Day 20 Willard to Salt Lake City

The whole camp is set to get up and leave a 1/2 hr earlier today as this is supposed to be one of the tougher days. So we left at 6:20. We biked with a number of different groups this morning as the ride to Salt Lake was more congested than usual. The open spaces have given way to small farms and acreages, then housing areas, and commercial and retail areas. One community basically blends into the next.

While leaving the Willard camp, Fred figured he do neck stretches while cycling. This made him lose his sense of direction and he was soon pedalling off the road into the weeds, but recovered. What he did though was pick up goat heads, which he found after getting two flats within the first 30 k. Froster.

This day is basically a two parter. 100 k (60 mi) to the Salt Lake City CRC, then another 60 k (36 mi) of "hills". We got to the church at 11, avg 26 kph. So far so good. Had some water and snacks there, then proceeded to head out.

The hill climbing would start immediately with a 14% grade right off the bat. Short but steep. The first climb was 17 k (10 mi) and the church also had power bars and water etc at the peak. That was great. It took about 1.5 hr to get there. That part of the ride was interesting, a brook to the right and lots of houses and landscaping to occupy the mind.

The second hill was largely on hwy (pic) with trucks etc. Then there was a steep descent where I finally broke the 70 kph mark (over 43 mph) followed by another long hill. So there were 3 hills to climb today. We are now at an elevation of 6800'.`Our total climbing today was 5700' spead out over the 60 or so k (36 mi). Fred had his 3rd flat on the last hill.

Jordenelle State Park is nice. The only drawback is that our tents at the group site are a long ways from the gear truck and eating area (pic). But we are getting over that. A little walk is OK anyhow.

Totals for the day: 164 k (100 mi) 7:18 in the saddle, avg speed 22.5 kph (13.5 mph)
I'm not sure how many people got trucked in the last couple of hills, but the Chillibillies all made it. Fred and I were in around 5, but some were still rolling in after 7. It'll be nice to rest up Sunday.