Flat Tires Day 17

4/01/2015

Rode 90 miles

Rode approx. 9 hr

I saw a good bit of wildlife on today’s ride.  A rattlesnake was hanging out in the road, a possible roadrunner shot across the road, a javelin pig like mammal from the family Tayassuidae…. not to be confused with the escaped domestic pig which is from the family Suidae. I was told by someone that they were not pigs, he seemed very adamant about this. Now you know, too.

Cycled past the McDonald observatory, it was getting close to dusk. I kept a watchful eye for a stealth campsite. However, none of the scarce vegetation looked appropriate. Not only was it infrequent but the copses were made of scrub brush. I kept pushing on, hoping for a spot.  Started the day off strong, 40 miles in two and a half hours,  then head winds again brought my pace to a slow creeping struggle. Earlier in the trip the highway berm disengaged and all but disappeared leaving behind rumble like strips which caused my bike to vibrate uncomfortably beneath me. Teeth chattering and slamming together, I struggled to keep my bike upright. This must have caused the bolts to come loose on my bike rack and saddle bags. I lost one off the bike and one off the saddle bag.

Found a campground just before dark. I had run out of food except for the oatmeal which l tire of quickly on adventures. I approached and asked a lady, who was car camping in a new red Tacoma with a camper on top, at the campsite beside me if I could buy food from her. She said she would give me some leftovers, it was late and if I would have been here earlier she would have made me a proper meal.  She rummaged through her cooler and produced a chicken leg and a salad with cheese, salami, and a variety of greens. It was delicious! The cheese, which might be my favorite food, was awesome! I haven’t had either for two weeks. She talked to me while I ate. I had offered to buy the food earlier knowing full well that no one was going to sell food to a person cycling across the United States that looked like he was starving. They were going to give it to me. I offered to pay her again and her response was priceless. “Honey, I live in Jackson Hole.”

Stayed at Mt. Davis