Miles: 77.78 Total accent: 3,067
Totals: 1,084.56 miles. – Accent: 39,663 – 95.05 hours in the saddle
Totals: 1,084.56 miles. – Accent: 39,663 – 95.05 hours in the saddle
Adventure Cycling Trans Am section 4- maps 41-44
Leaving Ennis, we hope for coffee in Cameron, about 10 miles into the ride. Along the way, we see cars backed up. Road construction again? As we ride down the shoulder, traffic begins to move. To our right, we see the entrance into a ranch with several head of cattle being round up by a few cowboys. Stopping for photos, all the traffic clears and we continue on only to roll over masses of liquid green cow poop!! Oh my. This stuff is slippery!! While we got fenders for the rooster tails created by riding through water, they were a blessing while riding over the chip seal and man, are we glad in this moment they’re on the bike. Now, just don’t slip!!
We arrive in Cameron, and there are NO services. No coffee, gas stations or bathroom. Darn. Continue on.
Long, long stretches and a well hydrated body requires taking matters into your own hands. Carefully watching the flow of traffic, 50 feet off the road after removing the neon yellow jacket, noting the slope of the ground and wind direction, watching for snakes, I am relieved of the three cups of coffee from the hotel. Basic human comforts can be the best when needed!!
Moving on, there are so many people traveling with trailers and RVs, exploring America. We are just using a different vehicle but doing the same thing.
We pass the entrance to Lonesome Dove Ranch and notice the bank of mailboxes. We are truly in rural America!
The road runs along the Madison River and we get to watch small boats floating down the river with fly fishermen. One boat had what looked to be a young man on the bow casting and retrieving and casting again. It looked liked ‘Grandpa’ was rowing to direct the boat and dad was on the stern watching it all. To watch this was so special. Memories are being collected by each one.
We are headed to Quake Lake that formed based on a 7.5 earthquake in 1959. I had never heard of it. 28 people died in the Night of Terror. The visitor center had wonderful information. They offered books about the area and events. My brain is so hungry to learn more but for now, I just want to capture enough so I can come back. A quick stop at the ladies room and an ant appeared, rather spent, on the leg of my bike shorts. Did you just drop from the ceiling or have you been a hitchhiker since the road relief stop outside of Cameron? Ant in my pants?? Ant or mosquito? I don’t care! Just stop biting me!!
Because we are pushing to make up time, I’m snapping photos to share and revisit once we’re back. It is somber to think what it was like to be hiking/camping in such a beautiful place and for the earth to move so dramatically. It gave me a deep sense of mortality. We truly are just passing through this world. Each day, we are reminded of how precious life is and how special it is to live our lives. So grateful, so blessed. Rugged as it is, it is also strikingly beautiful.
As we leave the visitor center and descend, I am reminded of the wildlife. We stop so I can start the music again. Night Noise. Michael Bolton. I hope the animals hear me coming and embrace the music.
As we head further east, the sky is full of thunder clouds. We stop in a driveway for a quick break and a resident stops to check on us. Just then, a streak of lightning courses through the sky. I begin to count 1001, 1002, 1003 and Kabane. The storm is now just 3 miles away. We get to the intersection of Highway 287 and 191, it begins to rain. We turn right into a headwind.
The rain stops, but we can see a lot of water on the road. Our soiled tires are now getting clean! We discussed earlier, if we should stop when we get to Yellowstone or continue the 6 mile trip to the Yellowstone KOA camp. Stopping at the gas station for a few snacks, we decide to push on. The next 6 miles went by quickly as we were pushed by the air created by multiple vehicles, traveling in the same direction. Finally, the right turn into the KOA camp today has been our longest day with 77.77 miles traveled. Our time elapsed was seven hours seven minutes and ironically the time of arrival is 7:07 PM. Once again, Drews lucky number! We travel to our campsite and sit for a minute, celebrating our arrival and safe travels.
As we prepare to set up the tent, a man approaches and asks about the bikes and what we’re up to. We explain we are riding across bthe country and he shares he is undergoing cancer treatment at UCLA.
“Having cancer is the best thing that has happened to me.” He goes on to share the amazing things he’s done and places he’s been in life…. And then he explains how cancer has taught him to appreciate each morning when the sun rises and all the things we normally take for granted. He also tells us that there was a horrible accident about an hour ago on the highway into town. Drew and I rode slower today… stopping for photos and to see explore sites along the way. At times, we wondered if we should have pushed harder…covered more miles more quickly. After hearing this, we understand we have been where we were supposed to be all day long…in every moment…to avoid adversity, as well, to meet incredible people. Today was a hard ride day. We are so thankful we are strong enough to ride days like these. Such a blessing!
