Wyoming and Lotoja

Our dear friends, Brent and Margaret Mortensen, had us up two consecutive weekends to their cabin in Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming.  The first time was over Labor Day weekend.  Brent and I biked on Saturday up to Alpine, where he got two flats, and a third when he pumped up a replacement tube.  I went ahead up Snake River Canyon and within 10 miles got a flat myself!  The ladies came and picked us up and we went to Jackson where we got the flats repaired.  Good thing we got those out of the way because the following week we had Lotoja!  After we ate lunch that day we went and walked to see some lakes in Teton park, and then biked with the ladies on the bike path in the park.  It was awesome.  On Monday (Labor Day) Brent and I biked in the rain and got some more miles in to prepare for Lotoja.

 In front of the Mortensen cabin up in Star Valley, ready to roll.

 Looking at part of Leigh Lake, above String Lake, near Mt. Moran (I think), still in my Gran Fondo jersey and ready for riding in the park.

 Gayle and I, loving the outdoors.

 After church on Sunday we visited the alpacas.

 This elicited a laugh.  A sign for a busy intersection and to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.  I guess for Thayne, WY it's busy, but there isn't even a marked crosswalk ahead at the intersection.  But it is near an RV park so I guess people should be aware.  We saw no traffic or pedestrians while shooting the photo.

 There was smoke in the air from fires in Idaho, which made for some great shots (from my iphone) of the Tetons as dusk fell on Saturday while riding back after picking up the car after our bike ride down the path.  This is looking over Jenny Lake.

 Another of heavenly light.

 Another.

Here are a few shots from the next weekend, when Brent, David (his son), and I rode as a relay team in the longest (206 miles) sanctioned one day bike race/ride in the U.S. -- Lotoja (stands for LOgan TO JAckson).

 Brent, awaiting with David in Afton, WY for me to arrive from Montpelier, ID.

 Kristan Fjeldsted, a neighbor (and who I home teach), with her friend Roger from Wyoming - also in Afton.

 I made it in, slightly slower than Brent had predicted, but I probably made up for it earlier in the Logan to Preston leg.  Since it was overcast I just wore my prescription glasses to keep the bugs out of my eyes (and to see better).

 Brent immediately took off to ride the Afton to Alpine leg, as David (right) takes a photo.  Our team came in just under 11 hours (10:56:59), a record for Brent's team.  Brent let me ride the final stretch into Teton Village.  The whole event was a blast!

In church dress, in front of the Mortensen cabin and next to an interesting weed.