We pulled out of the city park campground in Guernsey, Wyoming heading north towards highway 26. Turning left on highway 26 we travelled west through Guernsey for the last time, on this trip. About a mile est of Interstate 25 is Wyoming highway 320. This short piece of highway allowed us to maintain our goal of no Interstate Highway miles. We turned south on 320 towards Wheatland, WY. Oh yeah, we need to eat breakfast. Believe it or not we did not find a McDonald's for breakfast so we fueled up and kept rolling. Just south of our fuel stop we found a Carl's Jr. I suppose it was fine since there were no complaints. As we were getting ready to leave Carl's Jr. we met a gentleman older than the three of us. Really nice guy. The encounter was mentionable because he was driving an electric golf cart that was street legal and looked like a mid-eighties Chrysler product. Kind of funny but out of respect for him we told how much we liked it but none of us would trade our two wheelers for his mini cage. As he drove into the morning sun we laughed and pulled into traffic. We went south out of Wheatland on highway 312 until it intersected Wyoming 34. With the morning sun behind us we motored southwest towards Laramie, Wyo. Highway 34 is a very nice drifting curvy road with some gentle elevation changes. It is sandwiched between wonderful Wyoming scenery. Not many trees but each turn brings pleasant views of ranches and agriculture based life that boldly boast of the hardiness of rural life. At the Intersection of highway 34 and highway 287 we turn left towards Laramie, Wyoming. Laramie is a fairly good sized town with all the amenities we could ever have needed.
The Harley Davidson chop in Laramie is the only HD dealer we found where we didn't stop. No excuse no reason just didn't stop. My apologies to the owners for not giving you part of my hard earned income.
We did stop at the local hardware store. I had neglected to bring a ground cloth for the new Kelty tent and had a feeling we were on the verge of night rains the further south we went. The price difference between 3 mil and 6 mil plastic is astounding. Both rolls were the same size. 3 mil was $9.95, 6 mil was $23.95. 3 mil would have to do, I actually decided if I wanted 6 mil I could double the 3 mil and still have spent the lesser amount so the 3 mil began it's participation in our adventure. I stored the roll of plastic in my pack and looked for Glen. I know he was in line to check out when I went out the door. Did he get lost? Maybe they needed a hostage... No Glen. Back in the store to see if he needed assistance with an unruly crowd. Searching every aisle he was no where to be found. I headed to the front door and almost ran into him coming out of the men's room. I guess when nature calls... We decided to fuel at Safeway and gulp down a Gatorade. I wasn't paying much attention as I cut through the parking lot, not seeing the speed bump turned out to be like catching air on a horse that decided to blow up as he sees fit. At least it wasn't a train wreck but I did catch some air and made a mental note to be a lot more attentive in the future. The guys at the convenience store were interested in our story so we told them where we'd been and where we intended to go. Before we got out the door they had pulled forest fire reports up on the computer and were giving us highway numbers to avoid and which highways were probably open. They also gave us a weather forecast and wished us happy trails. It seems every time we stop there has always been someone who wanted to help or talk, someone wishing us a good trip or giving recommendations for food. It really makes a trip unique when you consider all the interaction that occurs with total strangers, each one writing their own story in which we are now a part.
The only issue I had with the route imposed on us was the number of miles it added to the day. The ride through Medicine Bow National Forest is a really nice mountain ride. Excellent scenery and not much traffic. We travelled west on 130 till it intersected 230. At the intersection of 230 and 130 we turned south on 230. We rode into Riverside, Wyoming. I had every intention of staying on 230 to Colorado 125 and points south. BUT... I missed the sign and ended up on 70 west, a road I had travelled before. Not much to see and the sun was really beating the heat into us. As we entered the town of Baggs, Wyoming all I could think of was a glorious drink of Gatorade. We eased into the local fuel stop fueled up, pulled the bikes out of the way and journeyed to the cold drink cooler. Gatorade! We took a seat on the rail in front of the station and enjoyed our drinks. Little did any of us realize they had painted the rail not too long before we chose our seats. I think we all ended up with red paint on or rear pockets. Glen figured it out later and had a good laugh. What I didn't share with Glen and Jim was a story of an event that occurred in Wyoming back in the 70's. Robert Redford gathered a group of friends and photographers and followed the trails and steps of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The Redford party as I choose to call them documented there travels with photographs and journals which was later published under the title "The Outlaw Trail, A Journey Through Time" by Robert Redford and photography by Jonathon Blair, publisher was Grosset and Dunlap. In the above mentioned book there is a chapter titled Brown's Park. We were drinking Gatorade and travelling through Brown's Park which Mr. Redford to declared to be an area with some of the most varied history in all of the old west. Our being in this location because I made a mistake really fits what is beginning to resemble the theme of this trip. The theme we are starting to see is one of old west history, standing in the places made famous by heros and outlaws, lawmen, soldiers and the families that shaped the west to be the modern jewel it has become.
