Day 16—July 04, 2006—Jackson, WY to
Dubois, WY—88 miles—3450’ climb
What a
fantastic day. Though I’ve staffed/ridden this route twice before, this day
never ceases to amaze. The first part
of today's route took us out of Jackson and
along the valley known as Jackson Hole . As
soon as we rounded a curve in the road outside of Jackson, the magnificent,
snow splashed Grand Tetons knocked our socks off and dominated the northern skyline. The Grand Tetons are the youngest mountains in the entire Rocky Mountain
system, their jagged peaks (12 over 12,000 feet) being only 2 or 3 million
years old. When French trappers first observed the three most prominent peaks —
South Teton, Grand Teton, and Mount
Teewinot — they dubbed
these mountains “Les trois tetons,”
meaning "the three breasts." Later when they discovered that these
were surrounded by numerous smaller peaks, they renamed the range “Les grands tetons.” Definitely mother
earth at her finest.
We are in
the Stagecoach Motel, right on the Wind River. Today the Stagecoach shut down at 2 so that its owners
could participate in the town’s Fourth of July parade (riders participated,
too; and one of the support vans got hung up in the midst of the parade so took
the opportunity to smile and wave at the locals) The sidewalks of Dubois are
wood planks (two with America by Bicycle branded into them), the architecture
western, and the natives cowboys and cowgals.
Across from
the motel is a store called Horse Creek Station, its player piano tinkling out
tunes until dark, and farther down main street is a drugstore where one can
still sit on stools and get a fountain drink. This evening we were fed a lasagna dinner in the back room of a
western eatery called the Rustic Pines. We had to eat and run before the square
dancing began at 7. We were all invited to come dance. Some riders took up the
invitation, others did laundry in the little laundry/picnic pavilion behind the
motel, quaffed a cold one in the saloon, played horseshoes, swam in the pool,
shopped in the quaint stores along the main street, and watched the fireworks
display in the evening.
Congratulations to the winners of the Fourth of July
bike decorating contest: 3rd Place, Sarah Grant whose bike was decorated with red, silver, and blue
streamers, a special flag, and wind wheels. Sarah also wore tinsel
streamers under her helmet as hair. 2nd Place to Tim & Kathryn
Tolford, who managed to put stars and silhouettes of Lincoln and Washington at
their hubs. Tim also wore a huge red/white and blue Uncle Sam Hat. 1st Place went to Raymond Herrly and mom Lillian
Pfluke whose top bar was entwined with blue tinsel wreathing and whose spokes
were red/white/blue. Great work, too, to all the other riders who decorated
their bikes so artfully.
The riders
and staff all send a huge THANK YOU to Tracey Bail who sent dozens of huge
chocolate cookies for the SAG Stops.
We miss you Tracey!
OVERHEARD ON
THE ROAD TODAY:
* “This last climb was much easier than
yesterday’s!”
* “This could be the setting for the ‘Sound of Music.”
* “This is the most beautiful day ever!”
* “Boy, after yesterday, my legs felt that!”
SHOW & TELL: Franz saw an elk; a bison/buffalo crossed the highway right in front of a group of riders; a large group of riders from the Triangle X dude ranch crossed the road in front of riders; many noticed the flowers along the climb and reached the summit to ask “What was that [fill in the blank] flower?”
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