Hi this is Dianna, Ron’s mom. Just wanted to let you all know that he is still traveling and doing well. He is at Devil’s Tower, which is located in the northeast corner of Wyoming. He will be watching ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ at the camp ground tonight. He was in the shadow of the Tower when he called earlier this evening. He is hoping to be back in cell service within the next couple of days so don’t give up, he’ll be posting again soon.

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I am leaving Billings this morning. Traveling into an area that I am not sure will have cell service. So, it may be a a few days between posts.

I uploaded a bunch of Yellowstone images. Hope you enjoy them.

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Wow! Big ride day 112.5 miles. Finally, broke 100 in a day. I hope I can walk in the morning. LOL I plan to soak in a nice hot bath tonight.

I went to Target and there were big problems. The ‘replacement camera’ they were going to give me uses Secure Digital media. I have compact flash. They had only one camera with compact flash and it was out of stock. Then the girl that was helping me pulled a camera exactly like mine out of a cupboard. It was the display camera. Everything worked on it, and I think it is the only one in the state, so, I took it. Here is the kicker. Because it was the display camera, I got a 30% discount. That’s right a working camera and $120!!!

Thank you Target.

Tomorrow, I head east again. I will be traveling through the Crow Indian Reservation. There really isn’t much as far as towns go to the east. Should be very interesting. I am going to stock up on food and water before I leave.

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My friend Katy told me that the rodeo was a “hoot”, and she was right!

I know it is an old theme man vs. nature, but when a 160 lb. guy hops on the back of an angry, 2000 lb. bull and takes a wild ride, it is something.

I know that the rodeo is about the cowboys, but I was far more impressed with the cowgirls. Something about a horse in a flat out gallop with a cowgirl in a hat and boots with her long blond hair blowing in the breeze. She was poetry in motion.

Anyway, from Cody I am heading to Billings, Montana to try to get a camera that works.

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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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