Replaced at Absolute Bikes in Salida.
Practice run from NJ to PA
Rescued from Trenton, NJ! What a nightmare!
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
Ask for help and a nearly dead bird shows up? Hmm
I was struggling to get moving to Kremmling to resupply this morning. I had no power in my legs and the headwind was taking a toll on me. So I said a little prayer for help. About 20 seconds later I find this bird sitting in the middle of the road minutes from being dead. Hmmm. What to think.
I learned to take a nap in the shade today when I got too hot climbing Ute Pass in full sun. 15 minutes felt like hrs. I didn't even notice I was laying on rocks. I didn't sleep again last night. Wild camping on a slope but too tired to move. Close enough to the road I would wake up in a panic that I was sleeping in the middle of the road and I needed to roll out of the way from the cars. I was up on a hillside from from traffic. The power of the mind.
Tip # 1 for TDR 2016
Don't waste your money on bear bells.
Study: Participants: 1 -44 year old Sobo female , Observers 2 Nobo males. Participant caught with her pants down beside a tree. Observers: we are so sorry to invade on your privacy but we were ringing out bear bells to warn you! Ha. They were so close when I heard the Bell that I could toss a pebble at them.
Conclusion. Unbiased. Don't trust your bear Bell because you will be s...out of luck !
Jen Charlie and the Basin
It was with deep sadness that I had to leave Atlantic City without Charlie who needed to attend to personal matters. Although we had not ridden side by side because he is much faster, I had begun to look forward to seeing him at dinner stops or sharing campsite or hotel costs. I have ridden for days and have not seen another ride since Charlie at Atlantic City.
...anyway, I left Atlantic City around 8-9 pm so avoid high heat and headwinds in the BASIN. I never understood what all the Basin meant and was totally caught off guard. There is a pretty significant climb out of Atlantic City that took me awhile since I was still sad about departing and going into Basin at night solo. Of course my GPS was acting up and telling my mind that I was off course. I must have gone up and down that first section 2-3 times before I just went forward and said the heck with it. So, I am finally on course. All the sudden the lightening starts and then the rain. What the heck. I never thought about the weather. I was thinking Basin meant desert like....why would it be raining.
It got so bad that I started screaming REALLY... At the top of my lungs. I was so angry I couldn't even think of crying. My goal was to go 26 miles and sleep at Diagnus Well. Well I never found the well, but I did crash out from deep Truck tire trenches. It was now about 2 am and time to just suck it up and camp.
I looked up and saw 4 stars and then the rain stopped. What a blessing. So I got my sleeping gear out and set up a little camp on the side of the road. I look left and right and all I could see were glowing pairs of eyes everywhere. Oh jeez. I asked them all not to eat me while I rested and told them they had night guard watch and that I would take back over after daybreak.
All said and done. I wouldn't do the Basin solo at night. I would wait until about 330 am and then have until 10 pm. Too many things can go Wrong and navigation is very tricky in the middle section
Brandon in Kremmling Colorado
After eating 1500 calories in the Kum&Go store and carrying out about 2000 more, I met Brandon. He approached me to tell me I was his inspiration. He is a cancer survivor and his dream is to race the Tour Divide 2017 for his 50th birthday. Well Brandon, you were my inspiration today and I dedicate today's journey to you. I will push as long and hard as I can for you today. Keep your dream alive . BE ALL IN.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Saturday, June 27, 2015
So far names on route.
Funny thing about Jill. She was lost going over a cattleguard. Which one?? No idea
Stealth camping Again.
At least the sage smells good. A little secret. I was so tired that I thought that the owner of the land had drome birds and were reporting back that I was on the land...then while I slept, people kept waking me up to make sure I was OK and I would have to tell them I am doing great and that I just needed a quick nap...ha, I never saw a soul. No wonder I was tired. I need a hotel rest tonight. I just have to bike 57 miles to get to one!
Traffic jam!
I had to wait for cattle to move from one pasture to another. It was quite loud. The mothers would call out to their calf to make sure they were in the herd.
Brush Mt Lodge Colorado
Hey all. I am having to take a much needed break at Brush Mt Lodge. I had to walk/bike the last 30 miles. I have 57 miles to a bike shop to repair bottom bracket. I was absolutely exhausted and probably a bit dehydrated when I arrived around 1230. I am a little slow to recover and am being patient with myself. Drinking a ton of water.
...I tried to lay on the deck in the shade, a chipmunk ran up and bit my finger. Really! ? I had just started to doze off.
