Month: August 2008

We ended up spending a few extra days in yellowstone, due to a fire that closed the main loop through the park. Fortunately, yellowstone isn’t a bad place to get stuck. We were debating on whether to ride 90 miles the other way round the loop, or take the gnarley north road out of the park, when we were rescued by the amazing Yip family, who gave us a ride to the other side of the park. We got to join their family for a day, including a successful eagle hunt, and a great swim in the firehole river. Thanks Yips! Today we had an amazing ride out of the park, riding through some beautiful country. We also dropped 3000 feet and had a great tailwind. We rode pretty close to another huge fire – close enough to see the flames! We finished off the day at a great italian restaurant, where i ate two orders of rollatini. Still a bit behind, but we only have one big climb left – 6k feet over the bighorns. We should start that tomorrow! Ps we survived a staredown with a buffalo

if any of you were planning on visiting the big horn mountains, i hope you already did, because we left them a smoldering hole in the ground. In a two day climbing marathon, we blew through those mountains like they were nothing! Ok, maybe not nothing, but we did a darn fine job of pedaling. It was 23 miles of steep uphill, part of it through the rocky and lovely shell canyon. the pass was 9000 feet, the highest i’ve ever ridden my bike. We may see our second day of rain today. We’re only a couple days from south dakota, should be a piece of cake from here on out. -megan

decaf is not as good

Filling has real peaches, good flavor. Otherwise, slightly gelatinous. Most likely not from a can. Crust is above average. Doughy, not flaky at all. Holds together well, It’s pretty thick. Possibly a little whole wheat mixed in there. Four out of five. Greg had the apple. Not as good.

Hub cafe

Previously on bike bums- we rolled out of Sheridan Amidst a swarm of motorcyclists on their way to the sturgis rally. Someone said they expect half a million! we were hosted by the find owners of the spotted horse bar, where we tented among the trappings of their anniversary pig roast. on the lonely highway there, we saw a 3 mile stretch where there were slim fast shake cans strewn every 15 ft. probably some cowboy chugs one every morning on his commute. Yesterday we had some nasty head winds into Gillette. probably one of the hardest days. it was actually a relief when it started storming because the wind shifted. we didn’T even mind the hail! well, that about wraps up this state – onward to dakota!

ride like the wind!

we found another tourist town. We are eating in an old train car. there was a lady paid to stand at gas station and tell people about the specials. May have been an old set for dances with wolves. Barely avoided a big storm last night. It’s been windy in the wrong direction, but We’re about to turn, so it should get better. Probably be in pierre tonight. I’m told It’s peer in south dakotan.

rolled into pierre last night. Had a super tailwind while we were going north, then turned the corner into a cross wind. Broke the cardinal rule last night, and ate dinner in the tent because the mosquitos were so bad. thinking about getting full body mosquito net. We’re still drying out from the thunder storm last night. i got scolded for riding to the laundromat in flip flops. Should be in minnesota the day after tomorrow. – megan

that’s right, we just avoided a nasty storm

in the home stretch, with two bike days left! Did century yesterday, at 104 miles i beat my longest day by 2 miles.

Victory! We rolled into minneapolis at around 6! Total mileage was 2900 almost exactly. Ok – time to start transitioning back into humans from bicycle machines. A more substantial update will follow soon.