~BunceMan's TranzAmerican Bike Ride~

Log Entry #16: June 23, 2005

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 11: Moran Junction to Riverton, Wyoming. "Hey, BunceMan, which would you choose: going 50 miles into a headwind -or- 100 miles with a tailwind?"

"I'll take the distance and the tailwind. I'll get to Atlantic City faster."

Wind. Big wind. I'm rolling along quite fast for a two-wheeler down Highway 26 from Togwotee Pass, but I don't feel any wind.. my jersey is hanging limp from my chest. Yet the landscape along the side of the road is being bent over by a big wind. For 100 miles, I am one with the wind. It follows the road in the same direction I am taking. A couple of times, I slowed down and stepped out of the wind to make a phone call or take a picture, and felt the force of this tailwind. I hardly had to peddle to join the wind once again down the road, a road that followed the Wind River of Idaho..

I've enjoyed tailwinds before, but today was something else. I rode the last 35 miles to Riverston in 1 hour and 15 minutes..

Actually, this extraodinary day of riding did not start with my flight down the road with the big wind. Although Togwatee Pass is higher than Teton Pass, the ascent is more gradual.. and more scenic. High altitude meadows still emerging from random melting snow patches, that feed the streams that feed the raging rivers further down the mountains. A beautiful way to leave the Rockies on my journey east.

BunceMan.com