July 23 - Day 28 - Pinedale

"Outhouse" Campground to Pinedale
Distance - 58.6 miles, Avg Speed - 8.6 mph

After braking camp we decide to head out early without breakfast. About 12 miles up the road however we pull over for some quick granola as Numbstuff feels his stomach eating away at his liver… We need to eat constantly it seems to keep up our energy and strength.

We pass several cows on this morning ride. One bull was half on the road and half off and was not impressed with my flashy bike and gear. Dirtbaby gets caught in morning traffic and like most drives pushes her way through an opening in the gap!

Morning wildlife is abundant during our morning ride. A family of Pronghorn Deer, a mother and four children run alongside us, seemingly racing us with a great sense of curiosity.

Dirtbaby observes a possible café about 35 miles up the road that we can have lunch and restock on water. Upon our arrival we can clearly see that place has been abandon and closed for quite some time. Two hikers were asleep in the sleeping bags on the front porch of the place. We notice they are pushing a large handcart, twice the size of a shopping cart… Wow! Dirtbaby and Numbstuff quickly commandeer the side patio area for a quick food and coffee stop. This is exactly what we need to move us forward. By the way… Mr and Mrs Salsa couple also cycle by as we enjoy our lunch.

We meet Chip just as we are leaving our squatter cafe; he is also cycling the Divide. He quit this job in order to cycle and travel over the next two years. He cycles for a bit and we meet again later in the day and all cycle into Pinedale together. We also share dinner with him that evening.

After running out of water at the squatters cafe, the postmistress at the Cora post office refills Numbstuff’s camelback and off we go all watered up. This post office has been in existence since 1891. She also sent us on our way with free tootsie rolls!

The Sundance Motel is our accommodation for the evening. We will take a day off tomorrow as we have lots of preparation to do. Our next four days of riding is very water scarce as we enter into Wyoming’s desert.