Category: Touring

Today I left Driggs after a quick breakfast pedaling for Ashton, ID. The rain and thunderstorm was on its way and I would like to stay ahead of the front and get settled in before it catches me. I have 40 miles to ride with the storm nipping my heels while booming in the near distance.

I was routed on a nice gravel bikeway.

I made it into town around noon and was lucky enough to get a room, the last one in town. With Yellowstone closed all the area towns and campgrounds are full. After a shower ans relaxing I walked up the street and had dinner at the Five 11 Pizzeria. It was raining as I walked back to my room.

Before leaving Jackson I had a nice breakfast at the Bunnery, the Jackson omelette. The first few miles rolled along a nice quiet bikeway bringing me to the Teton Pass. Up, up, and straight up it was. The old Teton Pass road is now the bikeway up the pass so it was a lot steeper and windy than the new roadway. I was looking at some 18% grades, hauling my 70# loaded bike up to the top powered by my sorry sick ass.

I stopped at a small lake half way up to drink and eat hoping to stop my coughing fit.

Once at the top I once more ate and drank while talking with other cyclists that had also reached the top.

The long switchback drop to the valley of small towns below provided enough recovery to make it to Driggs, ID and find a place to get settled in and have dinner. I’ll be sleeping early tonight. Tomorrow, hopefully, will be an easier day with more miles forward.

Today I left Coulter Bay Campground in the Grand Teton Park after a four day rest. My route was to go through Yellowstone but just before getting there the Park closed. Rain and water damage washed out the roads so my route was altered into Jackson, WY. going around the park through the Tetons.

Following the advice from my sister I am riding short days and getting lots of rest. The chest cold I have been riding with for ten days turned out to be COVID. The northwest is a hotspot and riding isolated wasn’t enough protection even with the vaccinations.

Short miles are better than no miles!

Today I left at 5:30 AM to stay ahead of the wind and to beat the afternoon rain. The temperature of 48° and the soft cool wind felt nice and pants with a windbreaker would make for a comfortable ride. From Jeffery City the first eleven miles are a steady low grade climb.

The scenery begins to change and soon I am at the crest with views of the valley below. As I turn into a lookout another cyclist is approaching ahead of his riding companion. They see me and also come into the lookout. Two Brits greet me with warm smiles and hearty hellos. They are riding 120-160 miles per day on their loaded bikes. Their visas are holding them to a tight schedule.

As I get close to Nancy’s campsite at Twin Pines RV Park I hit road construction and get held up. I can see the campground just up the road but I was not allowed to go ahead riding the shoulder so I waited in line for the pilot car to lead us up the road. As I wait I am by a flashing sign announcing that all roads into Yellowstone are closed due to flooding and road damage. Now I need an alternate route around the park.

I set my alarm for 5:00 AM for an early start to beat the wind. It seems that in Wyoming as the day heats up the wind picks up. Yesterday was a struggle pedaling into the wind, today the wind will be stronger. After a motel breakfast I began my journey to Jeffery City.

The only place for food and water would be a gas station convenience store in Muddy Gap at the 3 Forks. A cyclist stopped as I was eating, a Canadian from Montreal racing this route. He leaves and as I ready to set off I see Nancy with the Tea Pot parked at the intersection. I start to text but she drives away. She gets the text and waits up the road for me to catch up.

We visit before Nancy heads to her campground near Lander, I head to my sleeping spot, a cycling hostel in Jeffery City.

The wind picks up with eight miles to go. I arrive tired from another day of battling wind. It’s now 3 PM as I open the door to the host, I see two bicycles against the wall and I add mine making three. TJ and John had arrived for the night, they are both riding east separately.

After settling in and cleaning up we walk to the cafe/bar for dinner. We chat while eating and head back for an early bedtime. It will be another early start trying to get ahead of tomorrow’s wind.

I left Saratoga Lake behind with Nancy and the doggies this morning to ride the 42 miles to Rawlins, WY. The terrain looked easy enough with no large climbs so a 10  AM start should get me there around 2 PM leaving me with a relaxing afternoon for setting up camp and seeing the town.

