I made it through what Roosevelt called some of the nation’s 50 most beautiful miles. He was right. High steep rock faces cracked with eroded spires and bright blue sky’s. It was a photographer’s paradise and all down hill ( a cyclist’s paradise). I have to say that it was the most impressive ride so far.

Speaking of the photographer’s paradise, the camera is dead. So, sorry no pictures. It might have got wet like everything else yesterday.

The camera is only about two weeks old. So, I am going to take it back to Target. Little problem, the nearest Target is in Billings, Montana. It is 95 miles north of Cody. I am headed east. Another problem, last week they pulled my camera out of Target. Apparently there was a problem with them. So, I have only the camera and the charger no packaging. We will see how the exchange goes. I will play the ridding across the country on a bike card.

Cody is the rodeo capital of the world. So, I am going to the rodeo tonight. Never been to a rodeo. Should be interesting….

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I went through the Sylvan Pass yesterday evening. It was a total mess. There were mud slides this spring and most of the road is gone. They are working on it. The pass is lined with sheer cliffs of at least 1000 Ft. The rain was pouring and what was left of the dirt road was washing down the mountain in a spontaneous river. I watched as parts of the mountain slid into the one lane that they were working to keep open. They would get the bull dozer to clear the road and more of the mountain would slide.

Needless to say, they would not let me ride my bike through that. I asked and they were in no mood to bargain. So, a nice family from Oklahoma in an RV gave me a ride down the 7 or so miles of construction.

Everything was drenched. I had to trade my right arm for a warm dry place to stay last night. I worked the deal so I could keep my first born. The lodge Paskaha Tepee was build by Buffalo Bill in 1904. Yes, the Buffalo Bill. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places, but was very very over priced. Most everything was dry by morning.

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After eating lunch I stopped at the visitor’s center across the street. I stepped out the back door to the lake and was amazed.

I was trying to think of how to explain it. The lake is huge with a sand beach. It reminds me of the ocean more than a lake. On my right is a green meadow lined with pines. Across the lake mountains, tall scrape the sky mountains. They are covered with snow with fingers of snow reaching to the lake. On the far left, pointed rock pinnacles, sharp and stark. This is the highest large lake in the world, almost 8000 Ft high.

Then I see rain approaching from the right quickly moving across the lake followed by clear blue sky.

Wow. Am I ready to leave Yellowstone?

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So, I would have to say that the last few days in Yellowstone have contained some of the most miserable times of the whole trip. It rained and it was very, very cold.

Yesterday, after enduring another punishing morning and afternoon of very bad weather and very high altitude, I was at about 8150 Ft and I was pushing my bike up an 8% slope that went 4 miles. Then the sun came out. I stopped and laid on a fallen log in the woods in the sun. It was the peace I needed. The day went from a hard struggle to me wanting to be no place else. I slept and caught my breath. When I woke, I realized that when the log I was laying on fell it cleared a place for hundreds of tiny saplings. They were about 2 feet high, nice little trees. You know, at least one of those sapling will live several times longer than I, high in the mountains of Yellowstone with a beautiful panorama of its neighbors. I on the other hand, get to travel.

This morning, I bought some new rain gear. All Columbia. So, while I was watching a herd of bison slowly move across the mountain meadow, babies frolicking in the wildflower and it started to sleet and rain I was warm and dry. It was an amazing storm. I know it is one of those child like things; standing in the rain. It was another of those magic moments.

Last night, I went to a fireside chat with the rangers. It was about the Yellowstone back country. It was wonderful. Great pictures.

After I am done with lunch, I am heading to the highest altitude yet. 8500+ Ft. Should be a good ride. I am at about 8000 right now.

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I am trying to stay warm and dry sitting at the Norris Museum and visitors center.

Today has been very trying. It is cold and it has been raining most of the day. I am wet, cold, hungry, and suffering from the altitude. I am at 7636 (the current record). I have been told that it should clear later today. So, I am waiting to see.

I saw a bear today. It crossed the road ahead of me and swam across the river. It was a young grizzly I think. It was about 50 yards away from me. Not to worried.

However, later in the day I passed 4 male bison on the road. They were heading south I was heading north. They kept all 2000 lbs of their bulk on their side of the dotted line. It was scary. More scary than the bear, but they were breath taking. Awesome.

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I went into the park today to ride around and then returned to the fine historic and warm hotel. It started raining just as I turned around to come home so that was a nice 30 miles of wind rain and ice in my face. I loved it. At one point I just started laughing it was so crazy. What was I doing out there? By the way, sleet blowing in a 20 mile an hour wind while you are going 10 miles an hour the other way down a hill stings your face a little (ok a lot). Total miles for the day 58 miles.

I caught up with Jon from Grand View. He is going to Bolder, CO. We went and rode the park together. It has been cool to have someone to ride with. I will have to get a picture and post it.

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Ok, I made it to Yellowstone! I am staying in the Historic Madison Hotel. In the 1930′s and 40′s this was a favorit of movie stars. It is a great old Yellowstone lodge with lots of wood and animal heads on the walls. It should be a great place to stay.

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Well, I got 3 for the price of one. I just crossed the 7027 Ft. pass that leads into Yellowstone. It also happens to be the Montana state line, and it is the continental divide.

I have been racing a thunderstorm for an hour or so. It caught up with me at the pass. So, the cell picture is all dark and unusable. The regular camera only worked with the flash.

It seems to be a bad storm. Lightning and thunder, and ice falling from the sky. I am safely under the overhang of a garage, just watching the storm pass. It is cool listening to the thunder echo off the mountains.

It seems to be getting lighter in the direction the storm came from. So, I hope it is passing. Only 10 more miles!

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Over half way to Yellowstone. The ride has been great. I took the alternate route this morning and I was afraid that I was going to pay on the hills, but they were great.

It was a winding mountain road with not much traffic. The views were spectacular, wild flowers everywhere and butterflies. I took one of the best pictures of the whole trip this morning of a yellow swallowtail butterfly eating at a bright yellow flower. I can’t wait to upload it.

The falls were great very large, but you could only view then from above. I also forgot to take a picture with my camera phone. So, you will have to wait for the upload.

I broke my old altitude record of 6003 Ft this morning with one of 6345 Ft. I will be going to at least 7072 in the next 2 hrs. I should also cross into Montana then into Wyoming. I am looking forward to it.

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First off, let me apologize for not getting any pictures uploaded. The library closed at 1:00 this afternoon. I arrived there at 1:05.

I had a little time to look at the maps and plan out the trip a little. The most probable route at this point takes me out the east exit of Yellowstone to Cody, WY. Then passed Devil’s Tower and into South Dakota through Minneapolis St. Paul. Into Michigan and into Canada for a while. Through New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and ending in Portland, Maine.

There is another route that takes me to New York City, but I am not yet sold on that one.

So, the most probable route takes me about 3481 miles total. Funny thing is that if that is the route I take, I am almost exactly 1/4 of the way there (actually I am 1.48 miles short of 1/4 of the way). WOW!

It took me 15 days to get this far. So, that would make this a 60 day trip. Not bad.

Anyway, it is 60 miles to Yellowstone and 1585 miles to Canada. I guess I should add that it is 2612.2 miles to the coast.

Tomorrow, I hit some of the most challenging mountains yet. It is 2000 feet up to Yellowstone. The hill outside town here is supposed to be the worst. Good thing that I am all rested and ready to go.

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