FIRST DAY OF BIKE TOUR CO & LAST DAY OF BIKE TOUR CO

Just like Ragbrai (bike across IA)–4:30 AM start to hear tents unzipping & doors slamming at port-a-potties.  Armand makes trip at 5:00–don’t want to get up this early.  Finally at 5:30 decide it’s time-leave at 6:30 because we haven’t practised taking down our tent.  Little cool to start but warm up fast.  Stop at 1st rest stop at 20 m–feel good even though Armand is way ahead of me as usual.  At 25 m the WIND picks up drastically to 30-35+ mph (head & cross winds) w/lots of elevation (HILLS).  NOT HAVING FUN–looking at rd trying to stay on bike.  40 m finally get to 2nd rest stop–complain to Armand about how terrible ride is because of the wind.  15 m to next stop–man tells us it’s all downhill now.  NO it’s NOT–start to walk up hills because I can go faster.  Calculate that at 3 to 5 mph it will take me over 3 hrs to get to next aide stop!!!!  See car pulled over–asks if I need ride–Armand is up ahead waiting for me–TRI to make it to him.  Tell him I CAN’T DO THIS.  Go back & flag guy down & tell him I want a ride–puts my bike on top of car.  Turns out he is sagging for friends & not an official part of tour.  Takes me to stop #3 & goes back to pick up friend.  Lots of bikers being picked up–finally get in U-Haul w/ 18 other bikers.  Volunteer tells 2 of the men to hold back door down so we can breathe–but TRI not to fall out.  Driver makes several sudden stops where people & bikes fall & shift places–I’m at the very back.  When we finally get to HS at Laramie–I hear my name being called.  Armand quit at about 50 m (me at 44)–wants to discuss options.  THIS HAS BEEN THE WORSE DAY OF BIKING WE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED–elevation & altitude were not the problems.  100’s & 100’s of bikers had to be sagged in & this is the 1st time that we could not complete the ride,  I’ve never seen Armand so discouraged–he wants to quit.  Today was suppose to be a 65 m day-tomorrow is 85 w/more climbs & same head winds.  He has already tried to call his cousin Kim in Cheyenne to pick us up but we didn’t have right #.  TRI to put up tent in wind–ground is so hard stakes get bent & tent keeps wanting to blow away.  I go into HS for shower–only have ice cold water–at least I’m out of the wind.  By the time I make it back to the tent–Armand has called Anne in Denver to pick us up tomorrow–he’s finished w/Tour CO.  Then we hear someone calling our name–it’s Cyndy & Rupert who we met in Ohio last summer.  They met on this tour & got married a few yrs ago–each have done this tour 10 or 11 times.  Tell them we are leaving tomorrow–tell us to keep going.  Enjoy eating w/them & their friends who also do this every yr.  Stay in cafeteria until 8:30–wind is still blowing–now wind has bent one of the poles for our tent.  Hard to sleep but at least we can stay in bed later.  HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!!!!