WIND, WIND, WIND !!!!!!

I am going to start with today and work my way back 2 days. I think today's ride of 120 miles was the most exhausting both physically and mentally I have ever done. We were told last night the winds would be from the northwest, well today it didn't quite happen that way. The winds were from the northeast at between 10-15 mph for the entire ride. Beating yourself against the wind just added insult to injury. The ride itself wasn't very taxing as far as hills,but it seemed like we were climbing all day with that wind in our face. The scenery, well there wasn't any, it was just plains all the way and the road was straight, really boring. It was hard to keep focused, had a pace line of 6 people for over half the way which helped a lot. We got to Casper in one piece, that was the important thing. Now we have a rest day here, boy are we looking forward to it and then a 106 mi. day out of here. This stretch from Boise, ID to Casper, WY is the longest in terms of days and mileage.

Yesterday was supposed to be a relaxing 79 mile ride, however, we got a little antsy and pushed it at about 19mph. There were some good views when we left,but afterward there was not a whole lot to look at, that's why we decided to push it some. The day started out with Ken having trouble with his back wheel, it was changed out for a new one and he was fine for the rest of the day. Hit Dairy Queen as we got into town, that seems to be a staple of ours. At one stop, Mike Munk, a staff member showed me a newspaper of a town we went through that had 6 in. of hail a couple of days earlier, as he said timing is everything. After we got to the hotel we took showers and I was the last one. As I got ready to shampoo I noticed it looked pretty runny, it was mouthwash. So I asked who was the one that shampooed with mouthwash, it turned out to be Ted. We had a pretty good laugh about it.

Tuesday,we left from Jackson Hole to Dubois. We went through the Grand Teton National Park. As you were entering you looked to the left and There were snow covered peaks, they were absolutely gorgeous and breath taking. I know I have said that several times before. The beauty and vastness of this country is something to behold. I'm glad we are doing it at pace that things just don't flash by. We had another good climb, not as steep as the Jackson Pass. This climb was taking us to the Continental Divide. As we were getting close there was construction and they had to take us across it. Our ride was a pick-up truck pulling a flat bed trailer. We sat on the trailer and held our bikes as we went over the bumpy road, what an experience. Right before we got stopped for construction, I saw a female moose along side the road, but she hurried back into the trees for protection, before I could get my camera out in time.

We have just finished our 19th day, boy is time flying by. I have looked forward to getting on the bike very day, although my bottom says no most times. Just one of the things you have to deal with, but so is everyone else.

I'm sure most of you would not want to ride a bike like we are,but if you have never been out in this part of the U.S., you have to go the beauty of the rest of the country.