P2P13.... The Adventure Begins!: Continental Divide and weird weather....

We crossed the Great Divide on the 27th.....and it was amazing! Camped at a spot about 5 miles from the beginning of an 18 mile ascent. We got up,to a brilliant morning, and we were psyched, knowing we would pedal over 3500 ft in elevation. The weather was cool and sunny, and the climb was relatively easy, taking about 4 hours to reach the summit...(yes, that's slow, I kept stopping to take pictures and catch my breath!). I knew the elevation would make things slow, since I got dizzy just blowing up my air mattress the night before. Tino said he felt the same, sort of breathless and tired, especially upon starting up again after a rest. What an exhilarating feeling to reach the top! 9584ft. In elevation. It was so beautiful and we stayed as long as we could to soak up the incredible beauty and majesty of the area.

Continuing through Wyoming, we found that antelope outnumber people here by a large factor, and 100 miles of nothingness means little to those who live here. A typical inquiry goes something like this:

...Is there a place to camp 60 miles down this road?

...Um, no...

...oh, ok, is there a place we can get water along this road?

...hmmmm...well there used to be a town, but I don't think anyone is there anymore.

...oh, ok...ummm can you think of ANYPLACE that we could get water and set up a tent? We are on BICYCLES..

...No, not really...

...ok, we'll, thanks for the information ( sigh).

We had some strange storms pass us by, with high winds and ominous looking clouds, but nothing really came of them except soul crushing headwinds. Arg!

But we have managed, and met more wonderful people along the way. Like the guy who came running out of his bar in Highland, offering us water and menus and beer....after we had battled impossible headwinds for over 4 hours at an excruciatingly slow pace. So we had beer in the bar and started talking to the one other guy there, and I said, "so there's 10 people in this town, so the sign says?"

With a beer slurred chuckle he replied," Heck no, there haven't been 10 people here in years. There's 2!" "Ah, " I said, " so we have met you both then?"

"Oh no, I ain't from here...I live in Powder River and we got 5 families living there!" I just smiled and nodded, completely enchanted with the thought of that. AND there was a tiny motel next door! (Yes, I mean tiny, think Hobbit meets Borrowers).Soon Mary, the other inhabitant of Highland came out to show me the tiny motel room. It was beautiful, since we were so spent. We had showers and slept like babies. At coffee the next morning, Mary was preoccupied with swatting flies at our table, until she finally gave us the fly swatter, saying" I always give my customers a fly swatter so they won't be bothered by them.." Utterly delightful! We had a great chat with Mary before we left, she was so great. If any of you are ever near Highland Wyoming, please eat at the bar, and stay in the motel...he makes a mean burger, and Mary makes the tiny rooms really homey.

So much more to say, but I'll leave you with a few pictures and call it good. We are having a blast...(along with many challenges).

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!