Coast to Coast 2022 Adventure Day 15: Rawlins, WY to Walden, CO
This post is part of a series detailing my 2022 coast to coast cycling adventure.
Back in the saddle and back to the regular format.
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” — Vince Lombardi.
“Oh it’s good to be back!” — Tony Stark
Day 15 Highlights:
Song of the day: Alive Again by Chicago
Start: Rawlins, WY
End: Walden, CO
Distance: 109.1 miles
Elevation: 4,495 ft
Breakfast: Egg, bacon, cheese sandwich made in BNB
Lunch: Dee supplied sandwiches
Dinner: Antlers Inn Hotel in Walden
Progress so far: 1283.0 miles, 46,985 ft climbed.
Here are all of the details on today’s ride:
Sitting out two days was really, really hard to do. And, maybe I’m the only one that really cares, but it will always bother me a bit that my trip was not one continuous line from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without interruption. It’s kind of like getting that first scratch on your new car that you thought would be perfect forever. But right now my overriding emotion is my joy of being back on the road and back on the bike and not lying under the covers wondering when I would be able to eat again, let alone be able to ride 100 miles a day.
I am glad that I took two full days off. I was completely incapacitated for the first day and I spent the second getting food in my body, getting my strength back, and getting “normal” again. I have also felt the benefit of a couple of days off in letting little aches and pains and saddle soreness heal up.
Before we headed out for the day I noticed that my bottom bracket (the thing the crank arms attach to) had a little bit of play, which is generally not good and will lead to it quickly wearing out. Fortunately, a conversation with Michael back at Velo Science (my home shop in Columbus) led to a few tips for making easy adjustments, which I did later that evening.
The ride out of Rawlins was how I envisioned Wyoming before we came out here. Desolate and flat, wide open, and windy, with mountains here and there.
There was very little shade to be had anywhere but I managed to find some.
We met Dee for lunch about 65 miles into our 109 miles. There was no real “place” to meet so we set up shop in a turnout next to a ranch. These cows were quite curious about us and our bikes. I get the feeling they have been fed from this spot before.
The landscape goes on forever here but it’s the sky that takes your breath away and makes you feel small. Especially when you can see the rain coming from miles away.
And the rain did come. But it never got heavy or violent enough to cause us problems. More than anything the shade from the clouds and the occasional sprinkles kept us comfortable and cool.
Wyoming was amazing and beautiful, especially the Tetons. And it was painful and heartbreaking for me with my health problems. As we now cross over into Colorado we bid The Equality State adieu and say hello to The Centennial State.
Upon arriving at the Antlers Inn in Walden, we learned that Colorado 125, our route for the next day, was closed due to mudslides. After talking to a few local folks, and most importantly the Grand County Sheriff’s office, we learned that it had just reopened with a “proceed with caution” warning for more rain and resulting damage. Crisis averted but more on this tomorrow.
All and all, a very successful day. Bouncing back to ride a century-plus, and nearly 5,000 ft. of climbing has to be considered a win, even though I was exhausted and asleep by 8:30.
