Part 3: Where it all began in Pinedale, Wyoming, flintlock rifle his final resting place, rituals, end of the road

If you've followed this series, you know that we bicycled into a modern-day mountain man rendezvous in Glennallen, Alaska. We enjoyed a week of moose turd pitching contests, arm wrestling and flintlock rifle shooting at buffalo targets. We literally stepped back into the 1820's.

In fact, the Mountain Man Rendezvous ran for 24 years. Jim Bridger was the only one that attended all 24 of them. Most of them died of grizzly bear attacks, starvation, disease or an arrow through their chest. Pinedale, Wyoming became the home for most of the festivals because it featured a crossroads for wagons, pioneers, fur trade, food and trading goods. For the most part, they were wild, drunken orgies between Native Americans who suffered under alcohol and mountain men and pioneers who were taking over the West.

In many ways, if not all ways, the Westward push by the white man spelled doom for Native Americans. Within a short time of 50 years, they were rounded up, placed on reservations, i.e., internment camps, and put onto the government dole. Thousands died from confrontations with the US Army, and others died from smallpox and STD's brought in by settlers.

Twenty years after we spent that week in Glennallen, I had pretty much forgotten Gonzo, Curly, Yukon Jack, Bushwhacker, Bad Dude, Shorty, Flapjack Jones, and the rest of those characters that entertained Rex and me in Alaska.

But in early years of 2000's, we once again pedaled from Canada to Mexico along the Continental Divide. During the trip, we swung down from Yellowstone National Park in Jackson, Wyoming, straight south on Route 191 toward Pinedale, Wyoming where we planned to swing back east to pick up the Divide and head into Colorado near Rocky Mountain National Park and south to Berthoud Pass on Route 40.

As luck would have it, we hit Pinedale with another one of those "Mountain Man Rendezvous." We camped out in the morning when one of my riding buddies was talking to a guy 20 yards away. Dan mentioned that he was riding with "Frosty" and that I had talked about the Mountain Man Rendezvous for years such as Gonzo eating a life fish in his mouth, and Shorty getting bit by thousands of mosquitoes to the point of being rushed to the hospital in shock from so much loss of blood.

"You're traveling with Frosty?" Gonzo said, surprised. "There's only one guy by that name who rides a bicycle. Where is he?"

"I'm right here," I said, walking toward Gonzo.

"I'll be darned," he said, giving me a bear hug. "It's been a longtime friend."

"Yes sir," I said.

"Hey, are you staying for the morning?" Gonzo said.

"Yes," I said.

"Well, we'd be honored to have you attend a funeral for our old friend Curly who passed away a month ago," Gonzo said. "If you remember, he was the man who crafted most of our flintlock rifles."

"I remember Curly," I said. "I'll be there."

Several hours later, about 100 mountain men and their women stood in a big arc around a huge bonfire. About twenty men stepped forward with their flintlock rifles.

With that, Gonzo gave a speech about their friend Curly and his awesome craftsmanship for building custom flintlock rifles for many of the men at all the rendezvous for the past 40 years.

"Now, I know you all know Curly was a good man," said Gonzo. "But he was a wild and crazy one, too. I'm not sure if he's going to heaven or hell, but we're going to make sure he goes out in style."

With that speech, Gonzo took an urn and another guy took a funnel to each one of the 20 riflemen. They're all there standing around like men from a movie set in their leathers, hats, pistols, rifles and bear skin caps. The first man set the funnel into the barrel of each flintlock rifle that Curly had crafted. Gonzo filled the funnel that drained down into the barrel…with Curly's remains. At the end, he ran out of ashes.

"Okay, we've got Curly in our sights," Gonzo said. "He lived a great life and he made all of us better men and women with his tales around the campfire and his magnificent craftmanship. You're each holding a flintlock rifle that he built with his own hands. I want you to raise your rifles to the sky and give Curly a proper sendoff to the great beyond."

All the men raised their rifles at 45 degrees. Women weeped in the crowd along with a good number of men. It's rough to lose a life-long friend.

"Ready, aim, FIRE!" yelled Gonzo.

At that the 20 riflemen blasted Curly into that blue Wyoming sky in Pinedale, Wyoming.

"Gees," I said. "That's a hell of a way to leave the planet."

Rex said, "You got that right. That's the way I want to go."

In the afternoon, we loaded up and headed south toward Farson where we would pick up Route 28 and head toward Lander and Route 287 south to Rawlins. Some pretty country awaited us.

This three-part series ends one of the more impactful moments during my bicycle travels around the globe. I cannot begin to share with you how each adventure has enriched my life. For certain, you never know what's around the next bend in the road. You don't know what awaits you from a thousand possibilities. Is it a friend? Is it a disaster? Is it a wildfire? Is it a grizzly bear? Is it a tourist who wants to know why you ride long distances on a simple bicycle? Do you camp? What about bugs? Most seem mystified why anyone would attempt such horrendous journeys.

