Snowville, Utah

Today was the longest day of the tour so far, and this time it did feel like it. The geography was barren, and the road – as you can see in the picture – was endless.

It was also mostly uphill, and there was a strong headwind, and did I mention that again it was sunny and hot? All in all, it made for a very tiring day. In fact, supper is over and today’s sweep team just arrived. We are now in a public park in the village of Snowville (where there is no snow, in case you’re wondering), and for the first time there are no showers available. So we created one. Using a huge tarp attached to a baseball backstop we built a shower stall, strung up a big hose underneath, and several people at a time – keeping the sexes separate of course – go in, change, get under the hose, scream and jump because the water is cold, soap up, then scream and jump once more as they rinse off. Very refreshing!! And it feels good to be clean.
Two incidents today, which could have been really scary. First, the food trailer came loose from its hitch. No damage done. Second, the port-a-potty on its trailer came loose from its hitch; fortunately, it came to a safe stop in the middle of the road without causing any damage to itself or anything else. Try to imagine being in a car, though, and seeing a port-a-potty come at you. It doesn’t take much imagination to know what your first words might be: “Oh, s___!”

On a more serious note, it looks like one of the tour members will no longer be able to continue. Arnie Issette, one of the older riders, tore his Achilles tendon on the second climb today. He’ll need to wait till Salt Lake City to get an estimate of how bad it is and if it requires surgery or not, but it’s pretty certain he won’t be able to continue. We all feel very bad for him.

I’m on sweep today, meaning I have to help the kitchen serve food and clean up this evening and tomorrow morning, then load the truck, and be the last to leave. Tomorrow, fortunately, will be a shorter distance. Now I’m pooped and signing off. The pictures below are of the last SAG stop and crossing the border into Utah, and of the Tracker Diane tools around in every day with her gang of girls.




Today’s Stats:

Distance: 138.23 kms
Average speed: 21.6 kph
Maximum speed: 57.5 kph
Time in saddle: 6.23.56
# of flat tires on trip: 2