Wyoming and Yellowstone

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I entered Yellowstone from the east, took a "side trip" up to Bozeman to see
friends, came back down the Gallatin River Valley, and eventually exited south,
heading for Grand Teton, and then Salt Lake City.

I don't really care for pictures of myself - but this is my bike setup.

Fishing in the Yellowstone River. Cutthroat trout abound.

Buffalo closeup.

I HIT THE WYOMING BORDER seven days ago and I’ve had almost nothing but good weather and a good time since. As always, people are great when they find I’m riding for a good cause. In Moorcroft, Wyoming, for example, I ate a late lunch at Early’s Café, owned by Early Thiry. It’s a small town and everyone knows everyone, and my waitress was babysitting three kids for a friend while she worked, with Early doing her part to help. 

It started raining hard while I was finishing my sandwich and I stared out the window and thought, “Crap, maybe I need to quit for the day.” But with the big motorcycle rally in Sturgis, only fifty miles away, there was no room at the inn anywhere in town and I didn’t want to go looking for a manger. Early saw my JDRF shirt and said, “Well, if you need a place to stay tonight, I have an empty building next door; but it has a shower and a TV that’s still hooked up.”

“I’ll take it,” I said immediately and so spent the afternoon and evening in comfort and ease, not pedaling any farther than most of you do at home.

The next four days, however, I kicked into high gear. I did 98 miles from Moorcroft to Buffalo the next day. Then I rode over the Bighorn Mountains, a daunting ride of 66 miles, requiring a gain of 5,020 feet in one day.

As I mentioned in another post that meant pedaling uphill for 33 miles, almost without respite. Then you get the payoff and coast downhill into Ten Sleep, Wyoming, about 30 miles away.

The following day I did 100, exactly, to reach Cody. Then I rode into Yellowstone, through the east entrance, a spectacular ride, again over a high pass. Since then, I’ve been in gorgeous country, including today when I took a “side trip” 78 miles north to Bozeman, Montana, to spend an evening with the Staebler family. Their daughter, Sidney, is a type-1 diabetic and headed for second grade in a few days. I’ll say more about their family and all the other people I’ve been meeting later.

For now, a few pictures of Yellowstone should say what needs to be said. This part of the world is beautiful.

You owe it to yourself at some point in life to drive through the West. This is a fantastic country.

 

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The beautiful Yellowstone River.

Buffalo in the Hayden Valley.

Checking out the tourists as they drive past.

The buffalo are stars in Yellowstone.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River - 308 feet.
Note tourist overlook to right of falls.

Overlook - Lower Falls.

The brink of the Lower Falls.

Upper Falls of the Yellowstone -
I didn't realize there was an overlook there, too.

Yellowstone River, looking toward Upper Falls.

Meandering stream by the side of the road.

Steaming hot lake. Note camper vehicle in background for scale.

I would be pedaling north in the direction I am looking.

A tourist lost his hat in the wind.

Grand Prismatic hot springs.

Small geyser.

The Shealy family helped me with this. Then they donated $60 to JDRF.

It's an Ohio State deal. One person says, "O - H,", and the other three say "I - O."

Riding through Dunraven Pass:  el. 8,859 feet.

There's an awesome hike up Mt. Washburn, too.

Hiker - near the top of Mt. Washburn.

Goats on Mt. Washburn trail.

You come up an access road part of the way - view from Mt. Washburn.

Yellowstone River, looking toward Upper Falls.

Coming down from Dunraven:  notice the cars on the road ahead.

Tourists on overlook - near Tower Falls.

Near Tower Falls.

Wide open forest ahead.

Even though they drove off the road, they were somewhat happy
because no one was hurt.  And they were lucky: 
going down an embankment without flipping
and taking bark right off two big pine trees they just missed.

The driver (left) fell asleep.

Pedaling north to Mammoth Hot Springs.

Mammoth Hot Springs - village ahead.

Cone of a dormant hot spring; Mammoth Hot Springs.

Mammoth Hot Springs.

Mammoth Hot Springs is aptly named, stretching for almost half a mile.

Odd formations abound.

I have had great weather in Wyoming.

THE LINK BELOW IS NO LONGER IN USE.

I DID RAISE $11,500.

If you would like to donate to help find a cure for type-1 diabetes please click HERE!

(This single click takes you to my fund-raising page. There, click again on "donate to this event." Then click "Biking and Painting for Diabetes."