The 106 mile ride to Lusk Wyoming today was approached with some trepidation after the pounding we took on the ride into Casper last Thursday before the rest day. But thanks to an early start, temperatures starting at 55 and only climbing to only about 80 and a relatively calm wind, the ride was a breeze. It is really beginning to say something about the entire flock of penguins when universally a 106 mile century ride with an abundance of rolling hills can be a comfortable ride. The scenery was very interesting though not spectacular, with lots of prairie and open range with distant buttes. We saw some bison and antelope.

It is late now and I will not have time to post any pictures tonight. Today is a very big day in Lusk, Wyoming with a parade a big square dance and the annual "Legend of Rawhide" reenactment at the county fairgrounds. Several of us went across the street to join a crowd of at least 600 to 800 people for the community performance. With a cast of probably 100 people and at least 40 horses and 10 covered wagons they reenacted an old legend with a cavalry, a wagon train under attack by 30 or so yelling locals dressed up as Indians (yes native Americans are still openly referred to as savages and Indians in Wyoming) it was quite a show. The pageantry and horsemanship and the glimpse of what life must have been like when the territory was settled was interesting although the plot certainly lacked any sensitivity and respect for the native Americans portrayed and was told strictly in a prejudiced white viewpoint.

Tomorrow will be, what is becoming a routine 91 mile ride. And with an early start I should have more time after arrival in Hot Springs, South Dakota for a longer post with some pictures.

A day of rest started with sleeping late, until 7:30, a leisurely breakfast, a massage, a dip in the cold river, a load of laundry, a nap and a dinner in Casper at a Vietnamese restaurant. Not much is going on in Casper, WY a city that thinks of itself as a big deal, although it is about the size of Pittsfield. The biggest building in town is the Dick Chaney federal building. I think that about says it all about Casper.

Since there was nothing of much interest in Casper I show some pictres below from the past 2 days which I collected today from some other riders .

Survival into the headwind yesterday. Charlie in the front, I am the 3rd rider.

Me qnd Charlie on our breakaway yesterday.

Big Charlie Ainslee the Australian and me on working together

This is me riding with Oliver a German policeman and Ray from London, cowboy style as guests of the Wyoming DOT

Someone asked how the non shaving monk look was coming.

Tomorrow we are back at it with another century (106 miles) with a fair amount of climbing over to Lusk, WY. The wind direction will be the big question on how hard a day it will be. We get up at 5:30 and leave at sunrise at about 5:45.

A brutal 119 mile ride into a 20 MPH headwind today made for some very irritable and grumpy penguins. Some raw nerves were exposed today at many locations in the group. It was a long hot day with strong winds out of the northeast shifting to the southeast which meant that for a time the wind was directly in our face. With the headwinds the need to work together and ride as a group was imperative. I rode with my NH roommate and the young Australian girl that we have sort of adopted. They are both strong riders but the Australian is a bit erratic. After some firm direction we rode well as a team. We again left last but by the 60 mile mark had passed many and gathered a group of about 10 who were able to hang on and work with us. It was very hot and around the 85 mile mark the group began to fracture with some demanding a slower pace, some being kind and others just wanting to hammer and get it over with.

In a fit of youthful and hormonal exuberance the Aussie broke out ahead alone on a moderate hill but no one went out with her. After another 6 or 8 grueling and testy but slow miles, Charlie my roommate broke and taking the advice given by Sarah and Lorrie, I went out to "stay with Charlie". Two other guys followed and at about the 100 mile mark we caught the Aussie out front alone and exhausted. We had sympathy and pulled her in the last 20 miles just in front of a huge approaching thunderstorm.

I tried to get the bedraggled group to join me for a swim and icing of tired legs in the N. Platte River but got no takers. Pictures were slim today partly because of the mini psychodrama but also because the terrain was flat, dry, desolate, boring and all the same.But I do have 1 pictures below.

After 9 straight days of riding tomorrow is a much needed rest day here in Casper, Wyoming. It looks to be not a very interesting city so after a 9:30 massage I plan on resting, doing my first laundry and taking a group to the swimming spot I found on the river.

Leaving Jackson

Out of the mountains and into the plains with the temperatures rising. Happy 4th of July!! We rode 78 miles today. The first 30 miles were beautiful and very interesting as we descended out of the Tetons and into some boring slightly rolling terrain and into the town of Riverton, WY. Leaving the very friendly, small authentic cowboy town of Debois this morning was sad. We missed what I am sure would have been a western version of the Stockbridge Memorial day parade, complete with an invitation to the town picnic and dedication of the new volunteer fire department station house.

First some pictures from yesterday when I was too tired to post them and went to bed at 7:30 and slept solid through until 6:30 AM.

