June 6, Day 31, Rawlins Wyoming-45 miles

****I added the pictures to yesterday's blog*****

The gas station and convenience store here in Muddy Gap did not open until 8 AM. The nearest coffee was 45 miles away at my destination of the day, Rawlins Wyoming. This did not sit well with me so I dressed bright and early, ate a Tweety bird breakfast of a muffin, a trail mix bar and a banana, filled my water bottles with bathroom faucet water and got the hell outta there. I knew with a relatively short day and my early start that I would be in Rawlins before midday. I didn't care............I wanted my coffee.

Climbing Rawlins Plateau, looking back.

The ride was pleasant and the wind was primarily at my back. I had one 6 mile climb up to the Rawlins Plateau at around 7200 feet and during the course of the morning crossed the Continental Divide twice more. I think I have crossed the divide now 7 times during my travels through the Rockies.

Early morning 

The scenery was nearly identical to the last two hundred miles but the uniqueness of some of the hills and rock formations kept me entertained enough to get through it. its hard to adequately illustrate with just small blog pictures just how vast and wide open this part of the country is. Harsh winters and constant winds make this part of Wyoming a challenge to call home, but some do.

I crossed paths with three more touring riders while traversing a long, never ending straight stretch of roadway. Kevin, a young kid out Fort Collins Colorado was a doing an 800 mile out and back trip to the Big Horn National Park. Shortly after, I encountered Phillip and Nash, a father and son team who also hailed from Fort Collins. Their goal was to bike from Colorado to the Oregon Coast. Nash had recently graduated from college and they decided to do this trip together as a celebration.

Kevin from Fort Collins

Phillip and son Nash

Thanks to all of you who have been inquiring about the state of my health lately. Do you know something I don't? Considering my age and the fact that I am held together primarily by scar tissue and rust, I'm doing quite well! No real injuries so far, just some bruises on my body from the day when I had to drag my bike through the snow for hours. I am fully acclimatized to the elevation and my physical conditioning is really starting to show itself as of the last several rides. I will utilize that conditioning after my four day break in Pueblo with my wife to get some miles behind me in Kansas and Missouri. My body weight has stabilized after a period of dramatic weight loss early on. It looks like I finally found a way to get rid of that spare tire!

Riverside Wyoming tomorrow.