This afternoons ride from lander to Sweetwater junction was the toughest of the tour so far. I faced a serious headwind which didn't  emerge until I was to far out of lander to go back...besides going back isn't an option. Then came the ten mile approx climb at one in four in places against that wind. Then the shoulder got worse than normal and it seemed the gods had turned against me. I battled every foot up that dam hill and every inch hurt...I  kept at it though and even though each bend hid another endless climb against this wind and I had run out of water...it what is extremely barren country..I made it to the top half wishing I'd stayed at McDonalds in lander...then a guy in a pick up truck looking at the historical marker there gave me two bottles of water...top man! I continued to Sweetwater rest stop to camp wondering what set of life events had led him and me to be on that summit at that moment because if all those life choices we both made had been different I eod likely still be up on that hill suffering extreme dehydration ! Good things happen at the most unexpected moments on a tour like this. The pictue in this post shows the climb from the top looking back at where I had ridden. The climb itself isn't that bad compared to others I've ridden it was the killer headwind that made it so hard and lack of water even though I had four full bottles with me when I set out. This wind is  holding me back I hope it stops soon..or better turns and blows me along like a sailboat lol!