Ok, I’ve got to start today’s musings with a disclaimer. My catch up blog posted yesterday was written in my word processor over 3 days, as I had the time to work on it. When it came time to cut/copy/paste, I lost the first page and didn’t realize it until I went to bed, and started to read the blog myself. I don’t believe in proof reading prior to posting, as Emenem said “I get one shot”, and I missed. There’s probably a lesson in there for you kids at home… don’t blog while your sitting at the bar.
Ok, onward and upward. Today we left Rapid City S Dakota around 9am. We all turned in pretty early after dinner and only round at the hotel bar, last night. The prior night was still taking it’s toll on us.
We had about 300 miles to knock down to get to Sheridan, Wyoming, where we are for tonight. Our first sight on today’s journey was Devils Tower. Breathtaking is the only word that comes to mind. We pulled over on the side of the road and took free pictures. There is a tourist station where you can pay to get closer, but really was more are you going to see up close than we saw for free. Our opinion, you get the chance you do what you like. We took a couple Clark Griswald photos along the road when it struck our fancy as well, of local city signs or things that piqued our interest.
It was warm when we left Rapid City, I think my dash thermometer said 80 degrees. But it only got warmer as we went west. The temps creeped, but it felt like they shot up, to 101 on my dash gauge. It was hot. Which made necessary a few extra stops for some much needed air conditioning and hydration. Our lunch stop was at Dewey’s Place in Moorcroft, Wyoming. Old school western bar at it’s finest. A couple cowboys sat the other end of the horseshoe bar talking about whatever cowboys talk about in Moorcroft, and we bellied up at the opposite end. The friendly gentleman working the bar, who was not Dewey, I know this cus’ I asked, took our order for hot wings and chicken fingers and cold Mountain Dews and ice cold waters. He even gave each of us a complimentary can coozie. I liked that guy.
As we prepared ourselves to exit the bar and reenter the convection oven outside, we put our gear on inside and made no haste in our scurry to get on the bikes and get some warm air circulating around us. But first, we got to top off the tanks. Boston Bob asked me on Facetube (facebook for you newbies) if finding gas has been an issue in our travels. Not really, we really try not to get passed a ½ tank, and fill when ever the opportunity arises. As my buddy Big Greg says when we are snowmobiling: Never Pass Gas.
Back on the road and after about 60 miles in blistering heat, so hot that at times it felt like the heat was bouncing back up off the asphalt paved roads at us, and we found our next stop for some air conditioning and hydration. This time it was in the “town” (town is used loosely) of Spotted Horse in an old house on the side of the road with a shade tree across the parking lot to park under, turned into the local bar restaurant. I use the term “Local” loosely here, as well. This place is in the middle of nowhere, I don’t know who the local crowd would be or come from, but it was an oasis to 4 stupid motorcycle riders traveling the high plains of Wyoming. I topped off the Yeti water bottle I carry on my bike with some fresh ice and water, and after a short reprieve from the heat, we mounted up and ran again.
If I thought Spotted Horse was in NoWhereVille, brace yourself. The next stop about 20 miles west was even more desolate. It was the “local bar/United States Post Office”. The kind couple inside running this joint were for the most part accommodating, as their 2 year old grand daughter ran around, inquisitive of these 4 strangers, that invaded her space. Some short conversation was had about the white tail deer population (diminishing due to some disease the gentleman referenced in a 3 letter acronym that I am completely clueless of). As we were settling up the tab the kind lady offered us a pile of pins for each of us to choose one from as her wish for safe travels for our group. Much appreciated, we will take all the help we can get.
We now had about 50 miles of hot asphalt roads to get to Sheridan. I will say, however, the roads are in the most excellent condition. My theory is it’s because there is no traffic on them! I swear we only see a vehicle maybe about every 20 miles, and we are usually passing it.
It is 6:30 local time, and we are headed to Cody, Wyoming tomorrow. Supposedly this is Rodeo Season in Wyoming, and Cody has a rodeo EVERY night of the week! I am researching how to get Hedgehog registered for amateur Bronco riding tomorrow night (shhh, I would like to surprise him with this).
We are now over 2300 miles after 9 days on the trail. I believe we are still having a ball. I am, the heat took it’s toll on us today, but I think everybody is rallying after their showers.
We shall see…
Bye for now,
Stick
