The fun meter went into big time negative territory today, so much so that I opted for a ride in the van after lunch. Just could not get the speed I wanted and working way too much to be fun, despite the beautiful scenery winding through the Flaming Gorge and Ashley National Forrest. Glad I did because there was a stupifying long steep climb at the 95 mile mark. I got out at the last rest stop and wheeled it on in finishing with about 115 miles. A lot of people did rather well, though they were really beat when they finished. I had been having some intestinal issues and that coupled with the cumulative fatigue and altitude I think did me in. I was not alone as Craig and Marlene joined me. I believe some other folks behind us sagged on in too. It was just a damn tough day.
Noteworthy today, for me, was the remarkable contrast between complete desolate sage brush desert on one side of a mountain and verdant green rangeland on the other side. This is free range too, so it is quite common to have cattle crossing the road in front of you. At the higher elevations are forests similar to what I have seen on the way up to Mt Mitchell in North Carolina.
115 miles
17 mph average
43 mph max speed
6:48 ride time
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