A nervous night is not the best preparation for a hard day to come. Anyways – the French toast with lots of maple syrup should help me out. The mind is a strange thing – cannot always control negative thoughts! Doubts are always popping up. The only thing to do is to follow Rulon’s example and go for it.
The first part – still in the Star Valley with horses and farmland and a meandering road is steadily uphill. Good to know this – one might think he doesn’t get forward at all.
Comes the climb up to Salt River Pass – puffing all the way till the top! Some cyclists without luggage pass me – those guys are just practicing. Some people in cars give me a thumbs-up!
That’s always very encouraging!
So after 15 miles of climbing I finally get my reward: a screaming downhill – rolling me all the way into a new state: Idaho.
I am very anxious now: is the man with the jerky and the cold water there? Yeah… one mile up the road he is sitting there with his dog. He remembers me from last year and offers me free pop and water and a taste of steak (smoked). The Nevada native comes here in summertime to cool off – we talk about our work and family. He even offers me ice for my water bottles! Before leaving him, I give him a big big hug!
Next “town” is Geneva – there is almost nothing there, except a house with a tree giving shade and in the house are friendly people who once gave us (remember Céline) food and water! Living on the countryside is so different from living in a city! A five mile climb at 12.30 pm is not really good for my ticker but pacing helps and looking back on how high we are getting is fun! I can do this – again! Geneva summit – we conquered you! No time to stop there ‘cause bugs are so fond of the smell of my sweat that I get attacked by them. Out of here! Down, down, down – another 9 miles to roll me into Montpelier. My first stop is The Arctic Circle where a pepsi float is my reward. A man with 19 boys comes up to me and asks me:”were you the one climbing that hill? We almost stopped to give you a ride but didn’t because we know you kind of people want to get there!”. I thank him anyways for the sweet thought and away he is with his 19 boys to Salt Lake City. Tomorrow is a short and flat day – and also the world cup final soccer (women) Japan against USA. I wonder…
Yes Renet, I remember...we were sitting on the empty site next to the house in the full sun....when a woman stood in the door and asked us why we were sitting there en asked us to come in shadow, I think we sat there for 1.5hr ... and then I had to clear my brains (that little thing in my head), turn the "knop" and start with new energy for a good climb!!!! :-) ... Like to read your stories, what a memories!!!
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