The cacophony of commerce (rail and interstate activity) was ever-present during the previous night. Not such a great thing when you need to be up at 4:30am. Up that early due to the distance to be covered today: 112 miles. We were on the road by 6:15, a new record.
Rosie was our grand marshall and led us out of town, down through the historic district and out onto the byways of Wyoming.
Blue skies, cool morning air. Terrain similar to yesterday's. Lots of grazing land. Saw lots of leaping deer in adjacent fields.
Water stop by mile 25. Check point at the Leiterville Country Club. Here I was, expecting there to be valets ready to take our bikes from us. It was just a little run-down grocery by the side of the road. But the sign did say - Leiterville Country Club. Go figure.
Made a much-needed stop at the Spotted Horse Cafe. Sign in the window read: Spotted Horse, population: 2. The residents were inside the Cafe, one - a very sullen man behind the bar, and the other, a frazzled matron in the kitchen. The bartender reluctantly responded to requests from some local guys seated on stools at the bar. He avoided making eye-contact with any of the spandex crowd until he absolutely couldn't avoid it. His face reminded me of mug shots of low-life criminals who spent time with say, Bonnie and Clyde. No exactly Mr. Friendly.
But hey, whose to say that our lunch wouldn't be good? For eight bucks, I enjoyed a delicious homemade hamburger with fresh and hot HOMEMADE potato chips and an ice cold soda. It's too bad that the dark and dusty atmosphere of the place - hobbled further by the temperments of the entire SH population - couldn't enhance our visit. But the meal was reviving and much needed.
The remaining miles for the day were over rolling hills under a very hot sun. Almost immediately after passing the sign welcoming us to Campbell County, the road surface changed. The chip seal was now red (due to local clay or rock perhaps) and there were significant expansion joints in the road about every 10 yards. I mean significant. You almost felt as though you were taking a jolt from riding off the curb. It really marred any downhill glides as you bump - bump - bumped your way down. I'm grateful to have such solid wheels.
The last few miles into Gillette seemed to take forever. Here's the airport. Here's the sign saying City Center ahead. Another one: Gillete - 3 miles. When we I ever get THERE? Finally rolled into Lasting Legacy Park around 3:45. A long day on the bike.
We consoled ourselves with opportunities to help the local economy by visiting an ice cream trailer in the park's parking lot - great soft-serve. And checking out the Starbucks across the street!
I don't know if it occurred on this day of riding, or another. I suppose it doesn't matter. It could have happened most any time.
While you are riding along for miles and miles, trying to enjoy the scenery, you are also trying to stay in tune with the traffic and other obstacles (e.g. playful squirrels, road debris, wide-load vehicles, etc) around you. During some recent afternoon miles, I was churning along with another rider. We heard the blasts of a train whistle. Immediately, my companion moved 2 feet over to continue riding on the far shoulder of the road as though anticipating something big and dangerous directly behind us. We had a good laugh. Semi's don't give us that much warning and they are MUCH more of a direct threat.
Perhaps this only seems amusting to those of you who have been out on the road for awhile and have experienced mixed signals from weary braincells.
Rosie was our grand marshall and led us out of town, down through the historic district and out onto the byways of Wyoming.
Blue skies, cool morning air. Terrain similar to yesterday's. Lots of grazing land. Saw lots of leaping deer in adjacent fields.
Water stop by mile 25. Check point at the Leiterville Country Club. Here I was, expecting there to be valets ready to take our bikes from us. It was just a little run-down grocery by the side of the road. But the sign did say - Leiterville Country Club. Go figure.
Made a much-needed stop at the Spotted Horse Cafe. Sign in the window read: Spotted Horse, population: 2. The residents were inside the Cafe, one - a very sullen man behind the bar, and the other, a frazzled matron in the kitchen. The bartender reluctantly responded to requests from some local guys seated on stools at the bar. He avoided making eye-contact with any of the spandex crowd until he absolutely couldn't avoid it. His face reminded me of mug shots of low-life criminals who spent time with say, Bonnie and Clyde. No exactly Mr. Friendly.
But hey, whose to say that our lunch wouldn't be good? For eight bucks, I enjoyed a delicious homemade hamburger with fresh and hot HOMEMADE potato chips and an ice cold soda. It's too bad that the dark and dusty atmosphere of the place - hobbled further by the temperments of the entire SH population - couldn't enhance our visit. But the meal was reviving and much needed.
The remaining miles for the day were over rolling hills under a very hot sun. Almost immediately after passing the sign welcoming us to Campbell County, the road surface changed. The chip seal was now red (due to local clay or rock perhaps) and there were significant expansion joints in the road about every 10 yards. I mean significant. You almost felt as though you were taking a jolt from riding off the curb. It really marred any downhill glides as you bump - bump - bumped your way down. I'm grateful to have such solid wheels.
The last few miles into Gillette seemed to take forever. Here's the airport. Here's the sign saying City Center ahead. Another one: Gillete - 3 miles. When we I ever get THERE? Finally rolled into Lasting Legacy Park around 3:45. A long day on the bike.
We consoled ourselves with opportunities to help the local economy by visiting an ice cream trailer in the park's parking lot - great soft-serve. And checking out the Starbucks across the street!
I don't know if it occurred on this day of riding, or another. I suppose it doesn't matter. It could have happened most any time.
While you are riding along for miles and miles, trying to enjoy the scenery, you are also trying to stay in tune with the traffic and other obstacles (e.g. playful squirrels, road debris, wide-load vehicles, etc) around you. During some recent afternoon miles, I was churning along with another rider. We heard the blasts of a train whistle. Immediately, my companion moved 2 feet over to continue riding on the far shoulder of the road as though anticipating something big and dangerous directly behind us. We had a good laugh. Semi's don't give us that much warning and they are MUCH more of a direct threat.
Perhaps this only seems amusting to those of you who have been out on the road for awhile and have experienced mixed signals from weary braincells.
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