1054 miles in I will leave the big climb to an early start tomorrow. 60 miles to Buffalo and maybe further depending on how I feel. Gillette isn’t all that far away anymore.
The deal is two fold. 1) my legs are tired and could use an easier day. It’s been after the first 50 that they feel the most tired, and 2) I have been nursing a saddle sore for two weeks. Maybe the proper term is babying it. The regular lighter bib shorts I have make it worse, so I am wearing and have been wearing the warmer bib knickers that at least I can stretch down my calf and create about 5 miles of pedaling without irritating it more. I just have to take the time to stop and re-stretch them. Denise had full leg tights which I might have to look for in Gillette. Those would bed stay stretched and would probably be ideal. If I coukd get them in white then at east they might be tolerable in the heat.
Got up early, hit snooze twice and then packed quickly to be at The Copper Corner Cafe for a proper breakfast. I was made aware of The Daily Bread cafe in Ten Sleep and that’s when I first gave thought to a shorter day today. Chatted a few locals at the counter and full of breakfast and water I set out on 16/20 bound for Ten Sleep. Outside town the highway reduced to a narrower shoulder so I was happy when the route veered off onto a route that paralleled 16/20, but perhaps was a little more upsy downsy. I could always see 16/20 and my route was almost traffic free. That route was irrigated farmland after irrigated farmland until it rejoined 16/20 just before Manderson where again I was routed onto a lesser driven route that also paralleled the main road. This was a much longer section of roadway, crossing many cattle guards, but no more cattle drives. Yea!! More farmland, more giant irrigation systems. Tempted at times to try and get irrigated myself!
Turning onto County Route 43 1/2 ( Yes a 1/2), the route twisted and dipped and rose for another 12 miles before joining 16/20 about a mile outside of Ten Sleep. The Ten Sleep RV park was right there and looked charming. I pulled in found some shade and parked my ass in a bench and chatted some of the staff before Christine came by and gave me a tour. She isnt staff but a teacherr from Tampa that “Keeps coming back every summer” to escape the “Damn Florida Heat”. “Wyoming heat is way better”. Ten Sleep has plenty of places to eat and a general store. I will head over there shortly to see about what I might get so that I can get a near dawn start tomorrow.
After getting through the big horn mountains I will take the time to stop at a PO and mail some more stuff home and lighten my load as much as I can. Maybe one brick battery. Don’t really need my knife. Never used the tarp, half the clothes unworn, rain pants? Used twice. Two pairs of cold weather gloves. Might shave another 5 pounds.
Tomorrow we shoot for Buffalo, but first we have to a mountain to climb. No dawdling. Hopefullyly the winds will favor me tomorrow as well.
One more thing. There is a horse hotel here at the RV park and there are horses staying there. I will check them out.
Cheers