Day 17 DuBois-Riverton

Miles:  79.72              Terrain: Red rocks, open spaces
Depart:   8:36 AM      Arrive:  1:35 PM
Riding time: 4:10:42
Average Riding Speed: 19.1

            Today’s Garmin Download and Map (for cycling data junkies!) 

Today's Ride

We moved today from the land of green trees and mountains to the land of red rocks and wide open spaces.  For the first time since getting sick in Boise, I felt pretty well today and along with everyone else was able to take full advantage of a roughly 25-mph tailwind!  The route was also downhill overall.  I covered the 79 miles in just a little over four hours of riding.  After days and days of averaging about 13.5 mph, my riding time average today was 19.1! Even including sag stop time, my average would still have been just under 16 mph. We all agreed that 33 more days of 25 mph winds out of the west is just what we need!  (fat chance!)

Going the other way this morning was a group of cyclists from one of the tour operators that does camping tours.  These poor riders were riding straight into a 25-mph headwind, and carrying lots of gear on their bicycles.  We all felt sorry for them and were extremely thankful that we had the wind at our backs.  At least we had the wind at our backs for the first 60 miles before it changed directions and became a wicked crosswind that occasionally gusted so hard I thought the bike might go over.  You'll see on this page where we got delayed out in the middle of nowhere for some road work.

Tomorrow is the longest day of the trip--119 miles from Riverton to Casper and then a rest day!  Don't be surprised if tomorrow's post doesn't go up until Friday.  I think I'll need a rest evening tomorrow.