Jul 03, 2014

The thumbnail is one for the grandkids, Nola and Prospector Pete from Toy Story who was hanging about in Deadwood where we had lunch yesterday.

 

We left Gillette and the high plains dessert surroundings complete with Oil Donkeys scattered about (still haven't got a picture of one) and headed into more high plains country through Buffalo and onto Sheridan which is the self proclaimed 'King of Cowboy Towns' and have a rodeo coming up for Independence Day Celebrations.This was a very attractive town and obviously doing well.

 

Fuelled up in Dayton and Norm spied the tanker unloading. The driver was chuffed he took the photo.

 

We had an awesome ride from here through the Bighorn National Forest (the highest we climbed to was 2,750m or over 9,000feet). This is a look back down onto the plain over some of the road we had climbed on. Our whole ride today was awesome!

 

A log truck making a very slow trip down the mountain. Check out the incredibly long draw-bar. No brakes smelling hot here but on the other side of the mountain I was followed down part of the hill by a car with smoking brakes. I was happy when I got ahead of it.

 

There were acres and acres of wildflowers over the top of the pass which looked magnificent and smelt deliciously sweet.

 

A shot of the 'Shell Falls' which are an incredible series of cascading water down a canyon. The power of the water over time was obvious and it was awe inspiring to stand and see it even now galloping down the hill with unbelievable force. Still some snow on the hills and we had earlier ridden through hills with snow each side of the road.

 

An impressive Canyon as we descended.

 

I will add a link to You Tube when I load a video of Norm's view as he rode down below where I took the photo.

 

Lunch at the scattered settlement of Shell at 'Dirty Annies", took a bit to walk in there but the food was good.

 

As we approached Cody it was obvious that the heat of our day was going to be replaced with rain.....a lot of it. 10km out of town it was obvious we weren't going to make it in dry so stopped and donned the waterproofs amidst a low black ceiling of cloud and impressive thunder and lightening. We didn't quite get there dry and boy were we glad we had kitted up. This is in front of our Motel. I was glad the drain I rode through to get to the Motel wasn't super deep but the stream of water each side of the bike looked pretty impressive.

Felt sorry for the local community who had a street blocked off and marquees set up for Independence Day Celebrations.

Bits and Bobs:

 

A shot for the 'Shame File' a dumping spot to the east of Buffalo on the Tipperary Road. Check out the snow covered mountains in the distance. Awesome sight.

 

As we were going to dinner a butterfly or moth was blown down onto the concrete in front of us. We enticed it onto my handbag and deposited it into a pot of flowers at the door out of the wind.

Last nights accommodation:

Wingate by Wyndham Gillette, 1801 Cliff Davis Drive, Gillette, WY 82718

Spacious comfortable room, with good amenities, bed good. Breakfast, wifi and parking included. No restaurant on site for dinner but a short walk. Gives the appearance of getting a little tired though doesn't look all that old. Big scrapes on paintwork in hallway and towells slightly yellowed and way too much fabric conditioner so dry poorly. Staff helpful.