Todays Distance: 74 miles
Cycling time: 6hrs 03 mins
Average Speed: 12.3 mph
Today’s cumulative ascent: 3692 ft
Average Heart rate: 117 bpm
Distance so far: 987 miles
Distance so far: 987 miles
Ascent so far: 38446 ft.
Today’ Profile.
Today’ Profile.
Today’s Route.
PRICE is just west of Carbon County Airfield.Dedication: Today is for Davy Quirke, Eddie Fitzgerald and Michael Martin who met so many times since last September in order that Providence would benefit to the utmost from this cycle.
A tough and a tiring day- we were either climbing or fighting a headwind.
Second day in the Rockies sectio and all were keen to get going Loading at 7.30 in front of the Fairfield Marriott.
Today was arranged to be Flag Day so a number of the international riders donned their national tops for the 74 mile trip. We retraced part of yesterdays route and then had to follow a traffic detour within 3 miles.
As usual the majority of the group leave as a bunch and only break up as the day progresses. Just outside Fairfield we are still in agricultural country and we enjoy the early morning with the country roads to ourselves…..still, caution is called for on these ‘quiet’ roads.
Crossing Main Street there were hundreds of chairs out for today’s parade...Flag Day. People just wanted to sure of a good viewing point. Seems as if it will be a big one. It was still just 8 am so we were too early to part of it.
After 12 miles (about 1 hour) with the muscles nicely warmed up, we moved onto Highway 6 and this would be our road for the rest of the day. Conditions were still calm and all seemed good in the world. However, as we came closer to the opening of the valley we were met by a fierce headwind that made pedalling almost impossible. There were windmills far ahead of us and they were stationary … maybe the wind we were meeting was a local phenomenon. Not so; the further we moved into the canyon the stronger the wind became. It was discouraging; would the rest of the day be a hard battling with headwinds? Fortunately, there was a variety of relief to come.
When we hit the first climb (a 3 mile pull) the wind kindly eased and we progressed smoothly and regrouped at the viewing point at the top. The initial valley was very green but as we moved on the landscape opened out into a brown hilly wilderness. At this stage we had 18 miles done and an easy enough passage to the SAG.
The SAG was in a rest-area with a mountain stream running through and an ideal place to cool burning feet. Cool is an understatement; it was freezing.
The railway ran alongside the route for most of the day. Again 3 trains pulling at least 100 fully laden coal wagons (each 40 ft long) came against us. Towards the end of the day as we were descending they were under pressure to make the grade. The coal was bound for the foundaries of Provo. The town we came to near the end of the cycle, Helper, was named so as it was there that extra engines were taken on to help the coal trains on the incline.
After SAG it was straight into a 6 mile climb to the highest point of the day. Fortunately, the wind wasn’t a factor so it was just a matter of finding the correct rhythm. At no stage today did we have to cotend with wind and hill simultaneously.
The gradient was gradual enough so there was time to admire the surroundings. The hills looked just like cone-shaped heaps of gravel with some vegetation
In time the top was reached and a certain euphoria was experienced as well as relief. Time to pause and soak in the landscape.
This was Soldier Summit (Elev 7,477 feet) and the moment had to be recorded when our group so far had peaked.
The descent from Soldier Summit was against the wind again and it was necessary to pedal almost continually. Much of the descent was in construction and needed care and caution. But once the road-works ended the landscape was exceptional. The road cut through hills of rock (so much for the piles of gravel) as it descended towards Helper.
At times the stands of rock seemed very delicate and in danger of collapsing. Around every corner a new surprise awaited.
At this time of the afternoon temperatures were high and I started to feel the heat. The Americans thought that it was just nice. What will I do when it really heats up; when they reckon that it is really warm? On the last few miles on Highway 6 into Price some beautiful formations appeared on both sides – I believe Arches National Park is near to tomorrow’s destination and that rock formations there are something else.
I arrived at the hotel at 3 pm and was thrilled to have a refreshing and cooling shower.
