Lander WY

Lander WY

Traveled from the Tetons to Lander yesterday.  The men did 125 miles.  The most in any day for all of them.   Congratulations Gentlemen!!  We had hoped to camp sooner but the campground that was listed had no showers or toilets – what’s that all about?  So they pushed on another 14 miles to find – well, at least the campground had a toilet and a shower.  Although from what the men said about the shower, made me decide that I did not need one last night. 

Yesterday was a long day.  Went from cold to hot by crossing a mountain.  With the hot weather (high today of 95) I feel like I want to check on the guys a little more during the days.  The scenery changes around every bend – rocks, prairies, mountains, streams, trees, tree-less, on and on.  I did see a moose yesterday, a very big old guy grazing in the bushes.

The men slept in this morning until about 7:00.  They are planning on an 80 mile day.  Pretty ambitious just having done over 100 yesterday and with the heat.  I’ll be checking on them when I can.

All else is good.  Hope it is the same where you are.

catch up time

June 23

The Coasters left Ennis bright and early this morning.  I hung around the campsite waiting for the tent to dry out.  When I first got up the rain fly was covered with frost.  So I had a little extra time to spend watching sandhill cranes, deer, antelope and the like.  Does life get any better?  It is easy to pray out here.  The prayer usually starts with WOW.  On the flip side, spending so much time alone sometimes it is pretty scary to pray.

So after a couple hours of tremendous scenery I find myself sitting in Yellowstone waiting for the guys.  When I passed them today Jerry was doing just fine about 1 mile behind the others but enjoying himself.  Way to go Jerry!  If Jack and Jeff wait for him before they enter the Park they will get in free on Jerry’s senior pass.  I suspect at that point they may wait.  Camp is set up, saw a few elk, no bear or buffalo just yet.  I’m sitting at a pull of completely visible to them as they pass.  Provided they are looking at something other than the road.  Weather has been good today.  In the sun it is actually hot.

A very old lady just walked past with her cane barely making it.  When she got to the end of the fence she began her stretching exercises.  Hearing more voices I looked up and here comes her husband with a walker looking more feebly than her.  Good for them.  Happy to say they were not driving.

There is an Osprey sitting in a dead tree just waiting for the right moment to do fishing.  Earlier today I did see on bringing home fish for dinner for the family.

Just looked out the window and there is a buffalo in the field across the stream –at this moment there are about 6 cars pulling in – I saw it first – I really did!  Guess I better keep an eye on my rear view mirror.  There is some buffalo fur back at our campsite.  I was thinking that it might make a nice taupe for someone I know.

June 24

So we camped at Madison Campgrounds in Yellowstone.

Sunday morning we took off for Grand Village in the southern part of the Park.  Try as we might we saw only that one buffalo mentioned above.  We were even told that there was Grizzly activity on our campground and we decided that seeing a grizzly would make up for the lack of other wildlife.  Happy to say we did not see a grizzly.  The rain began Monday afternoon.  Just a drizzle here and there.  By about 5 there was thunder in the air.  We attempted to fix supper a number of times but everything we got serious about then and  it began to rain again.  Finally the decision was made to eat out.  We ate at the Lake House.  Nice atmosphere, on Yellowstone Lake.  We headed for bed early, not much else to do in the rain.  Then we heard Jack looking for his cycling shoes.  Seems he might have left them in the shower about 2 hours earlier.  I’d sure like to know who he prayed to – he got back to the shower area about 5 minutes before they closed and managed to find his shoes.  Lost shoes could spell disaster for a cyclist.

It rained off and on during the night.  No Grizzly, no moon, no stars.  Packing up this morning was a challenge.  I have figured out how to take down the tent without removing the rain fly but then the process of taking down the rain fly isn’t a pretty one.  With a chill in the air I stopped for a hot chocolate then hit the road no wildlife but road construction this day.  Got held up for about 30 minutes.  From what Jerry tells me they had to get ferried across the area in the back of a  pickup truck.  We’re at an RV site in Moran WY-nothing fancy but a port in a storm.  ( I think God has been taking part in a new game.  Let’s see if we can blow Sue over as she carries the inflated air mattresses from the van to the tent.  So far I’m managed to stay on my feet – sometimes just barely.)

And a storm it was.  I crawled in to the tent to read about 7:30.  Ten minutes later the heavens opened and the wind began to blow.  It didn’t let up for about a half an hour.  I kept thinking of Jim and Karen who lost their tent in the Badlands to the wind.  Luckily ours held together and we were rewarded with a beautiful double rainbow after the fact.    

It is now Wednesday and the guys are on the road.  I decided to let the tent dry out a little before packing up.  They say the weather will be taking a turn for the better today.  Of course we’ll be leaving the area today.  But the sun is shining and all is well.  Actually it’s wonderful.

