We started the day in high spirits. Tom served us some tea and scones in the morning and took us out to his back yard to show us the hens they keep as fresh egg laying pets. We said thank you and good bye and headed into town to Full Cycle, a local bike shop where Duane a mechanic did a really solid once over on our bikes for free, including installing new brake pads and truing up our wheels. The guys in the shop were really excited for us and gave us contact info to use down the road. Kudos!
We rode north west along 287 heading to Laramie, WY and into our 12th state of he trip. Our mapping session with Tom revealed we would be climbing 3000 feet over the day and the prospects were exciting being at the base of the Rockies over the weekend and having a fresh pair of legs.
Once we connected to 287 the road took up into some climbs. The road was spectaular with sweeping through the high plains. Stone buttes rose out of the prarie grass exposing beautiful red ridge lines.
We enjoyed a few decsents in the beginning and then the road turned to a steady series of climbs over over 30 miles leading us up to a peak elevation of 8100. Despite the work I was excited to see the terrain of Wyoming. At the summit we were paralelntomthe clouds of the eastern horizon.
We stopped at the P.O./general store in Tie Siding where i came across the first pay toilette I've seen in the US. Once at rest we quickly realized we were wiped. The new altitude made it harder to ride and we took a nice long break in the sun watching the wind blow the clouds across the sky.
We had 17 miles to go of flats and downhills which turned into a grueling ride with a 25 mph head wind. Gusts would kick up and I would struggle to keep a 7 mph pace. Observation of the day: Head winds blow.
Once in town we connected with Evan O'toole a warm showers host who kindly let us stay in his home for the night.
Location:E Ivinson Ave,Laramie,United States
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