|
This trip though only scheduled to be 68 miles, promises to be very
challenging. A ten percent grade at the end of the day will see to that.
As we left the town of Ashton we could see the Tetons looming in the
distance. By the end of the day we will cross over the mountains to Jackson
WY. The air was cool and calm. A welcome change to the hot windy conditions
that greeted us in Ashton the evening before. The roads were twisty curvy
with some uphills. At mile ten we had a chance at a "practice hill". By the
end of the day, we will have had all the hills that we could stand.
At the 30 mile mark, we stopped at a gas station for a break and for
something to drink. Up until now, there were farms, farms and more farms,
but no place to stop... Unless you count the Beef Jerky place.
The Picnic Stop was nine miles further along in the town of Driggs.
As usual the picnic stop was welcome. I think that most people were
reluctant to start attack the upcoming hill, as so lunch ran a bit longer
than usual. By the time we got back on the road, the winds started to pick
up. Not unexpected but surely not very welcome. The winds came mostly from
the south west, just in the direction we were heading! An eight mile bike
path connected Driggs to Victor.
In Victor they had an old time soda fountain were they could mix up the
flavor soda you wanted. It reminded me of my Father's store that he had
while I was growing up. I had a cherry soda and we were off again. Just five
more miles and we left Idaho and entered Wyoming. We took pictures at the
state line and brace ourselves for the upcoming climb. I don't think that
I've ever climbed a 10 percent grade before (10 percent grade means for
every 100 feet you go forward, you rise 10 feet).
By this time, I was riding with at least 8 other folks as well. All of
them better at climbing that me, but the seven miles to the top was going to
be tough on everyone. The headwinds that we were battling had started to
shift to tail winds and the temperatures was not too hot. The routine was
get into your smallest gear and start peddling... Don't look up... After a
couple of stops and more than an hour later were all were to the top, taking
photos and looking at the views. It was great!!
It seems that everyone had a different game to getting there, some had
songs playing in their heads, some concentrating on their breathing, but for
me I saw everyone in front of me cranking away and I just keep doing what I
had to do to reach the top.
The descent into "the hole" was as steep as the ascent. We needed to stop
several times just to cool off the brakes on the bikes. At the base of the
descent, we all stopped at the coffee shop for a round of drinks before
moving on to the camp grounds.
|
