Laundry was supposed to be the main event the day before we headed into Devil's Pass but when we were offered the chance to
float the Kenai we dropped the fabric softener and headed out. I never catch any fish so didn't even buy a license which was just as well since the reds were late this year. Floating is just as fun for me as fishing it seems.
Some hurried loads of laundry later we headed into Devil's early to catch the riders of the Soggy Bottom 100 race. The race starts and ends in Hope, AK. The loop takes them over Resurrection Pass to Cooper Landing, back up, down Devil's Pass trail to the highway, back up, and back down to Hope for a total of approximately 109 miles.
The guy who won it this year (above) was riding a Rig like SamSam's and apparently won the 24 Hours of Kincaid in Anchorage earlier this summer. You can read the ADN's
result info hereresult info here and check out some of
my photos from the race here.Bike traffic along the Devil's Pass Trail consisted of the two of us and our B.O.B.'s and one guy on his way to spectate but when we hit the intersection there were a number of spectators that had ridden up. Good to see so many out supporting the riders.
After the race we camped up near the pass the next four days. Workdays for Martha. Her crew rerouted the trail away from the soon to be completed, new, Devil's Pass Cabin. I explored the area and ate lots of chocolate.
After the hitch we rode out Resurrection. Three miles from the Cooper Landing trailhead my B.O.B. broke. Not the skewer, not the pivot bolt but the front of the non-drive side top tube. It just sheared. I took it off and we rode out. At the trailhead we emptied Martha's trailer and I rode it back in, transferred the load and staked the empty, lifeless, trailer on top for the ride out. A mechanical like that is certainly unexpected. I can take an extra pin along but that would be pretty much a trip killer if it had been, say, along the McCarthy Road.
For now, all is well and bike rides will be day trips.
