Day 16 Jackson Hole, WY to Dubois, WY

Day 16
We're off early and boy is it cold. 47 according to a Jackson bank. Chilly. Our day's adventure is going to take us up and over the continental divide. Togwotee Pass is 9658 feet.
This pic is an antler arch in downtown. Lots of animals gave up their horns for this? OK
And then on to Grand Teton National Park. The scenery is awesome.

This is Todd and Andrew...and me...the chunky one.

Hers a panoramic view of the mountain range a little farther north. The valley floor is flat for about 25 miles. A small headwind makes it less than desirable.

This pic is near the summit. Really rugged mountain range. Its cold and windy on top. There is road construction going on we are ferried around it for a few miles. Once on the other side its downhill to Dubois. Well, not exactly. There is a ferocious headwinf blowing up the gorge at 20 plus. And it is really cold. And cloudy. So we tough it out and it takes a a couple hours to go the last 25 miles to Dubois. My butt hurts...my achilles is sore...I'm cold...wah

Day 15 Idaho Falls to Jackson Wyoming

Day 15

Everybody is on edge about our 90 plus mile ride to Jackson Hole. We have two substantial passes to negotiate in addition to all the miles. Its out of Idaho Falls and out through yet more farm and ranch lands. We start climbing almost immediately. A small group of us stop about 20 miles out of town to celebrate our first 1000 miles of the ride. Then we travel along the Snake River for a long while. Its truly amazing to think this river finally empties in the Pacific Ocean, where we started our travels 2 weeks ago in Astoria. One of my favorite highway signs!

We leave Idaho behind and are into Wyoming at about the 70 mile mark today. What, this guy's never been here before or what?
Our first pass today is Pine Creek Pass at 6764 ft. Our travels take us along a beautiful creek and then its over the pass.

The small town of Victor offers some bright colored poppies and the chance to buy that Edsel Corsair you always wanted! Drive it home!

Then the climb of the day to 8431 ft Teton Pass and the overlook into Jackson hole Valley.

The camera cannot record the majesty of this country called Wyoming. Here are some pics of some vantage points going down to Wilson and Jackson hole.

And finally a look back up the mountain. Stunning. I get in about 3 pm after about 9 hours on the saddle. I am destroyed physically. It was a really tough climb. I think this is the biggest hardest day of my biking career. My butt is sore...my legs are tired...my right achilles is starting to hurt...and I paid how much for this? Ah, a bargain at any price.

Day 14 Pocatello to Idaho Falls

Day 14

More tailwinds for today. Its warmer than yesterday and a shorter ride...only 65 miles today, so we leave later in the am. Its basically flat terrain through fields, farms and a lot of green next to the Snake River. We'll gain only 500 feet today so that makes for a fast ride. This is a SAG. Everybody is cruising slower today and enjoying the countryside. They've routed us through backroads with lots of turns and intersections. Really pretty. The Snake River is flowing hard.

These falls are right downtown. Awesome!

Here's and oldie but goodie...for sale! cheap!

Ah that feels so good on my feet after a hard day in the field!



And if you ever wondered where Budweiser gets its grain for brewing...wonder no more!


And here's Dan after a long hard day riding....not!

Day 13 Burley to Pocatello

DAY 13

This is an 85 mile day. We're out of town about 7:15 or so. Its cold this morning about 49 or so with a stiff breeze from the west. That makes it a tailwind...can you spell happy riders? That's 2 days in a row. We're soon doing 17-18 mph. Its flat and straight. We're on a backroad called Baseline. Straight for miles on end. Fortuntately, someone identified some material on the road for us!

This is open range land with cows on the roads at times. Here's one with a calf.

We come to an old abandoned gas station. Foolish bikers trying to fill up. I guess they can't see the place is closed down!

We visit a place called Register Rock. Incredible to see signatures from so long ago.

Here's an interesting mailbox! And here's my bunkie, Ian!

Day 12 Twin Falls to Burley

Day 12

Today we had a 15-20 mph tailwind...flat...warm...38 miles...plus we had a scavenger hunt. Turns out, my team won! We had to get things like a bottle cap, blue flower, church key, Idaho quarter, golf ball, a piece of retread tire, fanbelt etc etc. At the end of the event, we were supposed to give a general tip. We sang the old Jim Croce song "Don't Mess With Jim". The tip of course was don't spit into the wind, don't take the mask off the Lone Ranger and don't mess with Jim. Jim happens to be our mechanic!Our team pulled it off to the delight of all. We won rights to go to head of the chow line plus a new tube each. Cool

Anyway, today was uneventful.. We rode through miles and miles of irrigated farm land...lots of alfalfa, Idaho spuds, sugar beets and corn. Flat and fertile. Such wide open landscape. Really humbling. Sorry I only took one pic today though.

My new saddle is feeling better. I think my rear may actually accept it...eventually.

Day 11 Mt Home to Twin Falls

Day 11

This day has some of us a little nervous. 97 miles in southern Idaho in July spells hot hot hot. Not so today. The first pic was taken around 6:30 am in 55 degrees or so. Some cloud cover which was to stick around until noon or so. Nice for cycling. The Oasis Motel speaks of better days. Reminds me of the Bates Motel! The horses were curious about all the silly cyclists!

We ride by the SnakeRiver which is not all that impressive here. Its in the background with yours truly in front. Lots of wind turbines on the horizon! You have to look close!






The Snake River gorge definitely got more scenic at Twin Falls. Two pics of the gorge with me and the bridge over the river.

This pic is from the scenic overlook. Beautiful.

More scenic Snake river

As I rolled into town, there were some young people base juming off the bridge. If you look close you'll see a young girl(20 or so) jumping. She'e in the shadow. Their chutes open imediately and they land near the river below. Pretty Exciting.