121 mile day to Casper
Today we rode 121 miles from Riverton to Casper, Wyoming. We climbed 2,680 feet.
No, that's not a typo. One hundred, twenty-one miles. All-day headwind. Prompt start at 0630, with an escort from the fire department to the city limit. We had clear skies again this morning and watched the sun rise over Neble Hill as we left Riverton, a glorious start to the day.
Most of the climbing took place in the first 60 miles. We did a good job of pacing, and everyone stayed in one of two groups. We have begun to gel as a team, with everyone recognizing their strengths and weaknesses and riding accordingly. The headwind today taught a valuable lesson in the importance of the paceline, where a rider cycling in the slipstream can save 15% - 40% of their effort. By working as a unit we keep the group together and don't lose track of any riders. We finished late in the day, and we all felt the effort. We'll sleep well tonight.
Traveling by bicycle provides a unique perspective of the land we pass through. We have unobstructed views ahead, above, and to both sides. We travel at a pace that promotes observation. Our teammates point out interesting landmarks. We feel the sun, wind, and rain and even smell nature's offerings, good and bad. We have become connoisseurs of road surfaces, where fresh, smooth asphalt earns high praise and rough chip seal gets cursed. We are passing through eastern Wyoming and while the broad, smooth road shoulders remain top notch, the quality of the scenery has declined precipitously. Unless things change considerably in the next two days, Montana will move back into the top spot in the beauty competition.
We have received some radio airtime and people have begun to recognize and approach us on the road. We had a SAG at a highwayk rest stop today and a gentleman with a "Vietnam Veteran" ball cap engaged some of the riders and gave a donation on the spot. At another SAG on the side of the road a man and his wife pulled over and asked, "Are you the Ride Across America?" They also gave a donation and encouragement. All of these interactions provide reinforcement for us and give us strength to continue. Tough days like today get easier with these contacts. We are grateful for all of them.
In the "No rest for the weary" category, tomorrow we will ride from Casper to Lusk, WY. We will cycle 110 miles and climb a total of 3,151 feet.
Totals to Date
Miles: 1,301
Elevation Gain: 50,465
Flat Tires: 24
States crossed: 3
Centuries: 3
Times Crossing the Continental Divide: 5
