Eric B. in Atlantic City, bad ankle and all

(Call made 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 23)

Hey, it’s Eric Bruntjen calling in from Atlantic City. Just about ready to hit the Great Basin. I tell you that Tour Divide riders have guardian angels out there, and mine is Evy at the Sawmill Lodge halfway up Union Pass.

I came in there soaked to the bone wearing everything I own, blown-up ankle, I had to sit on the front step of the lodge for 15 minutes just to work up the courage to be able to walk across the lobby.

The lodge was closed, kitchen was closed, but she hooked me up with a hotel room, I had a hot bath and she cut up some fresh fruit and made some Danishes for me. I thought I was out of the race, but the next morning I woke up and, after going over Union Pass -- which was frozen solid, just a sheet of ice up there -- I caught a tailwind out of Pinedale and made my biggest day yet. I can’t believe it, but ... Evy fixed me up.

So if there are any riders still back there going over Union Pass, stop in there and give her a thanks for me. I never even had a chance to say goodbye or give her the Web site. I told her I was gone and she was going to bring me food from town the next day, so I had to leave some cash for her and never got to say thanks. But I’m back on the road. I’m feeling great. I can’t walk, but I sure can ride. And I’m going to make it to, hopefully, Rawlins by tonight. I might have to camp in the Great Basin, but I don’t see a problem with that.