The Wyoming Bicycle Games; a Parody. . .

(Lights come up,Cue microphone feedback and loud tapping as a large cowboy dressed as a rodeo clown stands on a sun-lit stage and does a mic check). "Check check, is this thing on?......uh-hem....Welcome, welcome all contestants to our once in a lifetime Wyoming Bicycle Touring games!  All contestants must follow these simple rules in order to win the prize of actually exiting Wyoming on a bicycle with both you and your bicycle intact. Failure to do so could have dire consequences:

     Riding on the shoulder of the road, you must not cross the white line to your left, which contains fast moving traffic hazards, and you must not ride too close to the right, since there will be unannounced crevices and dips that could disqualify you from staying intact. Between these two hazards, there will be grooves that you must also avoid, since they are programmed to snatch at your tires and suck them down into the abyss.  You must also avoid the road debris that comes in the form of blown tires, broken glass, thorns, nails, and other clever devices designed to pop your tires.

     As you focus on these things, there will be searing heat, with no shade, since the only trees to be found will be those behind barbed wire. These will be off limits no matter how you long for the shade.  There will be vicious headwinds, and unknown and interminable distances between places where you can get drinking water.

     When you get to what cities we do have, you will automatically become invisible to the car traffic there. Your own creative hand gestures will have no effect on these people, and you must negotiate the roads knowing this, if you don't want to become disqualified by not remaining intact."

     Your "helps" may come in forms you least expect......stay on the lookout for any "helps" you may receive, since they may be rare and elusive. Calling home and crying like a baby is not considered a help. 

      (Cue confused whispering as Cowboy's assistant, in the form of a Convenience Store Clerk, reminds Cowboy of something). " What's that?  Oh yes, I almost forgot that one...(.and I really like this one)...an added challenge will be the unbearable reek of rotting flesh at random intervals, from road kill that will never be cleared off the road.

     Any questions? I certainly hope not, cuz we got no answers! " (Cue weak laughter)

      "Oh one more thing, we will NOT be watching you, cuz we'll be the ones passing you in the oversized horse trailer at 80 mph, gettin' to the next rodeo.

Good luck out there, and

Let the games begin!" (Cue mildly evil laughter, fade lights)

     

Ok, ok, a bit exaggerated, but not that far off the mark to describe the last 10 days.  Wyoming has it's stunning beauty, but also it's challenges if you plan on bicycling through... But we are safe and continuing on...

We crossed into South  Dakota yesterday, dodging severe thunderstorms as we try to time out our stops.  I'll save that for another blog!  We are so thankful for ALL of our experiences!  

Taking interstate as a last resort...it was great!

   

  Green Grass of Wyoming

Time to rotate the tires. These were new when we left!

Escaping a severe thunderstorm under the porch of a sale barn in a town celebrating red-neck days while we were there..oh and about 50 yards away was a 6 track railway carrying coal cars 24 hours a day.  Yeah, got a lot of sleep that night ;)

Another day, another State.  Thunderstorms are following us.  Many childhood memories from North Dakota come flooding back to me as the town sirens go off everywhere we have been.  I see a few more hotel rooms in our future for the next little while.  Tents and hail don't go we'll together....