Day 16 Lovell to Sheridan Wyoming

Climbing Bighorn Pass on my first official day of retirement

“Kind of hot and humid for riding a bike, don’t you think?” A reasonable question from the clerk manning the convenience store in Dayton, Wyoming. A number of possible answers ran through my fatigue fuddled mind as to how to best honestly answer his question. The easiest answer is “I’m headed to Portland ME, rain, sleet, shine or snow”. Somehow that answer seemed trite compared to our epic day over Big Horn Pass.

How do I explain rolling out in the cool of another beautiful day, through the ranches outside of Lovell, WY on our way to our big climb through the Big Horn Range? How do I relate the simple joy of working with my reliable pace line mates, Pat and Paul as we fought the early wind out of the SE or how we rejoiced when the wind shifted to a tail wind just as we started the real climb at mile 23? Would he understand the mind emptying and body challenging effort to climb 4808 feet in just 18 miles? How could I possibly describe the views and vistas from the summit plateau? Would he relate to how all 21 of our group, with different abilities and training levels, struggled mightily but finished gracefully? Perhaps he would understand the exhilaration of the descent if he owned a motorcycle. Unfortunately I am not that good with words and he didn’t really look that interested.

I smiled and said “yep you’re right about that”
Today just had to be experienced to be believed.