Today we had a relatively short ride, the last time we will have one this short until Virginia. Starting on Friday, we will start sacrificing distance for vertical feet: many days of longer rides of 145-160 miles, but much less elevation gain.
The weatherman had predicted temperatures in the 80's today, but it was already 75 by the time we rolled out of Sheridan. We took route 14 out of town, first north, then east, and finally south for the last 30 miles. We passed through some ranchland, but the population of this area is quite low; at one stetch we went 72 miles without any services. We had a north wind all day, so we battled the wind until lunch, but then had a nice treat as we had the wind at our backs at the end of the day, by which time the temperature was once again in the 90's.
The landscape was arid desolate grassland, mind-numbingly monotonous, with an occasional antelope far off in the distance. I felt like singing a few verses of "Home on the Range". One could see the road far off in the distance, usually going up. No steep grades today, but multiple long rollers, such that by the end of the day we somehow had climbed 4500 vertical feet. There were several long construction delays.......Wyoming seems to be mindlessly repairing roads all over the state, even those roads in the middle of nowhere. Must have a big road repair budget.....Hmmmm......are there any high ranking officials in the federal government from Wyoming?!?
Gillette, like our 2 previous stops in Cody and Sheridan, is a gritty, hardscrabble place where it looks like it is tough to make a living. Lots of used car lots, western clothing stores, saloons, and slightly seedy motels. Gillette is the self-proclaimed "energy capital of the country" because 30% of the nation's coal is produced locally in the Powder River basin. There is a large coal stripmine on the outskirts of town......very attractive.....
Having just completed the hardest day of the trip yesterday, we are all bracing for what is probably the second hardest day tomorrow, 160 miles through the Black Hills to Rapid City. Enroute, we will apparently get views in the distance of Devil's Tower, made famous by the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind back in the 1970's. And we will also see Mt. Rushmore.
113 miles. 4500 vertical feet
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2 comments:
Hi John,
Great Work!
As you spoke of used cars it reminded me of funny stories my husband Gary has of going to college in Wyoming. He attended The University of Wyoming on a wresting scholarship, and while there had some interesting coaching and training.
To build mental and physical strength they were required to push used cars around the stadium and up and down the ramps with in. Crazy!
I'll be getting my map book out soon to track your trip. You are serving as a great tour guide to some places I haven't seen.
I'll look forward to your coming entries and wish you contiued strength and speed.
Pam
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