Happiness is... Jerry

“Happiness is…”

…Riding downhill, with a tailwind, under blue skies, on a road with a good shoulder and little traffic, through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Wyoming…  I think the ride today was one that I have never experienced and maybe never will again.  We headed 20 miles uphill over Togwoyee Pass, a major climb, the highest we have done, but the grade was never more than about 6%, and we had the Tetons in view behind us, then down and down and down to Dubois, hardly ever having to peddle, then on with the tailwind to Crowheart, about 60 miles through amazing mountains, red rock canyons,  and Badlands-type colored hills, following the Wind River.  The tailwinds continued on another few miles, then we faced about 20 miles of crosswinds and headwinds that were extremely brutal and dangerous, at times almost causing us to lose control, until we got to Ft. Washaki.  Then the final 15 or so were more gentle to Lander, where we finished the day with about 125 miles, maybe the most I have ever done.   Sue met us along the way several times, giving us a chance to reload water bottles and shed the cold weather gear we started out with (I’d say it was about 38 degrees at the start, colder maybe at the Pass, but then sunny and hot at the end of the day).    Side note about Crowheart:  years ago I read in a book Roadside Geology of Wyoming, that Chief Washaki, who was chief of the Shoshone, engaged in  a battle with the rival Crow indians.  During the battle, he reportedly cut out the heart of the Crow chief and ate it.  Later, he became a great leader who sought to establish peace with the white settlers in a fair and reasonable manner for the best interests of both groups.  When asked late in his life about the incident with the Crow, his response was “Youth does foolish things.”