Safe Return Doubtful

54 miles (87 km) – Total so far: 1,131 miles (1,821 km)

A good night at the Bull Moose Saloon last night chatting with a truck driver from Salt Lake City at the bar. He isn’t a Mormon (which of course most of the population of Utah are) but his wife is, and he is a believe that religion shouldn’t interfere with politics, but in Utah it certainly does. 15% of everyone’s gross income goes to the church, and perhaps more shockingly, it is only possible to get anything more than.a 3% beer in a liquor store. States generally regulate that in bars, but here in Wyoming it is 6%. Needless to say, a couple of fine 6%s were enjoyed.

It was 4C only at 6:15 am this morning, and a bit of a shock to wake up to. It certain,y made me move more quickly and I was over the road in the cafe after 45 minutes. Today’s route was south on Highway 89 with one of those very gradual climbs for much of the morning through the small towns (villages) of Etna, Thayne and Grover. Then into Afton after 33 miles, and at 10:30 am to stock up with something for tonight, and have a break. It has more than 1,000 people, so is the biggest place around for some distance. After Afton 89 climbs much more steeply up to the pass, and I am camped just a few miles after it in a Forest Park site, which is quiet and cool, and at an altitude of 2080 metres, so I expect a chill in the morning also.

Great breakfast place if you’re ever in Alpine.

The start of the day –

Not much in the town of Etna

Following the River Salt upstream most of the day

The ‘famous’ elkhorn arch in Afton

The only bike path for what seems ages, and it only went on for two miles after leaving Afton

Good name for a town. Not much there though.

At the top of the pass, highest pass yet, at 2215 metres.

These guys at the top of the pass took my photo, they examine boats to ensure dangerous species are not hidden in them. Strange place to look for boats, the top of a pass. They said there had not been many.

Allred Flats Campground

Storytime:

The River Wharfe

In relating these stories I don’t wan to give an impression that our cricket tours were rawcus and deborched occasions, there was plenty of good cricket played on them also. The clubs we played would often contain several 1st XI players and for them to take a day off work meant they wanted good cricket. The test of time though has shown that it isn’t the cricket that has stayed in the memory, but the aftermatch.

It would be usual for our players to be in costume after the match, varying from things like Starsky and Hutch (with the car) to Stan Ogden with a string vest and a ladder over the shoulder. On one of the tours we had a Wheel Of Fortune constructed, by my father actually. The wheel span, and the brightly attired host, and glamorous assistant, would read the ‘fortune’ to the expectant contestant. Fortunes ranged from a beer at your leisure, a packet of crisps, to more difficult trials, a fast pint, 2 in a minute, or even a beer through your pants.

Nigel must have fallen foul of the Wheel this particular aftermatch as he had retired early to his sleeping bag in the changing rooms, and short of a good pillow, had used Pete Clarke’s coat. Put it down to food poisoning if you will, but Pete’s coat was not as fresh the following morning as it had been. Some puke had stained it. When discovering this Pete wasn’t best pleased, and confiscated Nigel’s bag, stating that it would be dropped from the bridge into the River Wharfe at midday precisely if his coat wasn’t dry cleaned before that. My memory of this is very clear. 5 to 12, with the rest of the squad, assembled and watching Pete, standing on the bridge with the bag dangling over the edge, and Nigel running, with the freshly laundered coat, to prevent not only a wet kit, but a bag drifting for some distance down the river. He was just in time.