Chewed up and spit out on the Big Horn Mountains

"These mountains are not like the other passes that we have done before.  You don't just go up on one side and go down the other side.  The Big Horn Mountains don't let you go easy. They have a way of chewing you up and spiting you out," explained Greg Walsh, the leader of our tour and President of Cycle America.

Indeed, I was very much chewed up and spit out of these mountains!  They just never ended . . up . . up . . . up . . up . . .up . . up -- and this went on for what may have been at least 30 serious miles of a 92 mile ride. Most of the whole ride was up hill, but that section was simply long and tiring.  The thing is -- is that they were deceptive.  Just when you thought you were finished and over the top, there was another up hill and then another.  And, another.   You get the idea.   The highlight was reaching Powder River Pass at an elevation of 9666 feet, our highest elevation of the trip. There were even patches of snow on the ground.  This was also the hardest day of riding of the trip and my life.

I left Worland, WY at 6:37 a.m and arrived in Buffalo, WY at a hair past 5:30 p.m. -- a seriously long day on the bike.   But the weather and the view of rivers, valleys, and mountains were spectacular.   Funny thing, they were hard to enjoy and appreciate to the fullest as the hills just kept coming!   We ate like horses the next day at the Udder House Soda Cafe in Buffalo, WY -- down the street from the famous Occidental Hotel -- a real 1800's style bar and hotel -- which was having a Blue Grass jam the whole evening.  It was fun to stop over for about 45 minutes after dinner and just watch them all do the banjo, fiddle, and guitar pickin' thing.  I LOVE ending the day on a high and this was helpful.

Today (Friday) we rode a relaxing 70 miles from Buffalo, WY to Gillette, WY. Almost the entire ride was on the interstate highway.  But out here in Wyoming it wasn't too bad.  I rode with the "Jan Train" again of Jan (Netherlands), Martin (UK) and Chuck (Colombia, Ohio).   We all agreed to make it a "take it easy day."  For the most part it was, outside a few flat tires along the way.   The view was nothing like the Big Horn Mountains but at least I didn't feel chewed up and spit out!

I pitched my tent today on the football field of the local Jr. High School in Gillette, Wyoming.  Walked over to the public library and here I am.  Now off to dinner.   Down the road I'll try to give you an update on the pros and cons of sleeping in a gym with others or out on a field in my tent.  The last two days I've been in a gym after spending the first two and a half weeks tenting.   Today we arrived early so I thought it good to have some fresh air and go outside.