Howdy from Jackson, Wyoming! It's been so long since I've had internet access that I've gone through 3 states, 2 and a half mountain ranges, and an entire journal since I've last blogged. Therefore, I'll give you some of my highlights from Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming in bullet form. In Bike & Build world, we refer to everything by location instead of calendar date or weekday. Therefore, I'll fill you in based on where I was when it happened.
- Denver, CO: 1st view of the Rockies. Home of Rachael (one of our leaders), who we had to race to keep up with as she sprinted the last 25/100 miles home at 22mph (vs our usual 15ish mph). Quirky, alternative city with lots of nice people. Ran into my UNC friend Stephan, who is biking from San Francisco to DC with Journey of Hope. Built with Habitat for Humanity in Golden, CO.
- Boulder, CO: On the way there, stopped in Golden for a free private tour of the Coors Factory! Got stuck in a 5-minute hail storm off the mountains. Had a great day off exploring the University of Colorado and spending too much money on the ritzy Pearl Street.
- Estes Park, CO: Climbed a 30-foot rock with the peer pressure/help of some of the guys- definitely something I'd never even attempt in real life. Day 1 in the Rockies, which included some breathtaking views and also some breathtaking climbs. Stayed at Eagle Rock School, an alternative high school tucked away in the mountains.
- Trail Ridge: Climbed to over 12,000 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park. The magnificent views distracted us from the difficult climbing. Descended 4 miles in the pouring rain at 40 degrees- SO cold! Saw 4 big elk with enormous antlers. Crossed the Continental Divide!
- Steamboad Springs, CO: Passed Chimney Rock (hello, Oregon Trail!). Hung out in hillsides covered in wild flowers. Descended for 7 miles into Steamboat Springs. Rode down an Alpine Slide. Drove out to the middle of nowhere to Strawberry Park Hot Springs, where we soaked in big, natural rock waterfalls and hot tubs under a starry sky. Worked with the Rotary Club to build a mountain bike trail (Habitat canceled on us). participated in a Harry Potter Scavenger Hunt around town. Napped and then saw the Harry Potter 7 II premier at midnight (and then got 2.5 hours of sleep before our 75-mile ride. Worth it.).
- Vernal, Utah: After riding through the desert (and hearing/seeing a live rattlesnake on the roadside!), our route collided with another Bike & Build route, South Carolina to Santa Cruz (SC2SC). Took pictures with them at the Utah Border and then hung out with them that night. Awesome to see another 32 people pedaling in the same uniform with the same goal!
- Flaming Gorge, Utah: Detoured an extra 12 miles to see the Flaming Gorge Canyon. Despite a challenging ride through the Uintah Mountains, the detour was worth it. Saw several big-horned sheep hopping around. Jumped off a 30-foot cliff into the river. Camped nearby, and saw an explosion of color as the sun set to the west, setting the eastern canyon wall aflame. A thunderstorm rolled in, adding lightening and a rainbow to the pallet.
- Jackson, Wyoming: Rode a century through sage brush and nothingness and passed several Oregon Trail historical markers. Saw a few wild horses, but most were up in the hills due to all of the rain. Saw the magnificent Grand Tetons waiting for us in the distance. Enjoyed the playful, cheerful summer mountainside rivers and wildflowers. In Jackson, hung out in the Wild-West style downtown.
Day off in Jackson! Time to go white-water rafting!
Love,
Abby
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