Burley, Id to Pacatello, Id to Idaho Falls, Id

Well today was a relatively flat stage with a minimum of turns. I woke up this morning  refreshed from the short day yesterday and  thought I would opt for some speed. That meant not slowing and stopping for as many pictures, which I now realize is much more interesting than anything I might have to say. Sorry. The winds were light and variable. Like every day so far on this Northern Route, it was cool in the morning so I needed my light jacket. Given the temperatures back East, record highs in Baltimore where my daughter Sarah lives, 105 on the east deck of my house in Macon (according to my wife Charlotte), I felt somewhat guilty needing a jacket. But that was the plan all along. After two consecutive hotter than hell summers, I picked this Northern Route Ride to avoid another. The third, I surmised would do me in for good.

Readers of this blog have likely concluded by now that I am suffering from one or several psychiatric disorders. I'll now confess, that is the truth. The major problem is Pretraumatic Stress Disorder, a condition, previously not described until I coined it approximately six years ago. I ran it by a few shrinks in the Doctor's Lounge. Though they were unaware of the disorder, they were OK with the concept. The difference between PreTSD and a garden variety anxiety disorder is, with generalized anxiety, a person tends to dwell on many things unlikely to occur. In PreTSD the afflicted, blessed or cursed with keen insight , worries about something that always DOES occur. Given the cumulative torture of fearing its occurrence and the actual traumatic event, the patient is beaten down for the count. So I knew it was going to be hot again this summer and I knew three in a row would have caused DISABLING depression. Hide the guns, ropes, razor blades and tall buildings type depression. I saw it coming and I was able to side step it. Right now I am having FUN all day. Endorphins are at near toxic levels where I like them and I have so much serotonin on board, I can see it when I blow my nose.

So after a long warm up it was off to the races. I rode with a a few riders including Barry the "Hammerin' Hemophiliac". (permission granted by him to use this term), Aussie Ainsley, NYC Richard, and San Diego Mitch. Barry is a big guy from Texas who can motor in the flats. As previously mentioned he hopes to be the first person afflicted with this disorder to go across the USA. Much of the surface was Macadam, also called "tar and chips", but we Georgia Crackers call it "shake and bake". This slowed our actual speed a bit, but not our effort. We generally did not run a pace line, just tempo to above tempo riding while conversing a bit. I felt great all day, loved every minute and I am somewhat baffled that the cumulative miles do not seem to be taking a toll as I had previously (before the Ride) guessed would have occurred. I averaged almost 20 MPH with multiple slow downs for stops and getting lost once.

We were tempted to see what was down this road

Everyday when we arrive at the hotel we sign in order to preclude a search party going to look for us  We receive instructions on the "board". Lately I have been photographing the instructions since they are all very similar but not identical. I have had a few screw ups. Note: The leader of the tour, Mike Monk, broke his ankle fixing a flat on the truck

Click below for link to the ride
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/194510635

Today was relatively flat, typically cool and we had a tail wind for most of the way. Tomorrow will be one of the hardest days of the Ride, going into Jackson Hole with long a long steep climb at the end. Everyone is a bit nervous and therefore decided to take it easy today. There was very little separation between the riders so I was able to see everyone at the rest stop. With the quiet of the tailwind and the paucity of traffic it was easy to chat. I assumed this group would consist predominantly of young teachers on summer break. Instead there is an abundance of successful business people close my age who have retired early or have someone else tending the ship in their absence. As opposed to business people in the South the majority appear to be left leaning which surprised me. They are generally reluctant to discuss politics. In Macon we love to argue while riding but I guess you need to know someone well when you call them " a stupid idiot" five times during a long ride and expect them not to take it personally.

San Diego Mitch

One side of the road. Potatoes to mountains

Other side of the road. Hay to infinity

Trees in the fields are unusual

Boston Al takes a swim in the Snake River with 10 miles to go

Click below for link to the ride
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/194870486