Outskirts of Wamsutter, WY to the Outskirts of Clark, CO
Mileage: 201.4 km (125.1 mi)
Riding Time: 18h 23m
Standing: 14th place
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| Day 11 Map |
Back on the road around 5am.
Jose started off a bit quicker than I like to so I encouraged him to go
ahead. I rode slow with the double
vision still lingering. I rolled into
the huge gas station in Wamsutter to get some food. This place was massive. It services a lot of truckers so it was
bustling at 6am. There were showers, a
Subway and lots of food to choose from.
I cleaned up in the bathroom and had a burrito roll thing for
breakfast. Jose left the station a bit
earlier than me and I saw him ride off into the distance. The road leading out of Wamsutter is soul
sucking. Straight with loose pea gravel
and not much to see except oil infrastructure and the odd antelope. It reminded me of Alberta with the rig
rockets blasting past me. All the
drivers were pretty considerate and gave a wave when they drove by.
The road curved among some rolling hills that went through
more desert-like conditions. At every
little bridge over a blue line on a map there was nothing but dry sand in the
creek bed. It was getting hotter and
hotter and it felt like the moisture was being sucked from every pore in my
body. For the first time in the race, I
finished my bladder and had to refill from the water bottle reserves. Hot and
dry. I came over a rise and down into an
area with some farms. The trail went
down into a valley and back up a really long, straight hill that I had to
walk. It felt good to see other cycling
shoe prints in the dry gravel. I’m not
the only one walking! After that hill,
the road led down into Savery.
I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as resupply. I just
really need water. That stretch seemed
way tougher than the Basin. I am sure
the conditions came into play. I think
my time in the Basin was really good with the cooler temperatures and
favourable wind. Then I saw Jose at a
community center of some kind. I stopped and he said there was food in the
basement. Cool! Jose didn’t stay long
and was on his way as I went down to get some food. This was the Little Snake River Museum that I
saw in some pictures. What a nice
spread. Some volunteers offer food for
donations. You can go into the kitchen
and make yourself some sandwiches and eat various snacks. It was great!
I talked to Kristin while munching down on some chips and
vegetables. I probably stayed a bit too
long, but not too long, and was on my way again. More beautiful countryside as I made my way
to the Brush Mountain Lodge.
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On the way to Brush Mountain Lodge
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| Brush Mountain Lodge |
Brush Mountain Lodge is a must-stop. I rolled up and was met with a big hug from Kirsten
and found out I had a nickname: Dean the Machine. Cool!
I had some watermelon as I talked to Billy and Lina Rice. David Stowe rode up shortly after and joined
us. Kirsten made me 5 PB&Js for
supper and breakfast and I was on my way to the sound of cowbells and
cheers. Uplifting! I rolled along dodging piles of cow poo and
enjoyed the evening.
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| Cows a plenty (poo too) |
The road steadily climbed up to Meaden Peak. I talked to a northbounder couple on the
way. They looked so clean. The sun was setting as the gentle climbing
turned into a steep hike-a-bike. Lots of
big rocks and a bit of mud.
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| Looking back to the sunset |
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| Pushing up the rocky trail |
I kept climbing as the setting sun turned into
darkness. I reached the top and there
was a campground. I rode slowly looking
to see if I recognised any campers, but didn’t even see any tents. The forest was too thick. Someone called out, “Are you okay?” It’s probably odd to have someone rolling up
to the top of a mountain late at night.
I reassured the voice that I was okay as I started the descent. “Be safe!” they yelled as I rode away. I descended fast and maybe a bit reckless in
the dark. The trail was rocky with
sections of softball and basketball sized rocks all over the trail. My lights
were pretty bright so I could keep a good speed. I made it down into Clark safe and sound, but
a bit sore from gripping my handlebars and standing on the pedals all the way
down. I rode past the Clark Store and
continued down the pavement looking for a bivy spot. I found one on the side of the road in a
stand of trees.
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| Bivy in the trees |
The PB&Js were delicious as I set up camp. My sleep was great as I settled into my
bivy. I was really starting to look
forward to my bivy during the day. So
cozy and warm.
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