It wasn’t a day of long milage but the adverse wind made it tough and draining for all. But no complaints; the wind was friendly to us as we crossed the Nevada desert. What is in store tomorrow? Time will tell and no point in complaining.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.
HEARD TODAY: At an unscheduled stop near a bit of cover “I’m just goin’ over here to stray’n the spuds” in an Australian accent.
Today was arranged to be Flag Day so a number of the international riders donned their national tops for the 74 mile trip. We retraced part of yesterdays route and then had to follow a traffic detour within 3 miles.As usual the majority of the group leave as a bunch and only break up as the day progresses. Just outside Fairfield we are still in agricultural country and we enjoy the early morning with the country roads to ourselves…..still, caution is called for on these ‘quiet’ roads.Crossing Main Street there were hundreds of chairs out for today’s parade...Flag Day. People just wanted to sure of a good viewing point. Seems as if it will be a big one. It was still just 8 am so we were too early to part of it. After 12 miles (about 1 hour) with the muscles nicely warmed up, we moved onto Highway 6 and this would be our road for the rest of the day. Conditions were still calm and all seemed good in the world. However, as we came closer to the opening of the valley we were met by a fierce headwind that made pedalling almost impossible. There were windmills far ahead of us and they were stationary … maybe the wind we were meeting was a local phenomenon. Not so; the further we moved into the canyon the stronger the wind became. It was discouraging; would the rest of the day be a hard battling with headwinds? Fortunately, there was a variety of relief to come. When we hit the first climb (a 3 mile pull) the wind kindly eased and we progressed smoothly and regrouped at the viewing point at the top. The initial valley was very green but as we moved on the landscape opened out into a brown hilly wilderness. At this stage we had 18 miles done and an easy enough passage to the SAG.The SAG was in a rest-area with a mountain stream running through and an ideal place to cool burning feet. Cool is an understatement; it was freezing.The railway ran alongside the route for most of the day. Again 3 trains pulling at least 100 fully laden coal wagons (each 40 ft long) came against us. Towards the end of the day as we were descending they were under pressure to make the grade. The coal was bound for the foundaries of Provo. The town we came to near the end of the cycle, Helper, was named so as it was there that extra engines were taken on to help the coal trains on the incline.After SAG it was straight into a 6 mile climb to the highest point of the day. Fortunately, the wind wasn’t a factor so it was just a matter of finding the correct rhythm. At no stage today did we have to cotend with wind and hill simultaneously. The gradient was gradual enough so there was time to admire the surroundings. The hills looked just like cone-shaped heaps of gravel with some vegetation In time the top was reached and a certain euphoria was experienced as well as relief. Time to pause and soak in the landscape. This was Soldier Summit (Elev 7,477 feet) and the moment had to be recorded when our group so far had peaked.The descent from Soldier Summit was against the wind again and it was necessary to pedal almost continually. Much of the descent was in construction and needed care and caution. But once the road-works ended the landscape was exceptional. The road cut through hills of rock (so much for the piles of gravel) as it descended towards Helper.At times the stands of rock seemed very delicate and in danger of collapsing. Around every corner a new surprise awaited.At this time of the afternoon temperatures were high and I started to feel the heat. The Americans thought that it was just nice. What will I do when it really heats up; when they reckon that it is really warm? On the last few miles on Highway 6 into Price some beautiful formations appeared on both sides – I believe Arches National Park is near to tomorrow’s destination and that rock formations there are something else. I arrived at the hotel at 3 pm and was thrilled to have a refreshing and cooling shower.It wasn’t a day of long milage but the adverse wind made it tough and draining for all. But no complaints; the wind was friendly to us as we crossed the Nevada desert. What is in store tomorrow? Time will tell and no point in complaining.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.
HEARD TODAY: At an unscheduled stop near a bit of cover “I’m just goin’ over here to stray’n the spuds” in an Australian accent.
