Simon just called from Rawlins, sounding his normal cheery self! Yay. He arrived in at around 2pm, before the heat of the afternoon really set in.
He spent about 11 hours in Atlantic City yesterday, napping & cleaning his gear & having very negative thoughts about this whole escapade (he ate a total of 4 pieces of toast, 2 eggs & 2 ice creams). By 7.20 it was nice & cool and he left town, rode about 35 miles in to the dark (lights working beautifully- thanks Gavin!) & camped in the sage brush. He slept for 6 hours & managed to sleep through 3 snooze alarms (didn't have Miro to wake him up), got going by 6am.
Didn't see any trees for 200kms. He was out of the desert by noon when it wasn't too hot, but the last 40 miles of tar seal were a bit of a killer. He had enough water though.
It's Sunday here so most things are closed in Rawlins, but there was at least a convenience store open. It's too hot to do anything till after 5 this afternoon, so he's going to try and have a power nap & then get another 25 miles or so under his belt.
He sounded very positive and happy. And now I am too.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Day 9 call-in from Atlantic City
Simon's call-in:
Atlantic City: population 39 according to Wikipedia, map, and here's the Atlantic City page on ghosttowns.com.
And ya gotta see this: Atlantic City, Wyoming, USA on YouTube.
- Day 9, Saturday, in Atlantic City MP3, 906 KB
Atlantic City: population 39 according to Wikipedia, map, and here's the Atlantic City page on ghosttowns.com.
And ya gotta see this: Atlantic City, Wyoming, USA on YouTube.
Atlantic City- middle of day 9
Simon called from Atlantic City at 3.30 to say that he is sick! Aaargh. He says he has some kind of stomach bug. He's been in Atlantic City since 8 am.
Last night he rode till 11.30 and then didn't get much sleep. He had a few pieces of toast at lunchtime today. He hasn't had any vomiting, but has had the runs and is feeling really weak. He's been trying to drink plenty.
He's going to try and eat some more this afternoon , and then head out towards Rawlins when it cools down a bit. He doesn't think he'd be able to make it there in one day anyway, given the way he's feeling now (its 136 miles).
I've got all my fingers & toes crossed again that he gets better soon.
Last night he rode till 11.30 and then didn't get much sleep. He had a few pieces of toast at lunchtime today. He hasn't had any vomiting, but has had the runs and is feeling really weak. He's been trying to drink plenty.
He's going to try and eat some more this afternoon , and then head out towards Rawlins when it cools down a bit. He doesn't think he'd be able to make it there in one day anyway, given the way he's feeling now (its 136 miles).
I've got all my fingers & toes crossed again that he gets better soon.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Friday afternoon - day 8
From the GDR blog:
Jenn calls from Boulder. She was in Pinedale at 4:00 p.m and will be continuing on down the road with Simon and David. She says that Union Pass was beautiful.
Simon's call-in:
Click on the image for a better view.
In an effort to see how he's going compared to the others and also to the fastest and slowest possible times here's a plot of the times as posted on the leader board.
We already know he's passed Pinedale so this is a bit out of date. I'll update it as the official times come in. Note that Simon and the others may not call when they arrive in a town - they might call in after having a sleep. So it's never clear how they are doing compared to others around them. Hopefully that will become clearer as the race goes on.
The bottom dashed line is the 15 day course record, and the top grey line is the slowest you can go and still reach the finish line within the 24 day cutoff time. I'll expand the chart as time goes on.
As you can see - Simon is doing great.
Cheers, Paul
Jenn calls from Boulder. She was in Pinedale at 4:00 p.m and will be continuing on down the road with Simon and David. She says that Union Pass was beautiful.
Simon's call-in:
- Day 8, Friday, in Pinedale MP3, 1080 KB
Click on the image for a better view. In an effort to see how he's going compared to the others and also to the fastest and slowest possible times here's a plot of the times as posted on the leader board.
We already know he's passed Pinedale so this is a bit out of date. I'll update it as the official times come in. Note that Simon and the others may not call when they arrive in a town - they might call in after having a sleep. So it's never clear how they are doing compared to others around them. Hopefully that will become clearer as the race goes on.
The bottom dashed line is the 15 day course record, and the top grey line is the slowest you can go and still reach the finish line within the 24 day cutoff time. I'll expand the chart as time goes on.
As you can see - Simon is doing great.
Cheers, Paul
Pinedale- middle of day 8
Simon just called from Pinedale, 2.20pm.
