Day 23: Lander to Dubois, WY

Today we packed up early and hit the road at 0530 in an effort to get a many miles in as possible before the wind picked up.  I had prepared breakfast sandwiches yesterday, so we rode for about an hour before we stopped to eat.  The wind did pick up around 0730, so we put about 26 miles behind us before the west wind started to pick up.  It would steadily increase all day, but never got as bad as the day I was riding into Lander and needed to get picked up.  The scenery is getting more varied and awesome as we go farther northwest in WY.

The painted rocks and Wind River

Wyoming’s Mt. Rushmore

Flowers along the road

Red Rocks area and the Wind River

Brian and I took turns pulling, which made it much easier.  There were gusts, but not like before.  The wind speed picked up to a steady 15 mph with gusts of about 30 mph and was generally a headwind.  When wind is gusting I prefer a headwind because it is less exhausting than leaning in to a crosswind and trying to maintain a straight line as the wind turns the front wheel (due to drag of the front panniers).  

It was a long day into the wind, but it was also a very enjoyable day because of having good company and teamwork.  Tonight we are staying in the St. Thomas Episcopal churc fellowship hall.  

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

We rode to a nearby KOA campground to take showers, then went to a nearby VFW hall for their Friday Night Fish Fry.  They were serving Cod and Catfish, and the food was simple and good.  After dinner we rode out bikes to the Dubois fairgrounds for a rodeo.

Barrel Racing

A young man was competing in the bareback bronco event (where they tie one hand to the horn of the saddle).  He got bucked off, but he was unable to releases his hand.  It was awful to watch.  He was taken away in an ambulance.  Rodeo is a dangerous sport even at a small town amateur level.  Tomorrow we cross Togwotee pass and finish up at Grand Teton NP.  I am very excited because seeing Grand Teton and Yellowstone NP’s has  been the highlight I have been waiting for since Yorktown VA in 2018.

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