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Friday August 30         Cycling Day 48

 

        Ashton (Idaho) to Jackson Hole ((Wyoming)

Distance:  (Km). 114

Time:  5:46

Average Speed: (Km/ hr). 19.8

Ascent:  (m). 1265

Heart Rate: (beats / min). 120

Cumulative Distance:   (km). 5244

Cumulative Ascent :  (m). 43,718

Punctures so far : 3

A pleasant sunset last evening and the night was quieter than I had expected. No trains and traffic was light and I had the ear plugs in just in case.

 E1000

The early kms this morning were on quiet country roads (E1000) and facing into the low morning sun. Much milder than the last two days and fingers operated as normal. By 8 I had the jacket off and into light summer gear. In time we joined Highway 32 (my auspicious number) and I just knew that things would be good for the day. 

 Idaho potatoes.

Again it was grain for the most part but potatoes did appear in fields and in warehouses.

The road rolled and rolled and we clicked up metres ascended without gaining altitude. The grain for the most part has been harvested but I relished the smell of freshly mown hay as I crested over these ripples on the road.

 The Tetons

 Oh, no.

The  distinctive Tetons (TEE-TONS) appeared off to the east but an annoying black cloud was off to the east at 10am and accompanied by thunder. Thunder on the morning is unusual in these parts. Hopefully I’d get ahead before it crossed our path. Some of those behind me got a touch of its rain.

As I approached Driggs at 57km my eye caught a most unusual church on my left. I thought I’d seen them all, but this surprised me. And surely an Irish connection in O’Reilly’s Auto Parts closer to the centre.

I pulled into Driggs to purchase a fridge magnet for Idaho and treated myself to two scoops of ice-cream, vanilla and huckleberry. Just outside Driggs the lunch van had pulled in at the start of a bike path. This path brought us all the way into the town of Victor and away from the busy Highway.

From Victor (76km) the road began to rise gradually for the next 10 km...nothing too strenuous. Two things happened then at 86 km. I crossed into a new state...Wyoming and said goodbye after my short stay in Idaho. Wyoming prides itself as being real cowboy country and also is referred to as the Equality State as it was the first state to allow women to vote or to hold public office. It’s thinly populated (1/2 million) but contains Yellowstone Park and Grand Teton Park. We’ll have a slightly longer stay in Wyoming.

At 90 km.

Also at this 86 km mark there was an increase in the gradient, up to 4% for the next 4 km to 90km, then a further increase to 10% for the next 4 km up to Teton Pass at 94 km. That last section was draining with gradient and heat but thankfully a light tailwind was like to a helping hand on the back. I stopped twice to take a breath and view the rise ahead. Even the cars and trucks were growling as they attacked the slope. A notice at the bottom said that trailers of any type were forbidden on the Pass but I saw plenty of them both going up and coming down. 

 Only 100 m to go.

 Teton Pass at 2555m.

In time the crest of Teton Pass at 2555 m ASL  appeared and thrilled I was. I think it was the toughest climb of this tour so far. And I didn’t walk any of it!

Ahead below lay Jackson Hole, so named as it’s surrounded by mountains and Davy Jackson was the first American/European to spend a winter there trapping. The land in this 50 mile valley is not good for crops but good for cattle.

The equally long descent was not on the highway but on a cycle path along the original road up. It was extremely steep in places with plenty of hairpins but I was pleased to just take my time and admire the surroundings after that tough climb. I paused at one small pleasant lake about half way down.

At the bottom waiting for me was the small town of Wilson established in 1895 by Uncle Nick Wilson.. Not much of a town really, just a few hostelries. Still another 10 km to go to destination but another bike path made the trip easier with the highway being so busy. Within 3 km of Jackson Hole at traffic lights I got the taste of busy traffic with this being a holiday weekend (Labour Day). 

 Virginian Lodge.

Just at 2pm I pulled onto the Virginian Lodge on the near end of town and thrilled to discover that our (Ed and I ) room was ready. Some other cyclists had to wait around in the courtyard till 3. The shower was so refreshing after a hot and fairly strenuous day.

This evening and tomorrow a chance to recover and regroup.

I enjoyed the day with a new state and a challenging climb.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.