Leaving Baggs, Wyoming we travelled south on Colorado 13 to Craig, Colorado. The best part of journey from Craig to Steamboat Springs, Colorado would have to have been riding next to the Yampa River. The worst part was the volume of traffic and their desire to exceed the boundaries of speed limits posted and numerous locations along the route. We arrived in Steamboat Springs hot and tired. We had noticed a campground back to the west on the Yampa River so we back tracked to the Yampa River State Park. Yampa River State Park is a really nice park and the ranger we ran into was extremely courteous and helpful. We made a run through the campground and it seems every camping location with shade was taken. No grass so we'd be sleeping on gravel. It didn't take long to decide this wasn't where we were supposed to be. Glen and I snapped our phones out like old west quick draw artists and began scouring hotels and motels. Glen won, shot me quick with the best price and one room left at The Steamboat Inn. We put them in the wind and headed to the Inn. Great place to stay. Swimming pol was very clean and cool. Local bus service stopped in the parking lot and a bus ran every twenty minutes. We relaxed in the pool then changed grabbed a bus and headed downtown. It was a fairly uneventful ride until we picked up "Douggie". Douggie apparently was a regular on the local bus service, regular enough the driver mentioned him prior to getting the door open. The first thing I noticed was the driver turned both of the fans mounted next to him on high and aimed them at his face. He also opened the window next to him as far as it would open. I noticed what was happening but it didn't really register until Douggie took a seat directly across from me. The driver closed the door began accelerating and with his right hand pulled the neck of his t-shirt over his nose. I immediately realized what his actions had done for him. I was helplessly sitting in an aroma compromised area that really slowed everything down. Trying not to be obvious and maintaining my composure I started turning my head in search of clean air. None to be found. You're probably thinking I'm a rather rude person to mention this so I'll expand on my reasoning. Based on the area Douggie elected to hitch a ride on the bus was an area full of apartments. It didn't appear to be an area tolerable to the homeless. The bus drivers reaction was to perfect, everything he did he was prepared to do when we made that stop. That tells me Douggie's a regular at this location. Douggie also knew several of the locals from that area, one of which was wearing a work uniform, was clean shaven and didn't wear a co\nspicuous aroma that tended to drive the average person wild. Douggie talked about being fed up with Steamboat especially since he had lived there 47 years which appeared to be his approximate age. Douggie got off the bus before us. We walked the main drag looking at our dinner options and decided on Mexican food. The food was a little expensive and average on the whole but I'm no food critic so Jim and Glen will have to give their evaluation of the meals. We finished dinner got back on the bus headed back for the Inn. Guess who boarded the bus in the same location he got off. Douggie! Strange way things happen. There were probably four or five buses running the same route and we get him on the way in and on the way out. He got off the bus at the same place he boarded the first bus. I would surmise he had an apartment in the area but obviously the shower didn't work or he was allergic to soap. Good Luck Douggie we'll probably never cross paths again but you are part of our story and always will be.
It had been a really long day and we were all tired. The beds in the room weren't big enough to share so yours truly unpacked my air mattress and pump. Got the mattress inflated stole a pillow from Glen dug out my sleeping bag liner and slept. Guess who was the last to pack in the morning? oh yeah....
Next post... "Independence Day Parade and a ride on the highest paved highway in the U.S., Hello RMNP!"
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