A year ago at this time on my cross country bike trip, I worried the closure of the teton pass would drag on longer than I could wait. I was getting closer to the planned day of climbing the pass trying to get news about the road reopening and getting more anxious. An alternate 80 mile mountainous detour was out of the question. If I had been in a car the detour would just be annoying on a bike the same detour is dispiriting and would add at least a day or two to the trip
Mountain passes are mental and physical challenges. I spent days psyching up for them. Lucky for me, guardian angels were with me and the pass road opened up the day I arrived. The climb took all I had as I pushed for the summit and enjoyed the vistas. The descent tested my brake pads while I took in the beauty of wildflowers and sight of the Jackson valley below. There even was a mountain lake to swim in on the way down.
Epic days such as this are often born from challenges and I’m so glad I didn’t miss
Jackson Wyoming and the Teton National Park. I’m remembering where I was each day a year ago and reliving the adventures.
This year my journey looked different as I just drove a car home from Florida to Minneapolis for my father in law after a couple days with my wife Katherine on the beach.
As I drove north I tried to keep some of the magic of my bike trip in my travel as I decided to take seven days and have some adventure. In Florida, I stopped at a fantastic fresh water spring. The temperature was in the 90s and water was about 70° and crystal clear. I went from hot and sweaty to ahh in a second and the water and surroundings were stunningly beautiful.
In the Smoky Mountain National Park I worked my way up a steep hiking trail right before the sun set. Then felt cocooned and comfortable as I slept dry in my tent while the rain came down hard at night. The next day I went up to an observation tower, where I could have seen for miles except for the mist which limited visibility to a hundred feet.
At Mammoth Cave National Park I again went from sticky hot to cold cave beauty instantly.
In Michigan I strolled down memory lane as I revised the Fennville Art Farm.
The owner Christine, and I exchanged stories over our past year as I enjoyed her fresh vegetables and ate my chicken.
On the car ferry across Lake Michigan i held on tight to the rail in the wind as I peered over looking at the storm clouds ahead while bingo was going on below deck.
This adventure is different partly because I am traveling so fast. I miss things in a split second at 70 mph and it is hard to turn around on a highway if I wanna go back.
To be honest, I think the biggest difference between the two trips is my cross country bike trip was something very unique and unusual and with the driving trip i’m just one of the crowd. Yet, I’m grateful I’m able to live out some genuine adventures on the drive.
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