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Published: September 24th 2014
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Yellowstone Day17. West Yellowstone to Lake Lodge.
It was as well we went to the Running Bear Pancake House at 7am because people were pouring in to what is an excellent breakfast venue. The choice was good from the traditional egg, bacon, hash browns and toast to the delightful pancakes with boison or maple sauce. Great start for a day in the saddle. A half mile out of town and we were into Yellowstone Park again heading along the Madison River. This was a pleasant ride along fairly level terrain until we hit Madison Junction, where the climbing started and reached 8% at Gibbon Falls then varied up and down to over 2000 metres and to Norris Basin, where we had called two weeks ago. We seemed to be in better shape today, despite the hills, which I think was due to the lack of headwind. At this point we headed east to Canyon Village for coffee and cake (essential on any bike ride) before heading south into bison country. There were several groups near the roadside with cars parked nearby causing havoc. We had seen so many bison lately that we just carried on, but had to stop hastily
at one point as a monster of a bull crossed the road in front of us. We stopped at Sulphur Cauldron where the sulphur nearly gassed everyone in sight and we hoped that no one fell from the road above into the soup with a Ph value of 1. A short distance down the road and a shower descended upon us, but we outran it and suffered only a little without rain gear being applied. We were very merciful. I am sorry about my turn of phrase above but Bill has just been reading the Bible to me. When we eventually arrived at Lake Lodge at about 2.30 we were told that the cabins would not be ready until 4pm - ugh. I duly went back at 3.55 and was told they were still not ready and to come back on 20 minutes. I spent some time lake watching and then went to check on our cabins and found they had been made ready. At 4.15 I went back to reception and was told they were still not ready and to come at 4.30, so I pointed out that I had waited the 20 mins. checked out our cabins and
they WERE READY, and added that the service was pretty poor. She said they were understaffed. That was not a reason for poor service, and we had cycled all day and were more than ready for a shower. She miraculously produced the keys. They had let down the USA and their reputation for service with a smile, which we had become accustomed to. Rant over.
This reminds me of a story Andy told yesterday about three balloons. There was daddy balloon, mummy ballon and baby balloon who all had to sleep in the same bed. Mummy and daddy balloon were asleep in bed and baby balloon tried to get in but there was not enough room so he decided to let a bit of air out of daddy balloon. He got hold of his neck and let just a little bit of air out. He tried to get in but there was still not enough space so he then let a bit of air out of mummy balloon. He tried again but could still not get into bed. He then thought the only answer is to let some air out of himself. as he was doing it he let out
a bit of a squeak. His mother woke up at this and said that he had been a very naughty balloon. He had let his father down, let his mother down. But worst of all he had let himself down.
Deborah arrived late in the afternoon on a bike with only half of the gears working. On inspection it was found that the outer gear cable had become frayed at the shifter end and the inner was almost frayed through under the bottom bracket. Luckily I had a spare inner cable so I cut off the damaged part of the outer cable and fitted a new inner so back in action and ready for the climb to Signal Mountain tomorrow. A decent meal at the Lodge Restaurant and bed before ten for breakfast at 7am.
Stats. 60 miles. Ave. 11.8 mph. Elev. 2378. Max elev. 2016. Ascent 841 m.
Temp. 6- 16 degrees. Short shower pm.
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Tot: 0.067s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 11; qc: 26; dbt: 0.0466s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1mb
hms or heather
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enjoy your blog ..a friend of mine from nova scotia canada meet you with her caa comrades in southrim area of grand canyon. they enjoyed you & i decided to join your blog.
good luck with your wonderful cycling .my paternal granny had a cycle shop in birmingham UK & dad worked at hercules cycle.