Biking in Lander, Wyoming: Baldwin Creek & Squaw Creek

Ride Summary

Experience

• Brain fog doesn’t describe it enough. Woke up in a daze, drank a C4, thought a ride would clear my mind. It was absolutely difficult to make sense of anything. Luckily pedaling is so ingrained into my muscle memory that I somehow managed.

• The scenery was red and rugged, Utah-like. The stepped rock walls were not as grand as I passed driving into town, but they were distinct and impressive nonetheless.

Weather

• Hot and sweaty, clear and calm.

Spotted

• flocks of birds high in the sky

• livestock

• buddies in trucks stopped in the road to chew the fat.

• lots of fellow cyclists.

• happy kids and families playing in neighborhoods on bikes and such.

• The City park doesn’t allow overnight parking, but has a designated space for free camping. I wonder if Seattle could benefit from a setup like this.

Roads

• Largely butter-smooth and spotless.

Mechanicals

• None

Dayum! Grand Coulee Dam

Keeping safe from COVID-19. Avoiding the Seattle rain that won’t stop. Feeling moved by the signs of social unrest with every escape from the home. I felt the need for some variety, something to make significant the day-in and day-out I’ve gotten used to. So, out we adventured to the lovely town of Wilbur, Washington.

Wilber, about 6 hours away from Seattle, enticed me to two reasons. One, the area, being east of the Cascade range, promised sunshine and warm weather. Two, this area, with lots of open space and a small population, had far fewer confirmed cases of COVID-19 than the rest of the state.

Wilbur delivered. I rode out to Grand Coulee dam, and had a wonderful time. The quiet roads were traveled by few, and most who passes were pleasant and mindful of my presence. I got to enjoy an amazing descent. There was a bit of a cross-wind, enough that it pushed me on the descent. to get the most out of my downward momentum, I tucked into my handlebars as tight as I could and coasted. The road kept descending. I felt so safe on such a calm, straight road and I let the bike go as fast as it wanted to. I coasted so long that my heart rate dropped to my resting rate. I coasted so long that my arms and legs got stiff from being tucked in for so long…three times! I think this was the longest free coasting downhill ride I’ve enjoyed since Tour de Blast.

It was not so much fun going back up. That’s all I’m going to say about that.

Wilbur to Grand Coulee Dam Out and Back

The next day I rode a short way out, just 15 miles to keep the muscles fresh and the mind awake. It’s not exciting enough to recount here, but it was fast. I rode 16.4mph, which is the fasted average I maintained thus far on my new bike. It felt good to know the new bike and I could succeed at these speeds.

The third and last day I rode to Sherman, a ghost town. Once a thriving mill town, all that remains now is an old church and a cemetary. The town is literally dead. I also passed by another cemetery and some farm art. Most important of all, however, is that the ride finished with a perfect iced latte at the local coffee shop in Wilbur that planned it’s grand opening right as the town locked down for COVID.

Wilbur to Sherman Out and Back

Photo Highlights of the Whole Trip