Rain rain go away, come again to a different mountain range far away. Well leaving Yellowstone and entering Teton national park certainly brought some rain with it. We had an absolute downpour in the night, leaving us with some very soggy tents. In truth though we have been so lucky. This is the first rain I have been caught out in since getting off the plane in Calgary...And you know what, it does appear to have gone away. Well sort of. After leaving Chris and making my way to the campground at turpin meadows a huge storm rolled in, splattered my tent with hail, and was generally loud, thundery and boisterous, until it buggered of to harass someone else. But on the whole everyone I meet can't believe how long and hot the summer has been over here.
At turpin meadows I met a couple, Chuck and Donna who very kindly cooked me breakfast and gave me a hot mug of coffee, setting me up for a fantastic day. I also have to mention what I believe they call a horse trailer. I would call it a 22ft monster caravan, with attached stable, and motorbike garage. Check out the picture. Chuck also showed me a picture of his "bigger" RV. The man utd team bus is probably smaller. They take luxury camping seriously over here.
Talking of equipment, I noticed I had a partial tear in the sidewalls of one of my tyres. But the adage still holds true that there ain't much you can't fix with duct tape!
Anyway after leaving turpin meadows I had a serious day ahead of me. Climbing two passes, both of which were over 9000 ft, one getting close to ten thousand. New territory for me. One thing I can tell you about riding on your own is, out here in the vast spaces, your emotions seem intensified. Being on my own again had left me a little flat, but I can't really even describe the sheer elation of conquering those two passes, and the feeling of pride. Coming up over the first with the tunes booming in my ears, I just could not stop grinning and whooping, and trying to almost dance on the bike. I must have looked a proper lunatic. What made it even better I didn't have to use the granny ring once (the smallest chain ring on the bike, the easiest and slowest to pedal, for steep hills).
And at the top of the last hill where I was expecting nothing, I saw a sign for crooked creek resort; 'divide riders welcome'. Well after a fun time in their saloon till two in the morning let me tell you there was no elation about the next day, and the granny ring was definitely used...a lot. Forty five miles of, probably, very pretty country, with some steep climbing after copious beers, whiskies and spider monkeys, whatever the hell they are, was rough. I can at least say I didn't vomit.
Anyway I knocked off the thirty five miles to the cowboy town of pinedale this morning (with a frosty start which is a reminder i need to keep pushing on before the snows come) in just about two and a half hours with it being mostly flat pavement. Surely a beer would be a good reward right?
(Regarding my bison encounter from the last entry, Chris sent me a photo he took on his phone which I have added, although i suspect as i don't know how to change it, it will appear upside down for some reason, doh!)
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