MON 7/12 [HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY, SON!] -- Walden CO to Saratoga WY (66)
Just 20 or so miles into the ride we left Colorado and entered Wyoming, which seemed like the operational definition of big empty space -- starkly beautiful, but, except for the post and wire fencing along the road, pretty much devoid of any sign of human habitation. Even the fences disappeared along some stretches, leading to occasional COR (cow-on-road) situations. I got a late start on the ride due to my meal clean-up responsibilities, so there was no one around to take my picture at the border crossing. You'll just have to take my word for it that I was there and took the photo. The two accompanying pics are just random shots of the typical surroundings along the route (including pretty roadside flowers).
We continue to be plagued by s-t-r-o-n-g, mostly westerly winds; on today's ride all but about 15 miles was either into a big headwind (hard slogging) or a big cross-wind (treacherous).
Our lodgings for the evening were provided by the Sage and Sand Motel, of which I will say this: they got it half right(*). Hugh and Mike were on cooking duty, so they got bunked together in a room with a kitchen. I shared one room of a "suite" with Phil; John and Dawn had the other room; we all shared a bathroom. Two nighttime tidbits: (1) Words from Phil in the middle of the night, while sound asleep: "That's ok, man, that's cool. Whatever you want; doesn't make any difference to me." He IS generally a very agreeable guy, even, apparently, while unconscious. (2) I'm in the bathroom late at night, answering nature's 2nd or 3rd call; the walls are very thin; I hear a lot of gasping and moaning from John and Dawn's room, which I naturally attribute to, umm... romantic activities. "Sweet," I think. I should have known better than to jump to that conclusion; they're an old married couple from Minnesota, after all! Turns out it was John having another bout of muscle cramps. Ouch. I get them myself sometimes (none yet on this ride, knock on wood), so I know very well how incredibly painful and debilitating they are.
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(*) Sand a-plenty was blowing everywhere; I think the final cycle of my bathroom sink clothes-washing chore, when I hung things out to dry, was "sand-blast." Sage was nowhere to be seen. (Until the next day, that is; see subsequent post.)
(Sent from my iPhone)
Just 20 or so miles into the ride we left Colorado and entered Wyoming, which seemed like the operational definition of big empty space -- starkly beautiful, but, except for the post and wire fencing along the road, pretty much devoid of any sign of human habitation. Even the fences disappeared along some stretches, leading to occasional COR (cow-on-road) situations. I got a late start on the ride due to my meal clean-up responsibilities, so there was no one around to take my picture at the border crossing. You'll just have to take my word for it that I was there and took the photo. The two accompanying pics are just random shots of the typical surroundings along the route (including pretty roadside flowers).
We continue to be plagued by s-t-r-o-n-g, mostly westerly winds; on today's ride all but about 15 miles was either into a big headwind (hard slogging) or a big cross-wind (treacherous).
Our lodgings for the evening were provided by the Sage and Sand Motel, of which I will say this: they got it half right(*). Hugh and Mike were on cooking duty, so they got bunked together in a room with a kitchen. I shared one room of a "suite" with Phil; John and Dawn had the other room; we all shared a bathroom. Two nighttime tidbits: (1) Words from Phil in the middle of the night, while sound asleep: "That's ok, man, that's cool. Whatever you want; doesn't make any difference to me." He IS generally a very agreeable guy, even, apparently, while unconscious. (2) I'm in the bathroom late at night, answering nature's 2nd or 3rd call; the walls are very thin; I hear a lot of gasping and moaning from John and Dawn's room, which I naturally attribute to, umm... romantic activities. "Sweet," I think. I should have known better than to jump to that conclusion; they're an old married couple from Minnesota, after all! Turns out it was John having another bout of muscle cramps. Ouch. I get them myself sometimes (none yet on this ride, knock on wood), so I know very well how incredibly painful and debilitating they are.
----------
(*) Sand a-plenty was blowing everywhere; I think the final cycle of my bathroom sink clothes-washing chore, when I hung things out to dry, was "sand-blast." Sage was nowhere to be seen. (Until the next day, that is; see subsequent post.)
(Sent from my iPhone)
(Sent from my iPhone)
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