Fourth Shift: On to Casper

First off, some earlier posts were not able to be published for some reason so feel free to look back again. Last night we decided to stay out in the Wyoming country, in a grassy field near but off highway 20 toward Douglas. While we were prepared for a night in the wild, we did not have enough forethought to make our sleeping quarters away from a highly used train track. All day long our route had been following the tracks, coal trains with many cars filled with coal headed east while trains with empty cars headed west. Once our camp was set up, it was apparent that that trains ran past every 15 minutes or so. Trains are loud by themselves, they are even louder when they blow their horns. Unfortunately, our campsite was also near a small intersection which crossed the tracks. From what I can gather, trains must blow their horns twice before crossing any intersection, even out in the middle of no where, at anytime at night, without regard who is sleeping nearby. Thus, it was a long and noisy night. Somehow, we got some sleep.

After a breakfast of pastries and bear claw pastries we bought the day before we set out toward our half way goal of Douglas. The first 20 miles were surprisingly easy. A slight tail wind gave us a morale boost and the terrain turned into a long and gradual descent allowing us to get many miles in a short amount of time. We stopped for long break at a gas station, the only place miles around. It was not intended to be a long stop, but there was only one toilet and many men waiting to use it. Because the station was so isolated, they gouged the prices immensely, never again will I buy a chocolate at such insane prices. The last half of the ride was hardest yet most beautiful. The route to Casper consisted of long rolling hills, the beginnings of the Rocky Mountains visible in the distance. Seeing the mountains standing as if they are the guardians of the west formed feelings of both excitement and dread, excitement at the experience, anxious because of the physical pain and effort that will go into it. After biking 84 miles, we saw a golden corral was ahead, a sight too good to pass up when biking that far. I think we ate them out of business.

We realized that we have been on the road for 7 straight days, no wonder we are feeling a little be worn and fatigued, that along with being at over 5000 feet in altitude. We also saw that the temperatures are going to drop into the 30’s tonight, much to cold for any form of comfortable camping. We decided stop being frugal and buy ourselves a hotel. That was our day, now it is time to enjoy a warm shower and soft bed, if only for one night.