LOBAA46 - Gros Ventre Campground about 12 miles from Jackson, WY

7/01/08 Tue MDT
LOBAA46 - Gros Ventre Campground about 12 miles from Jackson, WY
Sally bike mileage/time 96.52 / 7:26:40
Sally Total 3268.61
Bill bike mileage/time 0
Bill Total 1049.5
Jim mileage 108.3
Jim total 7764.8

Sally:
The morning started with head-winds and climbing. I thought it was
going to be a long day. Then my SAG driver showed up with another
layer of clothes for me and I was much happier. Can't remember just
when, but the head-winds quit and then it was all good. It was
overcast until we were almost to the summit, 9650 ft or so. Bill and I
planned to meet there before continuing. I was puzzled when I got to
the summit and no Bill in sight. Since there was an outhouse I stopped
and thought maybe Bill would show. When I came out of the bathroom, a
road worker was taking down the summit sign, then he drove away! I
thought this is really weird where is the summit. A little ways down
the road the fellow had pulled over in his truck. I asked him where
the summit really was, he assured me it was all downhill from there
and that there was another sign a bit further ahead. Sure enough Bill
was just around the corner and there was the continental divide sign.
Don't know why they wouldn't be at the same point. It had been a long
climb, but the grade was good and the scenery stunning. It had that
nice woodsy, alpine feel to it. Still snow banks next to the road. On
the way down there were several road construction projects going. At
one they absolutely refused to let cyclists ride through---I had to
load in the back of a pick-up with my bike and get shuttled a half-
mile or so. Then the next flagger let me go through at the end of the
line of cars. I was as close as I felt safe behind the last car, but
the worker running the front-end loader must have been just looking
for cars and didn't see me. He backed quickly and I had to ride into
the side of the ditch to miss his back tire! I guess that was to
reinforce to me that riding in the pick-up was a good idea. On down
into Teton National Park. It was so beautiful. I stopped a few times
for pictures, but knew Bill would be taking lots too. The rest of the
day was spent riding through the Park staring at those amazing
mountains. Got into camp just minutes before a huge downpour that made
instant lakes. So glad we aren't tenting. We were snug inside
Cramalot and Bill made a great goulash for our dinner. Tomorrow we are
sleeping in and riding into Jackson for breakfast!
Bill:
No riding for me today as last night's campground was 7 miles of
gravel road off route so I needed to shuttle Sally back to the route.
I took about 350 pictures today on this, our most scenic day of the
trip so far. Peering out the window of the car, the foreground seemed
normal but the Tetons in the background seemed more like a painting
than reality. Sally managed to avoid rain today and I made the right
decision to drive not cycle back to the camping pay booth as when I
got there in the car the sky opened up with lightening, heavy rain and
some hail. We had a second storm go through shortly after the first
but all has calmed down now as we prepare for bed at our usual 8:30
p.m. or so. Tomorrow is the last day that we follow our Adventure
Cycling maps. After that we are winging it!