I'm not sure that I ever answer them correctly, but whatever pulled Ernest Shackleton, Roald Amundsen (to the South Pole), Columbus, Neil Armstrong, Jim Bridger, Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill, Nellie Bly, Amelia Earhart, Joan of Arc and dozens of other men and women in history—well it pulls me toward adventure with the same urgency, same passion and same persistence that drove them.

We've all got only so many hours on this planet. I intended in my youth to make the most of each day. It's a hell of a ride when you decide to take it. Just ask Jim Bridge or Nellie Bly. They know. If you take that ride into the unknown, you will find out and you will know.

I'll say this, when a man or woman travels via bicycle, the world becomes his home, the night sky her ceiling and the family of humanity become relatives. Magic occurs every day. 

Friendships form at any moment. A campfire becomes a soothing balm. A stream renders a quiet salve for the soul. Your tent offers security from insects and rain. The breezes rustle the leaves with a gentle quietude that refreshes your spirit. At the end of the day, you enjoy a comet's tail of memories that follow you into eternity.

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Frosty Wooldridge, 6 continent world bicycle traveler

Praise for: Zen Between Two Bicycle Wheels—Eat, Pedal, Sleep

                           Baby Boomers Bicycling The West Coast

"Say what you will about these two old people, but they possess the hearts of lions. This book surprised me.  I'm a female baby boomer who loves to ride my bicycle, but I had no idea that a 70-year-old woman can ride nearly 2,000 miles down the West Coast.  It seemed too daunting, but Sandi made it happen.  She's got tons of gumption.  She advised to, 'Just keep pedaling one day at a time and you will find yourself in the middle of your own dream.'  She's living it for real.  If you're a doubting baby boomer, this book will carry you into a whole new realm of your own possibilities. This is a fun read."   June Lockart

"Can't say as I could ever ride my bicycle down the West Coast, but I really enjoyed his 'well-told' story, his inspiring quotes and his superb pictures.  I have been riding a bicycle since the 1950's, so I know the feeling.  The author gave me a sense of riding alongside of him and his wife. I'd highly recommend this book to young and old, alike."  Gerald Johnson

"Whether you're young or old, you will enjoy the 'high energy' of this book.  I read the biography of the author. He's bicycled across six continents and 15 times across the USA.  That's beyond my physical paygrade.  But after reading this book, I'm only 66 and I would like to bicycle the West Coast.  He's  got a whole chapter that shows you everything you need to make the ride yourself.  He's pretty unique for an  old timer. Read this book! It's fun!"  Charles Johnson

"I've never seen the redwoods.  I've never driven along the coast of Oregon. I've never seen Big Sur. I've never crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. I don't even own a bicycle.  But after reading this book, I want to do everything Sandi and Frosty did.  I am so inspired after reading about their travels.  I especially liked the "astonishing" episodes of Frosty's travels around the world at the end of the book.  I was deeply touched by the inspiring narrative in this book."  Richard Wolcott

"Read this book! It's a hoot!  The author guides you down the West Coast with his lovely wife.  I was inspired by their relationship on this journey.  They may be two old people, yet they enjoy a sense of adventure of a young couple.  For anyone enjoying their "Golden Years" whether by auto travel or bicycle or armchair adventure, this book gives a refreshing outlook on life.  I highly recommend it."  John Lambert

"This is an enormous book for female baby boomers.  It gently shows you, that you too, can make a bicycle ride down the West Coast or across Europe. With the information on touring, along with touring companies, you can choose your favorite style of exploration. I really liked the wisdom of this book.  There's no doubt the author learned a lot about the world during his travels.  Sandi gave me courage to get into shape and ride myself.  I've always wanted to make such a bicycle tour. As a former English teacher, I can say the author exhibited eloquent writing. Now I have the courage to try it."  Margaret Tinsdale

"I really liked the 'epic moments' at the end of the book. The author recounted some of his most harrowing and sublime experiences while touring around the world.  Most of all, I liked his conversational style that kept me turning the pages.  The photographs gave me a sense of riding along with them.  I highly recommend this book for cyclists of all ages." Paula McIntyre

"If this book doesn't get you off your keyster, nothing will!  This book could be billed as the 'Zen of Bicycling' because he brings a lifetime of travel knowledge.  I liked this one statement the most,  "The long-distance bicyclist carries an insatiable desire to interact with possibilities that may emerge around the next bend in the road.  His or her curiosity drives the pedals that turn the wheels.  Each cyclist carries a sense of "stubborn joy" into the day. The bicyclist lives in that moment and then pedals forward to the next moment, always advancing, never in retreat." That says it all.  I've already visited my bike store to inquire about a touring bike."  Robert H. Dafoe Latest book published in 2020:  Zen Between Two Bicycle Wheels: Eat, Pedal, Sleep by Frosty Wooldridge, amazon.com and ph 1 888 519 5121

Newest book:  Old Men Bicycling Across America: A Journey Beyond Old Age, available on Amazon or ph. 1 888 519 5121

Living Your Spectacular Life by Frosty Wooldridge, Amazon or ph. 1 888 519 5121