Total miles today 80.1
Not as far as I wanted to go this morning. But 30 miles more than I wanted to go this afternoon. I took the bike in to be serviced in Idaho Falls. It took about 4 hrs. So, I thought about staying there for the night, but was so motivated to get to Yellowstone that I pushed forward. Mistake. I strained my neck while leaving town. So, I had headache the rest of the day. Not far out of town I started to look for a place to stay, but everything was booked. Town after town, everything was booked. I could not believe it.
I have really been pushing to get to Yellowstone by tomorrow and my body is telling me about it. It is time for some rest.
So, I am spending 2 nights in Ashton. It is a great town and I am excited to explore it. I also did not want to have to ride on my birthday.
One of the towns I was unsuccessful in obtaining lodging in was Sugar City(I know sounds sweet). While looking for a motel I stumbled onto an old sugar factory. I know not that interesting, but there was a sign talking about it. I am glad I stopped and read it.
It was built in 1904 and at the time it was the largest sugar factory in the U.S. Processing 700 tons of sugar beet per day. The capacity was increased to 1700 tons with it’s peak production year being 1933 (yes during the Great Depression). It closed in 1942. Here is the mind blowing stuff. During the 37 years of operation the factory produced 8,100,481 one hundred pound bags of sugar from 2,107,898 tons of sugar beets.
I also looked for a motel in St. Anthony. Cool little town. They have a beautiful old downtown and very nice park by the waterfalls on the river that runs through the town.
Right now I am eating at a log cabin restaurant. There are stuffed heads of elk, antelope, bison, deer and stuffed bears and the like. Lots of interesting things to look at.
Tomorrow, there is a fish hatchery, a museum, and some waterfalls to explore. That is of course after I get out of my nice, soft, warm bed at about 11.