Jessie's Well Blog

Day 16

Day 16
September 23, 2015

Today turned out to be the longest day of our journey so far but also one of the most spectacular for scenery.  I began riding from Rawlins, Wyoming at first light.  The first 13 miles was on Interstate 80 which went by very fast.  I then exited on highway 130 toward Saratoga, Wyoming where I met the southern Wyoming headwind again.  From Saratoga highway 130 turns east into the Snowy Range Mountains and begins a 36 mile climb over Snowy Range pass.  It’s a long climb but beautiful scenery and almost no traffic.  I enjoyed listening to Handel’s Messiah during the climb.  It seemed particularly fitting for the grand creation that surrounded me.   I made the summit in good time and Marilyn was waiting for me at the summit.  At 10,246 feet, it’s the highest pass I crossed on my route across the U.S.  It’s also the last pass.  Marilyn and I took photos at the summit then I began a very fast descent toward Centennial, Wyoming where we had planned to spend the night.  I was feeling very strong still and the wind was at my back coming down the mountain so I decided to keep going and ended up riding all the way to Laramie making it a 120 mile day.  Tomorrow we arrive into Fort Collins mid-afternoon and I can’t wait to see Robert!