A Question of Time

I have been asked several times how long we spend riding each day. The answer is as varied as the people we meet. The truth is I very rarely will make an accounting for the time spent on the saddle for the simple reason that it won't matter. I don't have a watch on me (thank goodness) and the only reason I ever ask Andrew for the time is to make sure we have enough daylight to get where we are going. Miles are what matter. To think that we spent 11.5 hours going 130 miles yesterday is not nearly as motivating as to think that we went 130 miles fighting a stiff wind that persisted in going the wrong direction for most of it.

I met a man named Red who has also given up the constrictions of a watch. I hope that I can live similarily after this trip. Quality work is rarely associated with being overly conscious of time.

This post will be short due to the fact that one I just wrote something yesterday, and two I would like to go get something to eat =)

We will be spending the night in a little town just West of the South Dakota border tonight called Beulah. For those paying attention you will notice that we are no longer going to be visiting Mt. Rushmore. We held a council last night and decided that it would be better to visit Spearfish Canyon in SD and then start booking it across Rt. 212. Hopefully today will be the last day we spend on the interstate. As much fun as it is to have a lot of trucks going by you at 70+ mph I prefer quieter avenues of travel.

Here are some pics!

This is me resisting the urge to get up and go. We stayed behind some half abandoned building in Gillete. We were going to stay in the park but then found out from the local skater crowd that the park was patrolled by very uncool law enforcement, but they pointed us towards this building up the street where we were sure to be left alone =) This led to a new realization, if you want to know where to not be bothered by police, ask the skate park crowd.

Does no one else see the irony of having a cultural extravagance (Starbucks) next to a place where you can get a Cash Advance? Andrew didn't laugh, but I thought it was humorous.

This is Eastern Wyoming. You'll notice the little towers. These are filled with water. They use it for cooling purposes (I believe). You can see on the right an oil pump working away. After this picture a big coal train went across the train tracks (the black line across the middle of the picture). What you can't see are the horses hanging out in the shade of a tree to the right. It's a beautifully sparse land that is run by coal/oil interest, and local ranchers.

And we're off,

till next time,
Nate