7/10-Windoming and Curtis Saves Me!

I got going my earliest so far at 5:50, and I still didn’t manage to ride the whole thing…but I’ll get to that.

Today was going to be yet another long scorcher of a day at 74 miles and over 4000 feet of elevation gain. Hence the early start. It was not quite as cool as yesterday, but I enjoyed it while it lasted. The big factor (besides the heat) was the wind. It was going to a headwind for the majority of the route. Also, similar to yesterday, it was 25 miles of pavement, then the rest on gravel. Unlike yesterday, there were not really any major descents. 

Find the antelope (hint: look for the white butt)

About the same distance as yesterday, Ben caught up to me. We were going uphill, so he said hi, and see ya later. 

Another See ya, Ben photo. 

The pavement was very big rollers. The climb pro initiated three times just on the pavement. 

One other difference today was that we had a service stop in Biddle. It was less than a mile off route. 

Funny sign that Ben took this photo of

Coming into Biddle. 

I got to the store just as Ben was heading out. I took this photo of him because his face was so white with sunscreen!

“Kibuki Ben”

Yesterday, Ben lost his sunscreen on the gravel. Unfortunately, I never saw it, otherwise I would have surmised it was his, and picked it up, knowing we would be in the same town. So, he had to replace it in Broadus. This stuff definitely did the job, but he said it never soaked in!

I had a strawberry and cream pie, a bottle of juice, and a Dr. Pepper in Biddle. I talked with an older lady who had lived there (ranching) since 1977 with her husband. She half heartedly offered to give me a ride, but it would have just been about 7 miles before I would turn to a different road. 

At least going back to the route, it was a tailwind. Ranch creek Road was the beginning of the gravel. It was not great. It was washboarded, and too thick in places. 

At least there was this very brief respite going over the Little Powder River

After awhile it wasn’t as bad, but it didn’t get better until I turned to a different road. 

This red gravel usually seems to be better. 

Today was the end of Montana, and the beginning of a relatively short time in Windoming (aka Wyoming). 

State #4!

The sign that actually says Wyoming

The actual border.

It was getting pretty warm, but the wind was alternately a friend in that it kept me cooler, and a foe in that it slowed me down. 

I came to a place called Bliss Ranch. It was some shooting place. I stopped an ATV, and asked the two young women if they had any water. I wasn’t out, but I really needed to drink a bunch. They gave me a nice cold bottle. I drank some, and put the rest in my electrolyte bottle. 

The road just continued on and on. I saw the odd vehicle, and several antelope, but that about it. 

I was really struggling with my mouth being so dry. I tried to eat a peanut butter and jelly filled date. I could barely get it down. I knew I needed to eat, but I just couldn’t. As I was riding along, I was beginning to worry that I wasn’t going to make it. I had 18 miles to go when a truck came up behind me. I flagged it down. It was a kid. He jumped out. I told him I was supposed to get to the New Haven B&B, but I didn’t think I could make it. The truck he was driving was a flat bed with a big tank on the back. Lucky for me, he was going home, and home was about 100 yards up the road. He said to follow him, and we’d figure something out.

There were several vehicles at his house. We put Wanda on a flatbed, and tied her down. Curtis was a 20 year old recent graduate from college. He lived at the house with his parents and sister. They are cattle ranchers. 

Curtis! My hero!

We passed Ben. He was looking pretty worn out too, but still pedaling. There were so many more hills that I’m sure I would still be out there if it weren’t for Curtis!

Ben arrived just a short time after me at the B&B. Gary (his wife, Lisa was still at work) had shown me the ropes. It’s $100, and more than worth it! Ben and I did our laundry in one load. We had some time to debrief about the last few difficult days, then dinner was ready. 

Dinner was delicious pasta with Alfredo, sautéed mushrooms, scallops, prawns, and zucchini. Best meal I’ve had this whole trip!

Lisa works in health care, so it was interesting chatting with her. We are both in our 60s, so have that in common. 

Tomorrow, I will finally have a much needed short day to Devils Tower. I just did 56 of the 74 miles today, but they were some of the hardest miles I’ve done. 

My room

The common space (it’s the basement of Gary and Lisa’s house)