Three day catch up - Jackson, Wy, Dubois, Riverton, WY

Have not had a chance to update since leaving Idaho Falls, ID. The last three days have been challenging and by the time I got into Jackson, WY I was so whipped that I just couldn’t do the computer thing. I had to take a break. Another thing was that the Internet connections in Jackson, and Dubois were bad. I couldn’t get online. I could have written my journal into a Word Document and posted them today, but honestly I just needed a break. I did not sleep well the night in Jackson Hole because I made a big mistake by drinking a very large glass of iced tea at dinner. It didn’t dawn on me that I would have a terrible time with the (even small) amount of caffeine that it had. I could not fall asleep for several hours, and that alarm went off at 4:00 AM – a short night. I get up at either 4 or 4:30 everyday. So it is a real rush to get everything done everyday – and this posting of the photos and blog takes over an hour of my time. I turn the lights out by no later than 8:00 PM. Last night it was 7:30 PM and I got a good nights rest for today’s ride.

The ride from Idaho Falls, ID to Jackson, WY went better than I expected. I was totally trashed doing that 88 miles back in 2001. Just knowing what was ahead really helped. I stopped for a good lunch before the big steep climb and that helped a lot. A lot of people were saying that it was the toughest challenge they have ever done in their life. Yesterday was another day of hot weather. But seeing the Teton mountain range is just incredible. Pictures cannot express the beauty. God really out did himself with this one. And seeing it on a bicycle is just the very best possible way to go by these mountains. After crossing the Continental Divide it was downhill all the way into Dubois. Only bad part was 14 miles of road that was all tore up – it was shake and bake and rattle and roll all the way in. Several stopped at a small local café along side the road. The cook had just brought from the oven fresh made cobblers and pie. I had a piece of cherry pie that was to die for! She also had just made a pan of cornbread to go with her freshly made chili soup. Some ate that and said it was the best. Last night was pretty interesting in this cowboy town. I guess the square dancing ended at 2:00 AM. There was no air conditioning in this small Stagecoach Motel. So we just opened our windows and it wasn’t long before the higher altitude air cooled the place down just fine. Except the fireworks were a bit loud – some said. I was so tired I fell asleep by 7:30 PM and never heard a thing until the alarm at 4:00 this morning. We ate a 6:00 breakfast at the Cowboy Café. Another hole in the wall local eatery. I just love these local folk places. They make the best. Those hearty pancakes and oatmeal got me through today. I was averaging 18.8 mph for the first 30 miles this morning! What a ride! I left the SAG stop at 30-mile mark and continued to ride strong – but then 8 miles from the second SAG (mile 54) a cable that leads to the back derailleur BROKE. So there I was in my 52-chain ring and my 12-cassette ring for 8 miles. This gear combination is the hardest of all the gearing. I could not shift the back at all and had to stay in that gear. Thanks are to God that mechanic Jim rolled into the SAG stop about 1 minute after I got there. He had one more cable left. And in about 20 minutes he had the bike back in good shifting condition once again. What would I have ever done without the wonderful support of this touring team? They are the best. I continued on into Riverton, WY getting here just after 11:30 AM. That was 80 miles of riding. Coming into town I saw a sign for a Chiropractic office and Massage. I stopped in and begged for a massage appointment. I was in luck; the masseuse had a 2:45 appointment open. I had time to go the last 2 miles to the Comfort Inn, shower, get something to eat and go back for the very relaxing massage. I’m all set now for the 120 miles to Casper, WY tomorrow. That was my very toughest day of all during my 2001 trip. The WIND out here in Wyoming is brutal. Could ya all say a prayer to God that my spirit remains high tomorrow, and I won’t feel defeated when I am pedaling against this wind! It would be a total miracle if the wind would come from the west tomorrow and blow us into Casper. A much needed rest day on Friday.