The Grand Tetons which I learned were named by the French and translate as "the big teats". So we called yesterday the big boob ride.

As seen from the bike path riding out of Jackson Hole in the morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wind River flowing down the eastern slope just after the Continental Divide, was a great place for a soak in the river and an afternoon meditation.

In my outfit for the 4th of July. The picture does not show my red white and blue socks and the American flag on my bike

The road they would not let us ride with the Tetons in the background showing how far we rode in a half of a day

The ABB van that I did not take. Instead I threw myself at the mercy of the Wyoming DOT and rode in the back of a pick-up. Photo tomorrow

Today we crossed the continental divide at about 9000 FT elevation. This was after an absolutely unbelievably beautiful gentle climb out of Jackson Hole where we skirted the southern edge of Yellowstone. The excitement today included about a 3 mile section of road construction where the State of Wyoming DOT closed the road so we had to shuttle 3 or 4 at a time in the back or a pick up truck with our bikes. What would be illegal in MA was SOP here in Wyoming ..... Ya-hoo ....ride em cowboy. With all of the beautiful scenery, the ride in the pick-up the swim and many stops to admire the views, I got in late.

The decent into Debois WY, elevation 6800 FT was wild with a 25 MPH tail wind. For me it included a swim and an icing of my legs in a cool but surprisingly not really too cold mountain stream. Tomorrow I will have pictures because I am too tired and am going to me now at 8 PM.

Today we had what some consider the toughest day on the ride. I was also one of the most scenic. We rode from Idaho Falls, ID at about elevation 4700 FT up over Pine Tree summit @6800 FT and then descended to about 5800 FT before climbing up and over Teton Pass at 8500 FT then a long decent into Jackson Hole Wyoming, our 3rd state. It was awesome and with a few of the strong riders having mechanical problems/flats and a few having altitude/burn out problems on a final 3 mile 10% ascent I was actually the 3rd rider over the pass and with my fearless decent reaching 52 MPH rode in with a guy from Germany 2nd into the barn.

Beginning to climb up along the Snake river

Roommate Charlie and me as the climb was about to begin

View of the Tetons

Some of the Penguins at the top of the pass .... note Tom the Neurologist from Atlanta bent over his handle bars.

And now I must pass along some bad news with regard to some of the penguins. We were told at the onset of the trip the first day that usually about 4 or more people do not make it through the entire journey. Most commonly it is due to an injury or an accident or getting sick or saddle sores. Our group has been more dramatic. First in Idaho Falls last night Mike from Texas who looked to be in pretty good shape though he rode near the back of the group, while waiting for his room in the hotel lobby turrned a weird ashen color and sort of passed out. As penguins looking out for each other somebody called 911 and 2 or our riders who are doctors diagnosed a heart attack. He was taken away and today had emergency trippl;e by-pass open heart surgery.

Then today Tom the Neurologist (shown above) who is one of the most experienced and strongest riders, but evidently not experienced on decents, went int a high speed shimmy and crashed on todays decent and is in the hospital with a broken hip. I feel fortunate to have a strong heart and lots of experience on descents from Greylock and others in the Berkshires.

I have to go to bed because tomorrow we have another climb, though only one not 2 but up to Togwotee Pass at 9658 FT, our highest elevation and where we cross the continental divide. It is supposed to be beautiful through the heard of the Tetons.

Apparently something must be going on with my body when our 65 mile ride today seemed like an easy rest day. We did have a tailwind and I did ride with some larger groups of riders, but still?!?!? Also something seems to be going on with my face now that I haven't shaved since we started. I and several other riders have made a pact to not shave until we reach the Atlantic. In addition to a fairly easy day today I made my first "plunge". I maintained dignity and was in my riding shorts, not naked as on some other occasions. None the less it was into the Shake river and there were many pictures that I hope to publish later when I can get them.

Sorry about yesterday's post, I did not have any pictures because of technical difficulties. I will make up for yesterday by posting many pictures of the past 2 days.

Climbing out of the Cascades in Oregon

Me in the lead with my roommate Charlie and an intruder who joined our pace line

Before I crashed and burned the day I rode with the Alphas

Charlie and me on the bike path leaving Boise

The spot in the Snake River where I swam today

A side road we did not take

The main road through eastern Idaho, The long shadows and the sun coming up almost an hour into our 97 mile day.

Idaho Falls where we are staying tonight and I will have a special surprise tomorrow morning when we depart at 6:30.

Tomorrow is a BIG day with a 90 mile day into Wyoming that includes 2 big climbs over to Jackson Hole WY. Tonight we are at elevation 4700 FT and tomorrow will cross Teton Pass at 8431 FT elevation. It should be a lot of fun!!!!!