Wyoming skies are a beautiful thing. And that’s good cause I saw a lot of them today.
I woke up feeling great and planned to make miles today, my goal being Walden, Colorado from Idaho Falls. Unfortunately the free breakfast at Super 8 made me sick and queazy for much of the day and dulled my desire to either ride or shoot.
From Idaho Falls, I detoured back up north to Jackson, Wyoming, to extend my time in the mountains a bit longer, despite needing to get back to Texas. I was also hoping to postpone the heat I expected to find in Rock Springs and the lower portion of Wyoming in general.
Luckily the air was cool in the morning and stayed that way all day, but the road up to Teton Pass was a bit chilly, and certainly a nice twisty ride.
I pulled into Jackson, somewhat dreading it since I knew it would be packed with tourists. Still, I wanted to ride through and while there stopped into a bagel shop for a plain bagel to see if it would quell my queasy stomach.
After a bit, I was done with the tourist congestion and returned south on Hwy 191 for Rock Springs.
The rivers seemed to be running high and there were innumerable fisherman and float boats on the twists and turns of the rolling green waters.
The road south was quite enjoyable and a pretty ride, with the mountainous terrain slowly turned to rolling landscapes and sagebrush as I motored on. As the expanses increased, so did the sky and I spent much of the hours watching clouds up high and scanning for pronghorn down low. The smells of sagebrush and dust were my companions.
One thing I truly enjoy about motorcycle travel is the variety of terrain one sees in just a single day. From early morning chill on the plains and rolling grasslands, to cold shadows in forested canyons up high in the mountains, to massive rolling hills and endless skies, to red desert rocks and canyons, it’s a great way to see the world.
Though Wyoming has some of the best mountain terrain in the U.S., much of it is rolling or flat landscape from horizon to horizon. Aside from the deer and pronghorn, a random badger and endless ground squirrels and chipmunks, I saw several herds of wild horses and a bald eagle plus numerous hawks as I rode.
From the highway I spotted a large herd of wild horses and took a long dirt road to get closer to them to watch. They eventually wandered over a hill and I just spent some time looking at the amazing skies above and savored the moment of solitude. Alone and far from anyone, just me, the wind and the sky.
By the time the sun was setting, I had rumbled south through Saratoga and into the tiny community of Riverside for a cabin. I didn’t have the extra hour or two left in me to make Walden, Colorado, which had been my goal.
Across the road and on the porch of the Bear Creek Cafe, I tried to find wifi and cell signal, as well as an outlet for charging my dying phone. Instead I found a seat, no signal and no outlet, but a conversation with a young girl who came out with a whiskey and coke in one hand and a cigarette in the other.
She proceeded to tell me her life story and how she had come to Riverside to work horses and learn to ranch. She was a bit upset that her parents wanted her to get a "real" job. I reminded her that parents love their children and only want the best for them… but I also reminded her that you have to follow your heart to be happy, and that's what youth is for...