It wasn’t far into the ride that I began pushing into the building headwind. The forty mile per hour wind never let up, I struggled to stay on the road as the traffic buzzed by. Halfway to Rawlins I stopped at a convenience store to fuel up my tired hungry body. I watched as a motorcyclist mounted his Indian touring bike to drive away from the pump, a gust of wind tipped the motorcycle on its side. It took four of us to set it back on its wheels. I then followed the route up the on ramp of Interstate 80 to finish my ride to Rawlins.

On the Interstate I still battled the wind but I now had an 8 foot shoulder, plenty of room for the wind to push me around without coming close to the fast moving traffic. Riding up to the crest of one of the rolling hills a strong gust blew me off the shoulder onto the grass. There was a pickup pulling a large camper that also was in the path of the blast of wind, the camper almost flipped. The driver was able to get control and continue without damage.

I finally arrived in Rawlins exhausted, too tired to find a campsite and setup for the night. I rolled into a motel and got a room.

Today I feel better and so I will ride to Saratoga, WY., 70 miles away..Nancy will also get a campsite at the Saratoga Lake Campground. She now has come down with the cold I am getting over so she plans to stay two days there before heading out.

Leaving Walden is mostly dropping in elevation before climbing into Wyoming. The scenery is also changing, the hills and plants are a nice visual change.

The crossing into Wyoming was not photo worthy.

Eleven miles before Riverside, WY. was under major construction. The road was scarified and single lane, I was riding a bike so I was allowed to go ahead while dozens of cars were waiting for the pilot car to lead them through.

Once in the small town of Riverside I was hot, hungry, and thirsty. The grocery store had a porch swing so I sat and devoured a pint of ice cream and two bottles of ice tea. I also got to visit with the townspeople.

The last twenty miles to Saratoga Lake Campground was a bit windy and rolling. These miles went by quickly before riding down Main Street on the last two miles of today. I am now at camp enjoying the breezy blowing across the lake.

I decided to stay another day in Walden to rest up, visit the Arapaho Wildlife Reserve, and to go over my bike to replace worn components. I also took a nap to help with the cold.

I felt like my cold was not getting better so I decided to stay an extra day in Hot Sulphur Springs so I could sleep, hoping to feel better on the 62 miles ride to Walden. Nancy left her campsite a day early, brought cold remedies and food to the motel and stayed with me. We also needed to update and change our next campsites. Today I woke up still not feeling good but decided to try riding to Walden. The first 25 mile are climbing up and over Willow Creek Pass, 9,683 feet elevation. Along this route I pass through an area that was burned in the wildfires two years ago.

Once crossing the Divide back to the Atlantic slope I began the drop into Rand, Co. Still not feeling well, I’ve been struggling all day, stopped at a small gift shop and bought a Dr. Pepper and snack food. I have 30 miles to Walden. Five miles later I begin to feel better and have more energy, my coughing is now productive.

I begin to see the town off in the distance, 5 miles away, it is now 6 PM. I get into town and connect with Nancy at the Granite Corner RV campground. I put my bike away and unload the gear. Then we go into town for a nice dinner.

Yesterday I was hanging around camp so we hiked, laid our next sleeping site, and just relaxed.

I woke up today feeling like I have a chest cold. I will ride to Hot Sulphur Springs and sleep in a motel that I reserved. I’m riding an easy short day because a thunderstorm is coming through late afternoon and being inside a room while it’s raining will be warm and comfortable. After breakfast and packing  I headed out across the dam while Nancy and Moe drove to the parking area below the dam to climb down into the gorge to hike along the Colorado River.

While heading into Kremling I got caught in a short passing rain and hail shower. Once in town I ordered a pizza slice and pint of ice cream, my can of spinach. Four very young men from Delaware walked over to ask about my trip. A young woman, also from Delaware, stopped to listen before coming over to announce that she also was from there. We talked as I finished off the pint before we all went our ways with smiles on our faces.

A few miles out I met a couple riding and doing a short tour of Colorado, they live in Denver. Then maybe five miles later I met another loaded cyclist heading toward me. This cyclist is from Arkansas and is riding to Silver Springs to connect with a friend and then they will head to Montana.

Close to Sulphur Spring I begin to hear thunder in the distance followed by rain. I got wet the last few miles riding to the Ute Trail Motel. This is a very nice and friendly place within a few hundred feet of a small local dairy bar.