some just enthusiasts.  Climb out of Virginia City was steep for a ways.  Great downhill into Ennis, then headwinds hit.  Stopped in Cameron to use a bathroom and was denied.  Should have just gone on there porch.   Used a sign down the road.   Not a tree on sight....
Then the storms came.  Hung out at palisades  campground bit left prematurely.   Hit rain for two miles and found shelter in a rest area again.  Finally made it to Driftwater Resort.

Day 21, Driftwater to Madison CG. 49 miles
Called the Old Faithful Inn, to see if the had any broom closets for cyclist.  Nope, but a room for $400.  Battled headwinds most of the day anyway.  Bike camp had 5 other bikers in it.  No one headed East on the TA however.   Got cold in the evening.   Entered Wyoming today!

Day 22, Madison CG to Colter Bay,  77 miles
Woke to some snow and cold this morning.  This is June 21st, Summer!  Rolled through Yellowstone and saw some geysers and animals.  Over the continental divide three times today, only hailed on once.  Wore tights and a jacket all day, 38 degrees on the divide.  Left Yellowstone and into Grand Teton NP.  Sun broke out for the first views of the Tetons.  In Colter Bay tonight.

Days 17, 18 & 19 Challenges

Day 17, Missoula to Sula Camp, 83 miles
Warm and nice day.  Saw the ACA Montana tour today.  Sula Camp was anotheroasis, but the mosquitoes were pretty bad.  As usual restaurant was closed....

Day 18, Sula Camp to Jackson, MT,  60 miles
Today started with a climb up to Chief Joseph Pass, then a nice downhill toward Big Hole National Monument.  Met up with the Adventure Cycling Association group leaders at water and rest stops.  Headed to Wisdom when big storms started coming.  Got to Jackson, but wasn't willing to do the next 50 miles with no cover or services.  An offer from the ACA to stay with them was very nice.  I think I made the right decision.

Day 19, Jackson to Twin Bridges, 77 miles
Had a great breakfast with the ACA crew and headed off to the first pass.  Not too bad climbing.  Said goodbye to the ACA group as they turned off the Trans Am.  Outside Dillon, passed Bob, who I'd met in Missoula.  We stayed at the Bill White bike camp in Twin Bridges.  Shower with building and restaurant in town.  I didnt sleep that well for whatever reason.