Day 14 – “It’s a One-Day SAG.”

July 1, 2018

Day 14 – Pocatello to Idaho Falls, ID – 67 miles, 740 feet vertical

“Hey, look at that,” I said at our first and only SAG stop. “Peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets! I love these things,” and grabbed a giant handful.  “How come I haven’t seen these before, Karen?”

“Oh, you know, we like to surprise you with something special on a One-Day SAG.”  

Of course, she meant a One-SAG Day, but my mouth was too full of peanut butter pretzels to say anything.  [There’s only one rest stop on a short ride like today. And, … technically, a One-Day SAG is called a Rest Day!]

It was a flat easy day today and so the Staff called for a 7:45 ABC check (mini-lesson on how to check your bike’s key components) and 8:00 load and go time.  Pam warned us that the rooms in Idaho Falls would not be  ready until after 2pm, so plan accordingly.  Our plan was to have a second breakfast and roll out after 9:00. 

Once again, we had our now-standard tussle over exactly what constitutes “holding it back” in the paceline and I suddenly realized why I have so many morning pictures of the Randy’s back.   After lassoing him back a couple two, three or four times, we settled in around 20-21 mph.  We looked at today as a recovery day in anticipation of several tough days ahead.  “I don’t want to have to work,” said Tami, a plaintive cry that belies her ability to smoke almost anybody up the hills. 

We were missing two cylinders on the engine this morning.  Garry (from Australia) decided to ride ahead with his friend John (from Australia), since John is leaving soon.  John composed a song for us on Day 1 and has been adding verses every day. His simple infectious tune has become an earworm and he is leaving early because his life is now in danger from those who can’t get the tune out of their heads.  And Gina decided to head out without breakfast number two. 

We said goodbye tonight to Rich, who is dropping out here at Idaho Falls after riding ONLY 1,000 miles.  We celebrated his departure last night as well as Tami buying Jaegermeister shots in honor of her team – the Jagerdogs – doing its annual MS Ride. 

It was another day with favorable tailwinds and that led Randy to muse that we’ve been blown all through Idaho.  I told him to stop talking like that lest the winds change.  We spent most of the day zig-zagging east and north past miles and miles of potato fields, stretching as far as the eye could see. 

Somewhere around 50 miles or so, we passed a newborn foal lying in the field under its mother, looking fresh out of the oven.  What an amazing sight.  At that point, we realized it was time to finally slow down to sub-light and stop and smell the Idaho potatoes.  

Tomorrow is going to be a bruising day with two mountain passes, including the summit of Teton Pass at 8,431 feet and followed by a long, steep technical descent.  

So, … it’s time to visit the sandman. 

Check out these photos from today’s ride and don’t forget to check Where’s Jeff at jeffblye.com