Day 5 to Butte - Part 2

Had my picnic and then headed off! Turned off on to a road headed up the valley - I could see the trail ahead of me snaking up the valley. There was a good headwind - a real pain in the ass! Slowly crept along with the road getting steeper and steeper - one he'll of a zig zagging road going up. The last section was super steep - snowy, muddy and boggy! Ended up having to walk. Finally got to the top - it was really high - pretty cool! The other side was totally insane - like riding down a ski slope. I think that's one of the trails the book said you would have to walk done - but anyway I rode! It was fun - super step - but it meant that despite all that effort to get up you couldn't then actually go that fast then going down - you had to be careful and brake a lot - it was just too steep! After reaching the bottom The trail continued to wind along - I was really worried at this stage that I wouldn't get to the Post Office in Wise River in time to collect my parcel - it closed at 4.45pm. That climb took so long - but I got there at 4.30 so all was well. I sent my old maps, passport and broken pedals home and then had a bite to eat! Although I had felt awful in the morning I had gelt a lot better in the climb - kit was still early so I decided to press on and was confident I could make Elkhorn Springs in good time. Another 30 miles. So I headed off on a paved road - but one that climbed steadily for 23 miles - getting steeper and steeper as it went. There was a serious headwind at the beginning although much better when I reached the shelter of the trees thank goodness!
But I was just firing and by now totally fed up - was this climb ever going to end? At 23 miles I reached the top and then the trail went up and down for another couple of miles. "When is it going to descend ?" I kept thinking. Finally the down was pretty good - by then it was freezing - I was wearing all my clothes again. The hotels in Elkhorn were full but I was directed to another place s down the road - so I carried on and met up with four guys I have been zig zagging along with - two from Athens, Georgia and two from Crested Butte!! We ended up sharing a room together!