Resting in the Tetons

Resting comfortably in the Tetons. The Tetons are our reward for those grueling days pedalling through WY. And what an incredible reward. Many consider the Tetons as the single most spectacular mountain range in America.
We have changed motels every day for 22 straight days now. This is the first night we don't have to get up the next day and move on to a new town. I did not even go to dinner tonight, just needed some downtime and did not want to follow a schedule for the next day. I will take a short leisurely ride through the Tetons tomorrow, probably only 30-40 miles or so. I don't think its a good idea to just do nothing on the rest day, the body is so used to burning so many calories and expending so much energy, so I think its best to just do some form of light activity. You just can't shut the body down from this kind of activity and then restart it a day later.
By the way, I never could be doing this without the Colnago. The carbon fiber frame,fork, stem and handlebars absorb so much of the road vibration. Now all I need is carbon fiber buttocks! I would be just beat to hell without the comfortable carbon fiber ride. I am sore enough as it is. The carbon fiber handlebars and stem are amazing, really prevents most of the fatigue in the arms, shoulders and neck.
The bike is so light that it climbs very well. And on the descents, the bike reponds beautifully at speeds between 30-45 mph, tracking perfectly and no vibration. That is where the Colnago really shines, at these high end speeds and that is what the bike is built for. The Campagnola gears and brakes are working flawlessly too. In Florida I ride in the same gear all day long. Out in the mountains, I probably shift 2-3 times a minute, often using all three chain rings in the front.
There is an incredible organized hike tomorrow to Lake Solitude on the other side of Jenny Lake, but I did the same hike back in 2001 and its an all day affair and takes quite a bit of energy. So I will clean and tune up my bike tomorrow, as well as Martha's bike while she goes on the hike.
This is pretty much the halfway point. Totals so far: 1,219 miles, 76,180 feet of elevation gain, 102:05 hours riding time on the bike(time elapsed when a wheel is moving on the bike), and 123:30 hours of time from leaving the morning departure point to arriving at the afternoon's destination. Twenty days of riding completed, eighteen to go. And those 18 will be some of the most beautiful and spectacular of all of North America. I will have the pictures to prove it.
I am not sure how much weight I have lost, but I can see it in my face as my cheekbones become a little more pronounced each day. At the end of some tough days, I am starting to bear a resemblance to Keith Richards.