Day 36 - Lander Cutoff Road - Pinedale

Slept well despite proximity to the road and thankfully no repeat of the wind storms from the night before. Packed and away fairly early for a downhill run out of the hills and then fairly quickly onto paved roads all the way into Pinedale, where I’d arranged a Warmshowers stay. 

The bike had developed a slight wobble in the crank arms soon after leaving Steamboat. So I’d been nursing it slightly through the last section afraid of a complete bottom bracket failure. I was keen to get into town and to the bike shop in good time, knowing they’d likely be busy with Tour Divide riders coming the other way. As expected, the bike was placed in a queue but they said they’d be able to get to it that afternoon. 

Had a wander down the short, Western-themed Main Street of Pinedale. This whole area feels very much like cowboy country. Got a coffee and some food and chatted to the guy in the tourist information office before returning to the bike shop, where I met a German oboist, called Doro, who was also riding north. She was looking for a place to stay that evening so I gave her the Warmshowers details. She had met Zach and Kara earlier that day and they too were heading for the same place. 

Once the bike was fixed up (new BB indeed needed) I rode the five minutes to the address I’d been given to be greeted not by the owners, but by two other bikers who had already been there a day. The couple who owned the house essentially left it open to allow cyclists to stay, have a shower and do their laundry - all of which I did. Eventually they both returned home from work to a house full of six cyclists and said they’d be making some food for everyone. 

The many hands were put to good use getting the furniture back on the decking which had been recently repainted and then we all sat down to eat. Constantly amazed by the generosity and hospitality of people along the way. Didn’t get into the tent until after 10pm which constitutes a late night these days.