Silverthorne, CO

Climbs!

First we climbed up away from the Colorado river through the mouth of gore canyon.

Then we climbed through ute pass.

Now we are in silverthorne. Threaded the needle between some thunderstorms! 

Tough 65 miles today. Very tired.

The descent from Ute pass.

Look at that shiny new red pannier!

Bears on bears on bears

Well after bearing in mind the risk of not securing our food from creatures the whole trip we finally had an encounter.

We were camping in Steamboat Springs, CO. One of those busy commercial joints. We asked if they had somewhere we could put our food or if we should just bear bag it (hang from tree). The employee laughed and said that isn't a problem here but thanks for asking.

In the middle of the night we heard a bike fall over. We where very tired and it was very windy. So no investigation.

In the morning we found the damage. The bear had ripped into our dry bag/pannier and eaten nearly all of our food and our bug spray. It also shredded Jennie's front dry bag and cracked her helmet. 

Fortunately upon explaining what happened to the campground, the owner cut us a check to cover some of our costs. It was very generous and made the damage easier to bear.

We rounded up a new pannier, dry bag, helmet, and cache of food in steamboat. It was lucky we were in a town that had everything! We were riding by noon and by 8 or so had done all the miles we had planned to do.

Where we are camped is lousy with Mosquitos so it is probably best we got here late anyway. We are our dinner while briskly walking around the campsite to avoid the mosquitos.

Some really great riding today. Lots of climbing and a really cool descent! We are camped along the Colorado river! Lack of pictures due to time crunch.

60 miles today, Silverthorne tomorrow. Bear damages below.

Mixed emotions and Colorado

Well, we skipped a big chunk of trail. From Pinedale it looked like rain and thunderstorms were forecasted for the great divide basin. A long wide open section with no cover and sections that are impassable when wet. We didn't want to lose more time because of weather and were terrified of the notion of thunderstorms in the open so we got a ride to Rawlins.

We don't feel great about skipping. But since we aren't going to finish it seems like less of an issue to focus on riding as much as possible and enjoying ourselves.

Rode 15 miles out of Rawlins to a desert camp. Heard coyotes a lot, lots of wind. Very pretty.

Rode 70 or so to brush mountain lodge yesterday where we had lots of food and beer and had a great time talking with some local folks. That is an amazing place. If you ride the divide you must go to there.

Today we rode to steamboat springs. Waiting for the brewery to open. The ride was great! Big steep climb early then lots of descending and nice rolling riding. The first part of the descent may have been incredibly rocky.

Staying here tonight. Trying to get to Salida this weekend for a beer festival and to see an old friend.

Pinedale

Had a couple of great riding days recently. Unfortunately more storms yesterday. We hitched a ride for the last bit of yesterday to avoid thunderstorms and to get to pinedale before the bike shop closed (and closed for the 4th). It was a bunch of flat pavement so we don't feel bad :p. Good news is my headset is okay for now and the play in my front hub was a figment of my imagination or just not bad enough to worry about.

Taking a rest day here in Pinedale for our heads as much as legs. Our bad luck with the weather has us dreading the great divide basin section. It is a long way with very little shelter from bad weather. 

Forecast is pretty good though, so we'll see.

Didn't take any phone pics yesterday but this beer was good.

Halfway to somewhere: day 20

Camped with some fun guys from Knoxville last night. Some good southeastern camaraderie! 

Short day today on the count of limited sleeping options..50 miles or so. Hoping for pinedale tomorrow. That'd be a big day and hopefully a fixed headset.

Today a climb up to 9500 ft! It was great! Long climbs over rolling terrain any day.

A scene from the notch and the top of the climb.

Oh them Tetons is big now

Shortish 60 miles today through sweet terrain near Yellowstone. Then some highway to wherever we are now.

It is a campground on Jackson Lake.

It is FULL of people and we feel a little overwhelmed. Cyclist camping is secluded and nice.

There are gorgeous views of te Tetons everywhere and there is beer.

Climby on the morrow.

His and hers. Rode to the lake without our stuff. Our bikes were FAST!

Kid in the back is mad impressed by Jennie's glove tan.

Day 18: somewhere in Idaho

RV camping place let us pitch a tent in their yard last night. Got to smell lots of grilling while we ate our pasta sides.

Back and forth today with two other groups of riders. 

Pretty and mellow riding. Along with our first glimpses of some random big mountains in the distance.

Wyoming tomorrow. 

They look oh so GRAND.

Awesome descent along the Warm River.