Jim's Ride Across America: Day 41 Saratoga, WY to Jeffery City, WY

Yorktown, VA to Jeffery City, WY Completed 2,549 miles

Biking Detail Saratoga, WY to Jeffery City, WY

Day 41 Sunday, June 21

Left Saratoga at 6:45. B and B Hostess, Carol, was in the kitchen at 5:45 to fix us breakfast before we left. Ran into road construction on 130 just as we left town. Lasted about ten miles. Fortunately Sunday so no delays with the construction but put bike on car for part of it as road was heavily grooved, no shoulder, no centerline and drop-off to on-coming lane making for un-safe passing for cars and unsafe riding for me. After that it was a good road with lots of tar covered frost heaves but no bumps! And....no wind this morning. Margie talked with a State patrolmen and he commented how nice for biker that not the usual wind, gusts up to 60-80 MPH in this part of Wyoming. Felt the effects yesterday with the high winds coming into Saratoga.

At Walcott get on I-80 for about 10 miles into Sinclair. Lots of trucks and traffic but wide freeway shoulder and a nice tailwind. Get back on Hwy 287 once in Rawlins. Have 33 miles before next possible refreshment stop in Lamont. Shoulder great for first 20 miles on this stretch, newly paved, then back to the bumpity bump and narrow...mostly un-useable with wake up groves and ruts for about 10 miles! Then back to great road and shoulder. The break stop was closed and looked out of business in Lamont so we powered on taking advantage of the good conditions.

The plus...the scenery is awesome! Red coloring on the rock formations really beautiful. Photos do not show the real beauty along this stretch. Passed a W to E biker just before Lamont...then a second one few minutes later. Reached Muddy Gap at 85 miles at 12:30 pm where we had a reservation in their motel. Would say this was one of the best rides of the journey, 75 miles of excellent shoulder, a nice tailwind and fantastic scenery. Averaged 15.4 mph into Muddy Gap with the last few miles doing 30 plus. Had made good time and not ready to stop so decided to go on to Jeffrey City, another 22 miles. The Muddy Gap three Forks motel is a trailer (see photo) but with nothing else for miles could have worked. We had to eat the $65.

The last 22 miles were quite a change from the previous 85 and a challenge as the tailwind turned into a vicious side/headwind with gusts to 40 mph or more. As we got closer to Jeffery City the winds seemed to increase as the road turned more directly into the wind. At times I was going less than 5 mph and it took almost 3 hours to cover the 22 miles.

Staying at the Green Mountain Motel in Jeffrey City. Found on-line as no lodging indicated on the ACA map. Nice wide shoulder between Muddy Gap and Jeffrey City! Helped to make-up for the afternoon head wind!!!