Monday, September 19, 2011

A Long Fast Ride Through Wide Open Spaces - Shoshoni to Casper

Shoshoni to Casper
The day began with a 5:30 a.m. alarm. The café next door to our motel opened at six and we wanted to be the first ones there to avoid smokers.  Wyoming seemingly allows smoking anyplace and anytime.  (For Diane, who is severely allergic to tobacco smoke, this aspect of Wyoming has been a bummer.)  We were on the road by 7:15 and almost 11 hours and 99 miles later, we were at our hotel in Casper. 
This part of our trip through Wyoming is noted for its "wide open spaces," low rain fall, bluebird clear skies, high winds and parse population.  If you are on a bike you do not attempt this run against adverse winds. The promised westerly tailwinds did not come until midmorning; in fact, the first three hours or so, we had headwinds, which put us on edge.  That, combined with continual climbing, slowed our pace considerably.   Fortunately, by 10:30 or so, the wind shifted, and the promised westerly tailwinds (mixed with some side winds from the south) began.  Yay!
The day brought more wildlife sightings:  rabbit, chukar, antelope, grey deer, and a rattlesnake.  We also saw our first oil well.   We did not expect to see trees at all, but there were scattered trees about 20-30 miles apart.  We took a snack break at Hell’s Half Acre. This is a fascinating area.  Bizarre as it seems to us, we cannot recall stopping here when we bicycled this route in 1982.   
Diane challenges the tree-less high plains desert of Wyoming. (No place for a person with agoraphobia.)

She takes break in the only available shade.

Then she races an antelope.

And then bikes by a rattler!

The AGO Team rode with Rob today so they got to visit more places.

Hell's Half Acre. And they ...
even communed with the rare Wyoming catus.


 Late in the day, Diane answered the eternal question. 
"Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because the bar ditch was deeper.

From the Road. Best to All. Diane and Rob

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