Diary

Mileage:  34.35 miles (55.26 kms)

Elevation Change:  472 feet (144 meters)

Weather:  sunny and pleasant

Morale:  Sky high!

Incidents: Raymond’s Bday, passed 1000 miles,

Chris and Ray ride by themselves

Daily Summary:

Today was Raymond’s 16th birthday, and he got to spend it with his 60 current best friends.  We had a very easy day today, going not even 35 miles with no climbing at all.   Whenever we passed a fellow cyclists I would yell “birthday boy coming through!” and everyone had a lot of fun with their comments and encouragement.  The route left Blackfoot (where 30% of the world’s potatoes come from), and followed up the Snake River to Idaho Falls.  Our hotel is right on the falls.  Idaho Falls (population 50,000) is so big that it has TWO Wallmarts!  It was good to have a recovery day today after yesterday’s big effort, and before we go over Teton Pass tomorrow and the Continental Divide the next day.   Christopher was manning the SAG stop (Support and Gear Stop).  When Raymond and I got there, Chris and Ray decided that they would take over the bike and ride it the remaining 7 miles to the hotel themselves.  I was relegated to the truck and they did a super job bringing it in to town.   Nice pool time, laundry, and birthday prep took up my time.  We gave Raymond some presents (thanks Uncle John and Aunt A. for the package from Hawaii!), and had a birthday cake with 16 candles for the group dinner.  Tonight it’s early to bed as we’ll be on the road at sunup again to tackle the big pass—almost 7000 feet of climbing tomorrow.

 

In the pictures you see Christopher and a new found friend at one of the stops.  Next, our speedometer goes past 1000 miles.  Chris and Ray ride off without Mama on a birthday ride into town.  And finally, Raymond’s cake.