Biking with Bill

THE ENDLESS ROAD


Today, the longest biking day of our cross country journey, began very early. I had eaten breakfast at the motel and my luggage was loaded by 5:00 am. We waited for the sun to come up at 5:45 before we could ride out onto “ the endless highway” to Casper, WY –120 miles away. Today would be my 31st “century” (100 mile) ride, and the second longest ride of my life. No century ride is easy, but this one was not among the toughest despite the distance. The climbs were gradual (2700 feet climbed today) and not late in the ride. The wind was favorable for most of the day, but turned into a heavy, gusting cross wind for the last 20 miles into Casper. These prairie winds have nothing to block or slow them down, so they can be a BIG factor in a day’s ride. We have all heard the “unpleasant “ stories of the South Dakota winds out ahead of us.

Our “spectators” today –though few and far between- were the bored cattle in the dawn’s light near Riverton, followed by the undaunted two-pronged antelope on the open range.

We wanted to get in as many miles as possible early today to avoid the heat, winds, and possible showers of the afternoon. We rolled at a quick pace all day.

The scenery was not spectacular-except in a few spots. It was barren, flat desert land as far as one could see. What was exciting to me was that we were in WYOMING, new territory, new adventure.

We rode through the small town of Shoshone and Marita (pop10) and stopped only for the required SAG’s.

We got more -and less- of what we had hoped for at HELLS HALF ACRE. We did not get a buffalo burger at the small Western café there; it was closed. We DID get an awesome view of the tremendous rock canyon where the Indians would chase buffalo over the cliffs for the food and hides gathered below. It was an amazing photo oasis in this parched and repetitive landscape.

After 8 hours on the road, we approached Casper, and old oil town of 50,000 situated on the Platte River. We experienced the winds, we stopped at the Dairy Queen, we coasted into the hotel—and a much needed REST DAY.

Bill