July 3
Tuesday, July 3 Dubois,
WY to Riverton, WY
79.56 miles
We were glad to
leave the Stagecoach Inn. No air
conditioning in any of the rooms last night.
The temp was in the upper 90’s and the brick on the outside of the rooms
was still hot at 9:30, could hardly touch them. Everyone had their curtains up over the rods
and windows wide open. Not much help. No breeze.
However by morning when we woke at five it was nice and cold.
The first 45 miles
out of town the roads and the ride are what bikers dream of. We were going as if our bikes had wings on
them. Our pedals were going round in a
blur. Tailwind, downhill with gentle
rolling ups that we flew over. I
averaged 20 MPH those miles. And the
scenery was wonderful, the rock formations have red lines in them. As we rode along going East on US 26, over
to the South, the snow capped Rockies mountain range was still in sight. I checked
in at the last SAG stop at 10:30.
Only twenty miles to go! I was
figuring to get in the Riverton Holiday no later than noon. Perfect!
This would give me an extra half day to rest up for the 120 mile ride on
schedule for tomorrow. So much for that
plan. The winds shifted all the way
around from tail to head. I bet it was
35-40 MPH head wind for the last 15 miles.
There isn’t much that can test perseverance more than riding directly
into a wind that strong. So much for
getting in before noon. I consoled
myself by thinking 1 PM still would be better than late afternoon. The heat was terrible, must be in the 90’s already. The watermelon slices at the SAG were so
refreshing.
Well, I did beat my
estimation a little and got in just after 12:30 – and my room was ready. Ahhhh – sweet air conditioning. Big numbers of bikes were propped outside
the Dairy Queen a block from the hotel.
We were given a letter, as we checked in, that the Holiday Inn is giving
us a reception from 3 – 5. Refreshments
and appetizers. How Nice.
Today from the road
I saw: Horses, Prairie Dogs, Pickup Trucks with a dog riding in the back, a
Baltimore Oriole bird, Roses, Cattle Guard crossings ( they are a pain to go
over on a bike), the Wind River, Horses, Lakes and more Horses. I keep
wondering, why there are so many horses
out here? They don’t look like working
type equines and I haven’t come across ground horse burger anywhere, so what’s
with all the thousands of horse ranches here in Wyoming? I notice they always have their heads down,
munching on the grasses. Maybe that’s
how they do the mowing out here!
This morning before
going out of town ( and before breakfast ), I went into the Cowboy Cafe back in
Dubois. They had wonderful homemade
fruit pies. Apple pies made with real
apples (not from a can) and flaky tender crust. I know it made me pedal that much faster today.
I can feel myself
getting stronger all the time. I am
having a wonderful time on this, plus or minus, eight hour-a -day exercise
program!
P.S. The sign at the bank in town reads 100 degrees.