So as we summited the HUGE 9500 ft pass with a really cool group of cyclists of all ages ranging from me being the youngest 21 to a austrailian couple easily in their seventies on a tandem bike we finally realized how close to our halfway point milestone we were. The GRAND TETONS!
It’s hard to explain how it feels when you worked so hard to get to a place that actually represents how far you’ve traveled. I guess what made seeing the grand tetons so special when we banked a slope and saw their gray walls pierce the sky is that it was that they were a concrete representation of the progress we had made, to me it was a symbol of our halfway point. The WEEKS of grinding finally paid us some reassurance which now stood screaming a magnificent sight before us. No better feeling in the world. To know that the physical and mental torture you put yourself through to get there was worth while. At the end of the day, it is things like these that keep you going. The small victories, just like in life.
As we came flying down the steep grade of the mountain we stopped right at the gate of the Grand Teton National Park and not even 5 minutes later, here comes this “cruise america” RV flying by with a man in the drivers seat and a little blonde woman in the passanger seat smiling from ear to ear. Probably before the RV even stopped my mom had jumped out of the RV to greet me and then Marcus. Her ten minute hugs and sun glasses did little to disquise the fact that she was crying but I guess happy tears never hurt anyone. I on the other hand who knew this would happen was already fake crying to lighten up the situation as he excitement to see us continued. We greeted Paul my step dad who seemed equally excited to see us, I know he was crying on the inside, I just know it. We took some photos, and I had my mom sit on my bike seat, a little five ft two woman on a bike meant for someone much bigger really made for an interesting photo. Her feet barely reached the padals and her hands barely the brakes, she didn’t have to say it but I saw that she wasn’t too impressed with the bike seat she had been put on. None the less, everyone was in a great mood, ready for a little relaxation.
We spend the following days with my Mom, Paul, and our dogs Jack, Pennie, and Annie. We went from Moran junction to the Grand Tetons and then spend a couple of nights in Yellowstone. A lot of people told us it probably wasnt the safest idea to cycle through yellowstone so it worked out that we had someone to escort us through.
I never realized how many amazing places America has to offer its citizens, to me it always just seemed like the back yard of a house. It’s nice, its not going any where so I’ll enjoy it later. Since now, I’m definitely going to start enjoying the place i live in a lot more. I think i might even plan a few hiking adventures through these parks during a break.. maybe that can be part of next years adventure? either way, international adventures are no longer the only thing on my bucket list, this trip opened a good few doors :D
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