Still getting miles, miles and more miles. But today I took a little break after a steady climb for 48 miles. I shuttled in the last 30 miles with a slightly sore back. No big deal.
We left Delta and started just a gentle climb on another very staight road. It was the two tandems, Joe and Hunter. Larry and I thought we were rolling out at a steady pace and I was looking over our shoulder to see a helmet on our wheel, thinking we were all together. Until I looked over that first helmet to see a half mile gap to the rest of our group. Oops! It would have been nice to know we broke up the group right out of the gate. We sat up and waited to the rest so we could share the work.
The comfort group left the hotel a half hour before us. Usually it takes us a little over an hour to catch them. Not today. Was it the straight gradually slope, the long days beating us down or is the comfort group just getting that much stronger? Not sure of the real reason but it took well over two hours for us to catch them. We caught them at a water stop.
As soon as we got to the water stop the comfort group pushed off. We filled all water bottles, grabbed a quick snack and set off to catch them to good. Well, so much for that thought. A few minutes after we left the water stop we had a mishap. Larry and I were following Hunter with the other tandem on our wheel and Joe on their wheel. Hunter was trying to adjust his speed to ours and I was trying to adjust to his when I bumped into Hunter. No big deal for us, but the chain reaction caused Joe to overlap wheel and he went down. Joe was back up in seconds with some road rash on his knee and on his right palm. Gloves? What gloves? We were back on the road.
When we arrived at lunch the surport staff checked out Joe and cleaned his wounds. I got myself some food and when I turned around they had Joe laying down wrapped up in therma blanket and bandages like a mummy. Joe had injured his right thumb but didn't know to what extend. All Joe wanted to do was continue riding. After some coaxing he was allow to ride.
It the same time I was trying to stretch out my low back. All of these long days in to the wind and countersteering for the movement on the back of the tandem has caught up to me. I have not been keeping up with my yoga as much as I should be. So I climbed into the big truck to stretch out some. Hunter came to me and asked if I wanted him to drive the tandem for the rest of day and I could ride his bike. Sounded good to me but I was just going to take the shuttle and not get messed up more by riding his bike that didn't fit me. So I shuttled the last 30 miles.
When we arrived in Payson Utah we were escorted in by Police and Fire trucks to the State Farm office where they had a nice reception for us. I was greeted by my very good friend from high school Jennifer Hopkins Asplund and three of her four kids, Maggie, Ellie and Griffin. It was so great to have them take time out of their day to visit us. Thank you very much.
After a much needed shower Larry, Hunter, Paul and I went to Massage Envy for massages. Then we went to Texas Roadhouse for a good steak dinner. I will be better for tomorrow. Joe went to get his hand checked out. We will see how Joe is in the morning.
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