Kirsten has been marvelous. She made me 2 peanut butter sandwiches to go when I take off. I am not sure when that will be. I am planning on being in steamboat springs tonight in a hotel and bike shop when the door opens.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Atlantic city Wyoming
I made it to Atlantic City. Eating and resting. I will be back on bike soon. I am hoping to rest for night at Diagnus Well in the Basin.
Idaho
This is where Montana ends and Idaho starts...3 key points Idaho. Shattered screen of phone taking this photo. Climbing a hill about 10 miles later , a SUV full of people started cheering me on, screaming Go Go Go...then I hear driver Oh, that's not Jill. Hmmm. Finally, after 25 or so miles on the dune buggy bike trail , I got worried that I missed my turn off and looked at my Garmin. In that split second I found myself head first down into a washout ....it only takes loss of concentration or a distraction to wipe out. No pics of bike trail bummer. I had to focus too much
Why do I get lost?
When GPS goes down and I have to use the map, I rely on street signs. Well Montana rednecks shoot up all the signs and don't replace them. ...At Butts cabin, a group of guys were drinking and having a party that included blowing off sticks of dynamite... Kaboom. Insanity. At least I didn't have to worry about cougars that night!
Leaving Montana, Enter Idaho.
3 noteworthy points about Idaho. I shattered the screen of my cellphone taking that photo on the border of Idaho and Montana. I reached a beautiful lake with wild flowers everywhere that ended with a climb up a relatively short hill. As I was climbing, a SUV full of people started shouting Go Go Go. Good job. I was like Wow, how nice was that...then I heard the driver say, oh, that wasn't Jill! Too late, they already rooted me on. Finally, we had a 30 mile rail to trail that is 6+ inches thick with sand/gravel material for dune buggies. I took my eye off thethe trail for a split second in the last 3 miles, and bam I went down. My front tire fell into a deep vertical washout. I think Idaho doesn't want me to stay there. In/out now into Wyoming.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Good morning
Wow I am tired this morning but gotta get going! Yes I had another navigational debacle last night and went off route several miles that cost me a lot of time and energy. GPS is working again. Please keep yelling at the screen when you see me doing it. I am sure I will get the message eventually! Big day today. Hills that is! 3 major climbs with hopes of Wise River for lunch and Polaris to sleep.
...I have a pretty good cough going on but other than that, feel pretty good. I think I need an 8 hr sleep night soon.
Jen
Friday, June 19, 2015
Breakaway from Helena
It was dark. About 1030_1100 pm. I snuck out of Helena while people were eating and tried to make it to Park Lake Campground. Its now very dark and I have my IPod blasting to prevent bears from eating me. All of the sudden I hear a man's voice. I slam on my brakes and cut the music. Did I really hear it. Then I hear hey I am a TDR rider if you want to camp here too. To my relief, it was Hal. I gladly stopped for the night. Thank God I did. I did not realize Lava Mt Trail stood between that camp spot and Basin
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Lincoln for breakfast
Good morning. Ohhh. I am waiting for the post office to open at 900. I have 4 big passes today and I am sending home my almost 2 lb light. Absurd that I have carried it a week and never turned it on. My plans are to hit Helena in one piece and see how I feel. My knees are a touch sore but my spirits are very High. Thank you so much for all of your support. This is a long race for sure.
BTW. When I am going down mts, don't worry right away about all of my stops. It's usually stuff flying off the bike and I have to run and hunt for things or I am braking so much my wrist needs a rest. On the descent down Richmond Peak, I never did retrieve my bar end. I spent the rest of the day with a dangling bar tape that looked like girlie tassles flying through the wind.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Hello from Lincoln.
Hello Everyone. Thank you for following. Yesterday I felt like I was riding a tricycle. Very hard day. Then this morning I became a serious badass women on the mt bike. I don't think I will ever match that effort up and over Richmond Peak. My bike is a serious mess and I need to stop in Helena. Exhausted. Long day in the saddle. I will send photos from another rider. Too technical for me to photograph. Scenery is breathtaking. A female rider had an incident with a grizzly today. She sprayed her spray. She is shook up but safe. I just blow my whistle like a crazy women and sing loud. I have only seen 1 black bear but he ran off when I yelled.
Eating is insanity. Image eating a snickers bar every 10 minutes for 17 hrs today. I am sick of eating, but tank needs constant fuel.
Goodnight all. Lots of chores and its already late. Jen
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