Clouds,Clouds and more Clouds

It rained some during the night.  This time the tent did not leak, pleasant surprise.

The Coasters left at their usual time of 6:00 a.m.  I did my usual thing and slept in until 7:00.  When I began to open my eyes I noticed that the sun shining through the tent wasn’t as bright as when I opened my eyes at 6:00.  When I peeked out there were defiantly some dark clouds moving in.  The clouds here are magnificent.   I don’t know if they are logically linked to the weather or not.  I’m sure they are but sometimes they move in strange and mysterious ways.

I got a move on and packed up the inside of the tent as quickly as I could-heated up some water for tea-and finished breaking up camp.  I no sooner had everything in the car, including myself when the heavens opened.  It didn’t rain too hard or too long but I was thankful I could pack up dry.

I headed for Ennis, MT.  On the way I saw a bald eagle, and a flock of white pelicans.   The guys had a good head start on me.  I met up with them at a historical marker.  They all seemed to be doing fine.  I got into Ennis after crossing a pass ele. 7000.  Found a RV park and checked in.  I use to have a bad feeling about RV Parks but, at least out here, they are clean, have an acceptable space for tents and usually have hot showers and a laundry.  What more could you ask for – the men really appreciate the hot showers after a hard day’s riding.

Found my site – pulled in – looked up at the sky and decided I had better work fast.  Got the ground cloth down, tent set up and rain fly on before it got too serious about raining.  I had just finished when Jack called.  He was in town but Jeff and Jerry were behind him on the mountain yet.  When Jack pulled out ahead of them it had started to rain and sleet.  He was worried about them so I set out to rescue them.  Jerry called when I was leaving.  They had just crossed the summit when the rain turned to snow and ice.  They were at a pull off.  Could I come get them?  And be careful because things were icing over on the mountain.  I could have done without that last bit of information.  On the way up it rained hard, turning to sleet, the wind was fierce.  Snow was accumulating on the roadside.  I found them so very cold and wet on a pull off, no shelter.  After they put their bikes on the car they moved in to the car covered with ice.  After a few minutes of the heater cranked all the way up they seemed to thaw out a little.  We got off the mountain safely.  It was still raining for a while when we got back to camp.  They headed for the hot showers and feeling in their hands and feet once again.

Things are dry now and they are getting ready for tomorrow – gear, sandwiches, maps, plans...   Onward to West Yellowstone tomorrow.

We're in Big Sky Country

Last night went well-four Von Handorfs in the same room.  At least there was no sound of zippers in the middle of the night.  Only the door opening and closing (and of course the snoring).  The campground, besides the hot tub which Jerry and I used, had a trout fishing pond for kids  There were some very big fish in the pond, bigger than the catfish my dad use to bring home after fishing in the Ohio (happy to say we didn’t have to eat them.  Dad always gave them away.)

Today was somewhat uneventful.  Jack and Jeff put in over 100 miles.  Jerry held back to about half that.  We went over three passes all above 7,000.  The clouds played with the mountain tops all day long.  Gray skies, blue skies, heavy clouds, wispy clouds and in between clouds.

We’re presently sitting in a campground in Dillon MT.  We drove through a town called Wisdom, population less than 50.   I kind of wanted to stay a little longer and soak up some of the vibes there.

We saw antelope today a family of deer and two little calves running and playing with each other.  I didn’t know cows played…..

We are presently sitting in a campground in Dillon, MT.  2/3 of the men of off to a bike shop the other one opted for a shower.  There is a definite chill in the air, could be another cold one.

Happy Summer Solstice to all.

Ugh.....

Last night was interesting.  I had a difficult time coming to peace with the sound of the river and our neighbors.  So many spaces to choose from and they camp right next to us.  Of course they had to yell to be heard over the river so we also got the benefit of their ‘late night’ conversation.  I do understand that ‘late night’ is relative and might be different for bikers who get up a 5:00 a.m. and most everyone else.

I crawled out from under the sleeping bag about 7:00 this morning, broke camp and took a shower.  Hit the road about 8:00.  This is a crazy road.  Yesterday afternoon it was truly life endangering.  It is a road that is used by logging trucks-sometimes doubled, RVs, semis, boats (on trailers of course) and everyone else.  Speed limit 65.  This is in no way a straight road.  This morning when I got back on to head north I was greeted by a road sign that indicated it was a road shapes like a snake.  Very shortly beyond that the speed limit of 65 was posted.  A few feet beyond that was a Watch for Rocks signed.  Followed by a Watch for Game sign.  Again the speed limit was 65.  Unlike yesterday the traffic was fairly light.  Believe me God heard a Thank You from me.

