Distance: 96.3 miles (ack!)
Elevation: +3494/-3533
Temperatures: 40s in morning to high 70s in afternoon
Yet another early start today because we had to tackle over 95 miles, and the winds just keep picking up as the day gets hotter. We rolled out of the Big Horn Motel and arrived at a cute coffee shop just as it was opening at 6am, filling up on breakfast burritos, muffins and coffee before we left town at 6:30am, riding away from the beautiful Big Horn Mountains.
We were FAST today...having a slight tailwind really helped put some miles behind us. Starting outearly, we saw lots of wildlife, including a few turkeys sauntering down a street in Buffalo and several more in the fields going eastward. We saw sand hill cranes, osprey, and lots of Pronghorn Antelope: bucks and does and several wee ones, including twins, along the first 50 miles or so. After that, it got a bit scrubbier and more cows appeared, who usually all turn to look at us with this, “What the heck are you doing?” expression. It’s a bit unnerving. What ARE we doing??
Our esteemed route planners would never have created a 96 mile route for giggles. There really was no town, no place to sleep, and no restaurant for this entire stretch of WY 14/16 to the first big town, Gillette.
We did find one spot, the Spotted Horse gas station and cafe, around mile 60, and that is where we found another Trail Angel, this time from Cincinnati...Web Hiller from Spider Bicycles and his lovely wife Bridget! They were traveling to visit Web’s brother in Oregon and going our way (well, the opposite way). We met up near the Spotted Horse, and kind Web pulled out his trusty tool case and did a once over of our bikes to correct little issues and address our concerns. Web and Bridget’s visit was a great comfort to us and a very special part of our journey. Thank you, Web and Bridget!
After our visit, it was 35 more miles into Gillette, mostly uphill but the grade wasn’t terrible. The last ten miles were the hardest - it was getting hotter, windier and hillier. But we all made it to this lovely Hampton Inn with soft beds and a pool! Looking forward to a shorter ride tomorrow and a visit to Devil’s Tower!
Highlights:
Web and Bridget!
Finishing a 96 mile ride!
Lowlights:
96 miles on a bike!
Want to contact Web to work on your bike? Yay! Here’s his contact information: https://www.spiderbicycles.com/.