Happy birthday to me

Number of miles: 906
Fastest speed: 42 mph
Estimated number of pedal revolutions: 292,147
Number of completed trips around the sun: 26

I'm kicking up my feet at the Snake River Brewery in Jackson, Wyoming, after a beautiful morning of riding. I climbed two passes this morning, Teton being the second and more difficult of the two, all 8,431 feet of it. I haven't crossed the continental divide yet, but it will likely be the most difficult pass I'll do on this trip. I saw a moose and her foal on my way up, mucking around in a stream. At the top of the pass there was a sort of hidden road that used to be the main road up the pass until the highway was completed in 1969. Now it's abandoned by cars and a bit overgrown, but is perfect for cyclists that know about it; I got a completely deserted and car-free trip down the mountain, passing through forests and by glacial ponds.

The ride down Teton Pass

I don't really like Jackson; it seems phony. Much in the way that Leavenworth is "Bavarian", Jackson is "Ol' West". I'm sure it has a rich and wild history, but it's hard to see it under all the kitsch. I think I'd rather camp somewhere in the Grand Teton Nat'l Park than stay here tonight, but I also really want to avoid arriving in Yellowstone on a weekend, so maybe I'll just take a ridiculously slow day tomorrow. But oh! The last day has been the most achingly beautiful part of by ride yet, and I'm sure it will only get better from here; I can't wait.

One of the many proud displays of Jackson's lack of shame

Sorry I haven't updated the map or posted pictures in a while, but I can't do that unless I fond myself an actual computer to use, which doesn't happen very often. Soon!

P.S. No wonder I don't like this town! This is where Dick Cheney is from!