Day 16 July 2

Day 16   July 2.  Jackson to Dubois
 

We went over the continental divide today. The rivers and streams are flowing east, the same direction we are headed.
Today was one of those fooler days. Yesterday was the big ride, climbing 5500 feet, so we all thought we'd be in for a relatively easy day. While it may have been a little easier, today certainly presented it's challenges.
We left Jackson a little after 7:30 this morning with blue skies and coolish temperatures. Just outside of town we jumped on a bike path for 12 miles - nice smooth surface - and into Teton National Park. If you've never visited here, I would recommend a trip.
 Then at about mile 36, we began to climb, and climb, and climb. Fifteen mils we climbed, with lots of it at 5 or 6 percent grades. I would guess it took about two hours, maybe longer to climb that pass. Climbing was bad enough but the escort of dozens of deer flies was not so fin either.

But when we got to the top, we were at the continental divide. What a great feeling. The Togwotee Pass is 9,658 above sea level. And then the descent, narly seven miles at between 25 and 35 mph. That felt good. We were told the rest of the ride into Dubois would be mostly downhill. And it was. What they forgot to report is that there would be strong head winds. So the lat 18 miles were tough. The last several hours were tough, first going over the divide, then battling the winds. We finally got in around 3p, having ridden nearly 90 miles and climbed 3800 feet.  So far we've climbed over 48,000 feet, nearly 45% of what we are scheduled for the whole trip!  Give me some flat roads.

As we were walking to a restaurant in Dubois, there was a guy standing on the sidewalk with his dog. I stopped to chat and learned that Jim grew up in Jackson, his parents live in Dubois, but he actually moved to Cincinnati several years ago. He used to climb the towers (cell phones), but not any longer. I told him of my fear for heights and he related that with all the safety equipment, you're actually safer working on the towers than you are walking down the stairs in your house. Yeah, but if you fall down the stairs, you're more likely to break a leg or an arm. Falling from a tower, well, the result will not be good.

Jim is visiting his parents and will attend the opening of the assisted living facility that is opening here tomorrow. I think his parents will be some of the new residents.

Dubois is a stereotypical cowboy town with the architecture. Just picture the old westerns and you know what Dubois looks like. Even the sidewalks are wooden planks.

Be well.

Don