Well it's not quite week eight but we are changing how we do things. The great "divine" has killed 2 of our three camera, multiple bike tires, and caused a many curse at this time and now our computer that has handled getting the photos on to the website has started to have fits. We sent it home today as I am tired of carrying so much weight and to have something that requires so much effort to make work we are going to go "cheap" and just post text.. I'll play around and see if I can get photos on to our blog another way but we'll wee what happens, thanks for stying tuned in.....
Cheers
Cheers
Day 45,46 83 miles
What can we say about Rawlins WY? Not much, a decent grocery store, fast food....not much to share..We took a rest day as they are the "reward" to riding on everyday. The night of our rest day I went across the street to the dreaded golden arches, not sure why I went there but I did and I meet JoAnn, a tour divide racer who was looking a little bit worn and I invited her over for a shower and conversation. when we returned to the room the Ben and Jerry's was out and being served up and she joined us in desert/dinner. Interesting stories and nice conversations before JoAnne moved out the door in pursuit of another rider.
We stared our next morning early to beat the heat and wind as we headed into the Great Divide Basin. the kids were awesome and with pavement for the first few hours we were able to put down some miles.. We cruised, and by lunch time had put down 55 miles. A record for us. While I rode a mile out of the way to find water/very little in the Basin, another racer rode up and proceeded to "crash" she wasn't ready for the 140 miles of no services and had only had one bite of a sandwich every ten miles and was hurting. Ina offered her some food and she dove into our peanut butter and crackers. After sharing some more food and water she rode off, saying we had saved her life.. We meet all types out there.. We pushed on into the afternoon and worsening road conditions and as the wind picked up, of course it was a headwind, our progress slowed and by 7:30 we called a halt to the day at 83 miles. Wiley had wanted to push on but after getting some food into his belly he was content to fall asleep.
What can we say about Rawlins WY? Not much, a decent grocery store, fast food....not much to share..We took a rest day as they are the "reward" to riding on everyday. The night of our rest day I went across the street to the dreaded golden arches, not sure why I went there but I did and I meet JoAnn, a tour divide racer who was looking a little bit worn and I invited her over for a shower and conversation. when we returned to the room the Ben and Jerry's was out and being served up and she joined us in desert/dinner. Interesting stories and nice conversations before JoAnne moved out the door in pursuit of another rider.
We stared our next morning early to beat the heat and wind as we headed into the Great Divide Basin. the kids were awesome and with pavement for the first few hours we were able to put down some miles.. We cruised, and by lunch time had put down 55 miles. A record for us. While I rode a mile out of the way to find water/very little in the Basin, another racer rode up and proceeded to "crash" she wasn't ready for the 140 miles of no services and had only had one bite of a sandwich every ten miles and was hurting. Ina offered her some food and she dove into our peanut butter and crackers. After sharing some more food and water she rode off, saying we had saved her life.. We meet all types out there.. We pushed on into the afternoon and worsening road conditions and as the wind picked up, of course it was a headwind, our progress slowed and by 7:30 we called a halt to the day at 83 miles. Wiley had wanted to push on but after getting some food into his belly he was content to fall asleep.
Day 47 53 miles.
We woke early with dreams of getting out of the great Basin and as we were getting up a rider/tourer rode right past us with nary a wave or smile, wow! it wasn't even 6 yet and his guy riding alone just trucks on by. We hit the rode a little while later and we don't see this guy again. The rode gets worse and worse and we grind on into the wind, sun baked, wind buffeted and running low on water we know that we need to push on. We finally make it to the Sweetwater river, and are quickly brought back to life by a swim and fresh pumped water, ah to be human again.. we are still more than ten miles from the official edge of the great Basin, but we are content until the mosquitos find us and so we load up and ride again. Atlantic city is our destination, a town of bars and not much more as the stories are told. A couple of hours later we are still grinding away into the wind and soft roads when we meet a "local" who advises the bar/resturant will be closing in an hour. We pick up and pace and are rewarded in the bar with greetings and great food!! (The local had returned to the bar and told them we were coming) We stuffed ourselves silly with excellent burgers/onion rings/slalds and of course pie. we left a couple hours later for a short climb out of the "city" to pitch our tents and fall fast asleep. So if your are evry in Atlantic City WY, check out the Grubstake... great folks/owners/food and conversation...be sure to check out the guest book from tour divide riders..great comments and thoughts..
