Saturday was a long intense day for all involved. The first 80kms was into Salt Lake City. A lovely ride through mostly urban areas. We also passed this really cool motorcross track.
We were welcomed to First CRC in Salt Lake with refreshments, snacks, ICE and Freezies! We then had to face several long climbs. It was late in the afternoon, so I decided to SAG it up the first canyon and save my energy for the other inclines. When we reached the top another rider was in need of a ride so it turned out to be a good choice. Before I settled in for the cruise down I enjoyed a spritz of cool water and great hospitality from the awning rest area provided by the local churches. They had committed to stay until every ride had passed through.
The glide down was spectacular and Pieter would have been proud as I let mysef go to 63km/hr. It was then common sense kicked in, as I slowed down sure enough dead ahead was this piece of glass
I had enough time to stop and remove it before it shredded some other cyclist's tire.Of course with cycling what goes down must go back up so it was straight into the next incline which was along the I-80 highway. Cars and trucks were over heating including this onion truck.
As I passed by I offered to help but advised him I would be totally useless. He laugh and asked why I was cycling. I told him about SeaToSea and where we were going. He was shocked and said I had a long hard ride ahead. He then reached into his truck and retrieved a cold bottle of water for me. People can be very kind.
As I head to the next SAG stop, I spotted this pillow along the way. I pulled an Opa and picked it up as I thought it might come in handy if I needed to rest. It was getting very late and we had been given a deadline of 7pm to get into camp. I had completed 125kms of 157 and decided to call it a day. SAG came and got me and I rode into camp. It turned out to be the best decision. Several riders were completely spent and camp was not exactly what we were expecting
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
So Ed had only had one chance to visit Jordanelle State Park in ParkCity(the alpine and bobsled venue for the 2002 Winter Olympics) and that had been during winter. Apparently the 10ft of snow had filled the deep valley between the hills and had looked flat during his visit. However, with the snow gone, we were dealing with a whole new view. The main site had a nice pavillion and parking area for the trucks and kitchen. However our tent area was on the other side of the valley-exactly 1km from the gear truck on a gravel path(Yes I clocked it).
The showers were in the other direction through another campsite and another 1km walk. It would be stating it mildly to say that the cyclists were not pleased with the situation after such a brutal day. And I commend Ed for his grace and humility as he tried to make the best of it and as easy as possible getting the gear trucked over on carts for us. I suddenly had the most practical bike on the tour as my fat tires, basket and hybrid body made the gravel path no problem. People were actually asking to borrow it.During dinner we were blessed with a rainbow, and reminded that it wasn't so bad after all. 
Heading to bed I met up with Brad, John and Mark who hadn't had a chance to set up their tents before dark. They were going to just lay out on ground sheets but there were clouds covering some of the stars so I grabbed my flashlight and helped them get settled. It again turned out to be a good thing as I woke at about 2 am to have my tent caving under the wind of a storm blowing through. I thought this can't be happening, must be a dream when back to sleep and sure enough woke to a sunny morning.
SUNDAY
After breakfast I took the first shuttle to Park City to do laundry for myself and a few people. There was only one place to do it and it was packed with a group of high school kids on a bus tour. They were goofing around and not paying attention to their machine and we didn’t have time for that. I took control of the situation, telling them I didn’t have time to babysit and they need to get their stuff as soon as it done so that others could use the machines. It worked. When we went to catch the SeaTo Seashuttle back to downtown it had left but another shuttle showed soon after. It was going back to camp with other people. I asked Art, who was driving if we could put the laundry in the back and if he could drop me off at the movies on the way. He said sure but he was not waiting at the theatre for me. Yes I realize that. Now Art took a different rout back that we had taken in which completely bypassed the theatre. We were well out of town by the time I clued in but Art said he wasn’t turning around. Fair enough, just let me out here. I got out and started walking back towards town realizing I didn’t have a cell phone, no numbers and nobody really knew where I was or how I could get back to camp. It was starting to be a long hot walk and I noticed that traffic was busy. I flagged down a car and asked for a ride. Does it count as hitch-hiking if you don’t use your thumb? A wonderful lady stopped and gladly gave me a lift to the movies. However that theatre wasn’t playing Momma Mia and it was only at another theatre 8 miles away. That is how I discovered Park city has a great bus system that is FREE. On the bus I met up with Alex, Justin, Denise and Heidi who all wanted to join me at the movies. We grabbed some ice cream-and got a discount for telling them about SeaToSea. 
After the movie, we came out to a down pour of rain but bravely face the bus back to a shuttle stop to head home. When we got back, I was told that Opa Ralph had rescue my tent from blowing away in the storm although not sure how that could have happened with my gear bag weighing it down! A great day with great people in a fabulous town.
Monday and Tuesday to follow soon
4 comments:
Wow, Gayle, 63k/hr, thats great!! You are coasting almost as fast as my top speed of 66. (For all reading this - inside joke - in training Gayle and I have had this running 'dispute' as to who coasts faster - dispute in quotation marks because we all know its me).
Sounds as if you are being wise and judicious about SAGing it when you need to. There is a lot of riding to do on the other side of the mountains.
By the way, I finally broke down and got a new bike. My 15 year old wheels would just not stay true. I've had it in to Brian (our bike shop guy) several times and he had more and more difficulty with them. And, so well, Brian sold me a bike. Its a reasonable bike, a Kona Zing, nothing special or expensive but it will ride. Brian says hello and wondered where you were and how you were doing so I filled him in. I gave him a copy of the Shifting Gears devotional to keep up and he has it laying open in the front window right by the map so the people at the bus stop (downtown and busy) can read the devotion everyday if they want. How's that for a good outreach use for the devotional. I'll have to get a picture of it up on my forthcoming blog.
Keep going, Gayle. God be strong in you. Marg and I will see you in Madison.
Just FYI - the Common Ground group went camping a couple weeks ago and decided you were definitely earning a number of "badges" this summer. We'll be sure to present them to you at a special ceremony when you get home.!!!!!
Keep up the good work!
So good to see your blogs again, it is becoming like withdrawal pains without reading your stories! given your propensity for storytelling, I know it had to be connection issues! LOL
Keep it up girl! I know you have more than enough strength, and when you feel yourself falling behind know your friends and family have the strength for you.
Love, Tracy
Thank you, Gayle, for passing on my message! That really meant a lot to me, and I think to her as well. I've been spearheading her back-home support.
Godspeed to you in your own journey. I'll continue to check in from time to time. I wish you strength and courage to finish your ride.
What you are all doing gives me renewed hope for managing my own poverty alleviation project in Guatemala. It's a tough calling, but it's the only road to sanity for some of us.
BTW- the "Dark Knight" ROCKS! What a great moral compass and character study. I loved it, too!
Be well.
Haunted Fox
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