So I headed for Kooskia – found some camping at the City Park.  It was free. The only catch was the automatic sprinkler system that turns on at midnight.  Not feeling very comfortable with that choice I waited until the men pulled in.  After a little discussion Jerry and I rode off in search of another campsite which we found across the river.  It was not the Ritz (whatever that is).  We found a campsite, the woman told us the rate was $10.  Her husband gave it to us for $20.  The toilets were flush but that is about all I can say for them.  When I checked out the women’s I could have written my name in the dirt and dust on the seat – which, I’m happy to say, I didn’t.  There were spider webs and spiders in the bowl.  I tried flushing but they just moved out of the way and then back again.   Thought I could use the men’s if I had too but happy to say she cleaned it up and it worked just fine.  The shower is another story but you’ll have to check with the guys on that one because I didn’t need a shower that bad….

It started to rain around midnight and continued on to the present moment – 6:00 p.m..  The guys, not wanting to ride in the heavy rain with logging trucks going up and over the pass, piled in to the car with all our wet gear and we headed for Missoula, MT.  We made it.  Stopped at the Adventure Cycling home and talked with some of the staff there.  We are presently following their maps –the concern was over the traffic the Coaster had been encountering and if it would get better or not.  This has become a real issue, a safety issue and a comfort issue.  It could very well effect the outcome of the trip.  There is rumblings among the troops.  We’ll have to wait and see what plays out.

So tonight we have wimped out and are in a motel for the night.  T-storms are predicted and our tents are still wet from last night, our Coleman stove has a major flaw and our new Kelty tent is leaking.  That being said – tonight we will be warm and dry.  Ahhh....(almost).

Ahhhh,...

... here I sit besides the Little Salmon River ( I think) tent sat up on a grassy campsite site waiting for the Coasters to roll in – and they will provided that can do 100 miles today.

But let’s back up a little.  The ‘to do list’ of Saturday got done.   We even managed to get to church in the evening.   Jeff and Jack cooked up some metts and brats for supper.  That was nice.

Up and at them early on Sunday, aka Father’s Day they hit the road once again.  I think their dad would be proud of them, even though he wouldn’t understand it.  And their children should be proud of them also.  How many people can say their father is attempting to bike across country….

Yesterday, during the late morning I caught up with them as they were climbing a very steep mountain.  I waited at the top so see if anyone needed anything or if they wanted to call it quits.  Silly me!  In order of usual appearance Jack rolled in first, Jeff with him, Jerry bringing up the rear (although I hear Jerry is out in front on the downhills – not sure I wanted to hear that.)  When I asked Jerry how he was doing he reply:  “I feel like I was made for this!”  Okay then…..

We said good-bye to Oregon and hello to Idaho when we crossed the Snake River.  My first reaction to the road taking us to ID was, This can’t be right!  It was gravel, and twisted and turned its way along the Snake River.  There was a sign at the beginning that read something like; WARNING – travel at your own risk.  Road is not maintained by highway department.  Falling rocks possible.  The road turned in to a paved one about 2 miles in.  The actual boarder was the dam that crossed the river.   We left Oregon and the Pacific Time Zone behind.  The campground was a large one that sits on the lake created by the dam.  It was a nice lakeshore site.  Couldn’t have asked for anything more beautiful.

Being Father’s Day I fixed a special supper – pasta (again)  but we did have a bottle of wine.  They also received a Tootsie Roll POP and a gift card from Starbucks from the only one of us who isn’t a father.

The Coasters were up and at ‘em early again today.  Hoping to do 100 miles.  I hope they do also because if they don’t we won’t be joining up tonight.

As I still sit here besides the Little Salmon River (by the way this is the area that Clair worked on when she was with the white water rafting people & the ski resort) so, as I sit here besides the raging river I’m wondering if this was the best choice of sites – we may all be deaf by morning.  But it is shaded – and suppose to hit 92 today. 

OREGON -

-the Pacific Ocean

-beautiful rock strewn rugged coast 

-elk roaming the campground

-white capped waves crashing on to the shore

-heavy traffic at times and fast

-beautiful sunsets which come around much later than at home

-nice national forest campgrounds

-oceans, mountains, hills, fossil beds, flat land, canyons, praires, rock formations, buttes and ancient geological history

-very simple camping experiences

-learning to look at roads through the eyes of a biker

-driving along with a WOW and Thank You in my heart and on my lips

-heavy wind swept clouds

-country/western towns, one street towns, ranches, cattle, sheep, horses

- signs – tsunami zone and warnings, elk, rock, free range livestock, wildlife migration route, speed (I’m convinced that the speed posted must be the minimum since everyone drives at least 15 miles over the posted speed), historical marker ahead (and in my head, take time to slow down and see the sights), gas $4.89

-bikers with tremendous appetites

-roads that wind and climb and twist and turn – sometimes all at once

-pit toilets, vault toilets and some that actually flush toilets

-spring wildflowers that look somewhat related to those back home but are not exactly the same

-birds and look and sound somewhat related to those back home but are not exactly the same

-setting up camp on dirt, dust, pine needles and/or grass