We woke early with dreams of getting out of the great Basin and as we were getting up a rider/tourer rode right past us with nary a wave or smile, wow! it wasn't even 6 yet and his guy riding alone just trucks on by. We hit the rode a little while later and we don't see this guy again. The rode gets worse and worse and we grind on into the wind, sun baked, wind buffeted and running low on water we know that we need to push on. We finally make it to the Sweetwater river, and are quickly brought back to life by a swim and fresh pumped water, ah to be human again.. we are still more than ten miles from the official edge of the great Basin, but we are content until the mosquitos find us and so we load up and ride again. Atlantic city is our destination, a town of bars and not much more as the stories are told. A couple of hours later we are still grinding away into the wind and soft roads when we meet a "local" who advises the bar/resturant will be closing in an hour. We pick up and pace and are rewarded in the bar with greetings and great food!! (The local had returned to the bar and told them we were coming) We stuffed ourselves silly with excellent burgers/onion rings/slalds and of course pie. we left a couple hours later for a short climb out of the "city" to pitch our tents and fall fast asleep. So if your are evry in Atlantic City WY, check out the Grubstake... great folks/owners/food and conversation...be sure to check out the guest book from tour divide riders..great comments and thoughts..
Day 48, 54 miles.
Ah we slept in today, hoping to take the short ride into South Pass and check out the museum. We got to South pass in record time and got to wander the rebuilt town. Very cool to see how people lived during the "boom" times. We lazed about with fresh water, toilets and shade before we decided to push on as we weren't going anywhere being lazy. So we rode dirt pavement and back to dirt and back into some lonely country. Water is more visible now and when we reached a stream crossing we parked the bikes and went for another dip, which is so refreshing, hiding in the bushes after the dip to stay out of the sun we hear a "Hello" and turn to see the mystery rider of yesterday standing near by. Andrew is riding the Great Divide south to north solo and had passed us yesterday after riding all night. When he passed us with out a nod or wave he had been awake for 24 hours, a couple hours later he took a wrong turn and found him self off route but eventually made it to Atlantic City where he ate and crashed. when we had been wandering South Pass he had been there as well as he had seen our bikes, but his remained out of our sight. We chatted as we got ready to ride to the next water source and camping then we all rode off together. It was a treat to have another rider along and we all got to know a little of Andrew. We found our next water source and all went for a swim before cooking dinner and dropping off to sleep.
Ah we slept in today, hoping to take the short ride into South Pass and check out the museum. We got to South pass in record time and got to wander the rebuilt town. Very cool to see how people lived during the "boom" times. We lazed about with fresh water, toilets and shade before we decided to push on as we weren't going anywhere being lazy. So we rode dirt pavement and back to dirt and back into some lonely country. Water is more visible now and when we reached a stream crossing we parked the bikes and went for another dip, which is so refreshing, hiding in the bushes after the dip to stay out of the sun we hear a "Hello" and turn to see the mystery rider of yesterday standing near by. Andrew is riding the Great Divide south to north solo and had passed us yesterday after riding all night. When he passed us with out a nod or wave he had been awake for 24 hours, a couple hours later he took a wrong turn and found him self off route but eventually made it to Atlantic City where he ate and crashed. when we had been wandering South Pass he had been there as well as he had seen our bikes, but his remained out of our sight. We chatted as we got ready to ride to the next water source and camping then we all rode off together. It was a treat to have another rider along and we all got to know a little of Andrew. We found our next water source and all went for a swim before cooking dinner and dropping off to sleep.
Day 49, 40 miles.
We start early again, hoping to beat the wind that tend to blow out of the northwest which is our direction of travel, and as a group of five we ride, with new blood and conversations our pace picks up and we fly over the dirt, and pavement and before lunch time hits we are in Pinedale, WY. yahoo1 another rest day ahead, a chance to send stuff home, a little bike work, I broke three spokes the other day and am in need of more spoke nipples and a trueing stand. We check into a hotel after another burger meal and Andrew took advantage of our rooms shower and internet before heading back into town for the sights. We meet up later for dinner at the brew pub, Salads!!!
before parting ways. Andrew is young and strong and is off in the morning for more riding thinking he'll break in a few days, we might meet up again and we look forward to it if we do. ride on Andrew, we'll see you when you ride the Northern tier next year.
We start early again, hoping to beat the wind that tend to blow out of the northwest which is our direction of travel, and as a group of five we ride, with new blood and conversations our pace picks up and we fly over the dirt, and pavement and before lunch time hits we are in Pinedale, WY. yahoo1 another rest day ahead, a chance to send stuff home, a little bike work, I broke three spokes the other day and am in need of more spoke nipples and a trueing stand. We check into a hotel after another burger meal and Andrew took advantage of our rooms shower and internet before heading back into town for the sights. We meet up later for dinner at the brew pub, Salads!!!
before parting ways. Andrew is young and strong and is off in the morning for more riding thinking he'll break in a few days, we might meet up again and we look forward to it if we do. ride on Andrew, we'll see you when you ride the Northern tier next year.