Statistics
Distance: 70.9 miles
Average Speed: 11.3 mph
Hours Riding: 6 hours 15 minutes
Calories: 3365
Total Ascent: 3973 feet
Total Descent: - 2608 feet
I woke at 6:30 a.m. and got my things in order: carried my
gear downstairs to the truck, rolled my bike down and got some breakfast of
granola, yogurt, and milk. I cleaned and oiled my chain, picked up some energy
bars and filled my water bottles with Gatorade powder.
The route today was reported to be the hardest on the divide;
the weather was rainy and it was projected to get worse. As a result, I
decided to do the alternate routes found on the map and in the GPX files for
the GPS. Tim and Mike decided to do the alternate route as well.
The sky was lightly spraying rain and I gradually put on more
gear. I was wearing my hardshell parka, rain pants, and overshoes. I was fairly
dry but cold because of the air moving past my wet rain garments, so I put on
my Mountain Hardware synchro jacket under my shell.
We stopped into a convenience store and casino to warm up, and
Mike and Tim got cups of coffee. The alternate route was a combination of
offroad and highway. I liked the offroad because there were more photo
opportunities.
We were speculating that the main route was going to be
particularly bad with all the rain. When we got to lunch in Basin, no one had
arrived. Luke was the first - he said his feet were blocks of ice and the route
had no redeeming qualities. He sat in the van, and Sean turned up the heat so
he could thaw out.
There was a very sweet husky dog at our lunch site. He wanted
some snacks; Sean said he would give him some food after everyone was done. He
looked well fed and healthy, so he was very likely someone's pet. I had a
couple roast beef sandwiches and potato chips. We were getting cold staying
still, so we ate and ran. The temperature was in the mid 40's to 50 degrees.
On the alternative gravel path, we saw Wes, Matt, and Seth.
There was a continuation of the gravel path on the other side of the highway
but we opted for the highway. Near the Continental Divide, I ran into a girl
whose car was pulled over on the side of the road with a flat. I asked if she
needed assistance and she said she could not get the wheel cover off. Between Tim
and I, we got the her donut put on. So Tim and I had our pictures taken with
the damsel in distress named Heidi.
The rain started coming down pretty hard and my hands were
getting pretty cold. I got into the Butte KOA at around 5:00 p.m. There
was vegetable soup ready, so I had some as well as some potato chips and
grapes. The new employee Frank started today. He is a cook and a mechanic.
David and Dave invited me into their cabin to warm up and leave
my rain gear to dry. I got my tent up, showered and then the riders from the
main route started straggling in. Many said it was the hardest route they have
ever done. Dinner was around 8:00 p.m. It was a stir-fry with chicken and
rice with salad on the side. There was plenty and it was good. For desert, we had
the choice of cherry and/or shoefly pie.
This was Tamas' last day so he went out with Sean to the bar to
see him off. I did laundry and did some journaling after dinner until
about 10:30 a.m. Tomorrow is a rest day.
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