71 miles (114 km) – Total so far: 1,122 miles (1,806 km)
After some consideration my lost 9 miles can be put down to an old aged brain, or something far more sinister. At breakfast in the Split Rock an old timer told me that this section of the Oregon Trail 75 people died in two days from cholera in 1849 while on the Pony Express headed west. The 75 were buried there and then, because of the concern of the disease spreading. The graves are no longer marked, but spread over 8 miles. The old guy told me that horse riders, cyclists and rock hunters (not motorists) all had similar stories to me. Those miles are somehow not remembered by the travellers. Whether accurate or not, I was keen to ride back, but time was against me. Other cyclists take care.
After a great breakfast at the Split Rock I kept heading east, passing the Rattlesnale mountain range and the Split Rock itself. This section along the Pony Express, the Oregon Trail, and the Mormon Pioneer route has Ben memorable. At the Muddy Gap junction my route turns south and the majority of the days great riding finished. This road is the main one between Riverton and Rawlins and is much busier. There are two big climbs, but the section after the first climb is not a good one to ride, Adventure Cycling take note. Perhaps it is in their power to do something. There is no shoulder at all, and the road is narrow. I saw three Trans Amers headed north, all sharing that opinion of this 20 mile dangerous section.
Rawlins may well be a pleasant place, but it doesn’t deal with travelling cyclists very well. The only campsite is a KOA, by the main highway, and up a large hill, 2 miles out of town. It also has no grass for tent titles. The attendant offered me a stony basketball court, but that was useless and I reluctantly found a cheap motel.
Distance 71 miles, Ride time 5 hrs 28 minutes, Average speed 12.9 mph, Max Speed 28 mph, Departed 9:30 am, Arrived 4:20 pm Altitude 2068 metres
The Split Rock Cafe, Jeffrey City
The town was originally called ‘Home on the Range’ until 1957 when it was renamed after a wealthy financier invested money in the uranium mine. The uranium market collapsed in the early 1980s and Jeffrey City went bust soon after.
The morning view in this quiet and rural part of Wyoming, America’s least populated state
The Rattlesnake Range
Spilt Rock in the Rattlesnake Range, a key point on the Oregon Trail and the Pony Express
Morning break at Muddy Gap Junction
The first of two hot afternoon climbs, to another Continental Divide crossing, here at 6789 feet, 2102 metres
Downtown Rawlins, population just over 9,000 – quiet on a hot August Sunday afternoon
Safe Return Doubtful 
Leave a comment