Yesterday afternoon he had trouble staying awake- downed a couple of Pepsi's and felt much better. Then was the 9,600 foot Togwotee Pass. The climb was fairly easy, had a good tail wind, but the descent took 2 hours! The first hour trudging through snow. Then, to the relief of his hands & saddle sores there was a tarmac section.
He spent the night at a cyclists only lodge at the base of Union Pass. For a donation he received a cooked meal & a bed for the night- sweet! He was away by 6am this morning.
The climb up to Union Pass took him an hour forty, but the downhill seemed never-ending, with countless false-tops.
In Pinedale he's got a mail drop to collect, including a new rear tyre to put on.
This afternoon he's going to try for south Park city, but that includes three crossings of the Continental Divide! Go, Simon!
Then tomorrow he's hoping to get the Great Divide Basin over and done with (I think there's quite a bit of trepidation about this section, on both our parts!), and maybe make it to Rawlins.
He says he feels like things are going well, but that his mood could change if the tail wind turned!
Yesterday afternoon he had trouble staying awake- downed a couple of Pepsi's and felt much better. Then was the 9,600 foot Togwotee Pass. The climb was fairly easy, had a good tail wind, but the descent took 2 hours! The first hour trudging through snow. Then, to the relief of his hands & saddle sores there was a tarmac section.
He spent the night at a cyclists only lodge at the base of Union Pass. For a donation he received a cooked meal & a bed for the night- sweet! He was away by 6am this morning.
The climb up to Union Pass took him an hour forty, but the downhill seemed never-ending, with countless false-tops.
In Pinedale he's got a mail drop to collect, including a new rear tyre to put on.
This afternoon he's going to try for south Park city, but that includes three crossings of the Continental Divide! Go, Simon!
Then tomorrow he's hoping to get the Great Divide Basin over and done with (I think there's quite a bit of trepidation about this section, on both our parts!), and maybe make it to Rawlins.
He says he feels like things are going well, but that his mood could change if the tail wind turned!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Thursday, 26 June 2008 - day 7
From the GDR blog:
Simon Kennett calls in from Flag Ranch at 10:20AM. He reports that the ride from Lima to Island Park was pleasant, but the Rail Trail following that was "brutal" and it was the first time he wished he had suspension.
Last night he slept at Squirrel Creek Lodge and despite having a good night's sleep he is still feeling a little weak today.
Simon's audio:
Simon Kennett calls in from Flag Ranch at 10:20AM. He reports that the ride from Lima to Island Park was pleasant, but the Rail Trail following that was "brutal" and it was the first time he wished he had suspension.
Last night he slept at Squirrel Creek Lodge and despite having a good night's sleep he is still feeling a little weak today.
Simon's audio:
- Day 7 Thursday in Flag Ranch MP3, 1114 KB
- Day 6 Wednesday in Lima MP3, 505 KB
Flag ranch, Wyoming- mid-morning day 7
Simon just called from Flag Ranch, Wyoming where he was stopped for a 9.30am buffet breakfast.
There's been slushy snow on the road and he's really knackered.
He stayed at Squirrel Creek Ranch last night.
Got totally hammered by about 40kms of rail trail, horrible sand & corrugations. Had to get off & walk a few times. He said they had just ripped up the rails & left it at that. His hands were so sore this morning he coouldn't chop up his bacon- ouch.
His throat is heaps better today, at least.
He saw a moose with a calf. They've been riding the boundary with Yellowstone National Park, so the views are pretty spectacular- but if you stop for more than 10 seconds you get attacked by ravenous mosquitos.
He's going to try and stop for the day at a lodge just before Union Pass- which is possibly one of the hardest climbs in the race. Here's hoping he gets a good nights sleep.
There's been slushy snow on the road and he's really knackered.
He stayed at Squirrel Creek Ranch last night.
Got totally hammered by about 40kms of rail trail, horrible sand & corrugations. Had to get off & walk a few times. He said they had just ripped up the rails & left it at that. His hands were so sore this morning he coouldn't chop up his bacon- ouch.
His throat is heaps better today, at least.
He saw a moose with a calf. They've been riding the boundary with Yellowstone National Park, so the views are pretty spectacular- but if you stop for more than 10 seconds you get attacked by ravenous mosquitos.
He's going to try and stop for the day at a lodge just before Union Pass- which is possibly one of the hardest climbs in the race. Here's hoping he gets a good nights sleep.
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