Day 9 - A Night in my Bivi Bag

After a good long sleep in Pinedale I enjoyed a very lazy start - after breakfast I wrapped up last night's remaining pizza to take along with me for later!! Heading out to cross the Basin I knew there would be long stretches with no extra food or water available. My plan was an 85 mile ride to Atlantic City - get there nice and early and stock up again for the next section. Anyway - that was my plan!! Left Pinedale and rode the few miles to Boulder where there were supplies - then headed off into the basin - after about 20 miles reached a sandy road - rolling hills as far as you can see - the Teton Mountains off to the left hand side - amazing views and cattle everywhere. Slowly climbing up towards the Divide - bit of a tailwind for a change which is nice! The trail ran along the top for a while before hitting a paved road and slightly steeper hills. Then I went down into South Pass City - an old Gold mining town with supposedly a supermarket but I didn't see it!! I was relieved to reach Atlantic City nice and early - thinking it would be good to rest here. I passed a run down B & B and then found Dave and a few others in the restaurant just down the road - they tell me the B& B is indeed closed - some of them have managed to find a room for the night - one guy is going to continue. So what to do? the lady there offers me her wig wam to camp in but I think if I am going to do that I might as well travel a bit further so i am closer to supplies for tomorrow's ride. So I continued - its kind of easy riding aa it is quite beautiful but still kind of tough going. So i stocked up with sandwiches, drinks and chocolate bars and headed out. It was an easy enough ride with a good wind to help me on my way - I plodded along for another 20 miles before needing to get my night light out and had something to eat. Finally at midnight I decided to stop and camp for the night - I pulled over to the side of the road where I had seen a group of bushes about 2 feet high. I found a gap, positioned my bike and got myself ready. Took my shoes off and stood on a cactus - the only one in sight!! Just where I planned to sleep - ended up having to dig it out as it really was in the best place for shelter - I was afraid I had popped my bike tyres!! Anyway I made my little bed - cosy but eerie - lots of strange animal noises around! But I got comfy and slept pretty good - woke up a few times but not too bad!!