July 2, 2009 Recantation

Recantation; Grand Teton photos; Continental Divide; Wind River Canyon; Happy Birthday

“We all laugh a lot, kid each other a lot, and are growing in our love for each other.” Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. I’m sure you didn’t believe a word of it. Truthfully, we are at each other all the time, fighting over such things as why one pays the bill for us all at Pizza Hut, whereas another pays the bill for dinner at a hotel at a ski lodge; where one who claims to be a vegetarian when he’s buying, orders and eats a ribeye steak when someone else is buying; when to leave in the morning; how long gas stop breaks should be, from Griff’s six minutes to Bob and Bill’s 30 minutes plus; how long the lunch stop would be; what time to get up in the morning and on and on. So Cain, Abel and my other brother Cain, and Bobby plug on, and we’ll see how it all ends. It’s no picnic out here in the heartland.
Bobby is in a big hurry to get back to the dealer tomorrow as soon as possible, so he wants us to leave here by 7 AM. Billy said he might like to buy an Apple computer tomorrow and he probably won’t be ready to go until 10 or later. I suggested that if we couldn’t get a good deal here, we might go back to Riverton to see if there’s a better deal there. We all laughed now that the shoe is on the other foot and Bob is the one anxious to get somewhere by a specific time.
After some shopping in the morning (primarily for Bob to get some cowboy boots and a cowboy hat), we left about 10:30 and headed north to get Route 26 toward Riverton. We took the same route as we had come in last night, through the park, to get scenic photos of the Grand Tetons with the sun behind us as we took the photos. The mountains are very photogenic and the white clouds swirling around their peaks and the spots of blue sky certainly added to the photos. Then we went another 20 miles or so and each motorcycle rider went by another who took their picture with the Grand Tetons in the background - just fabulous. And the weather continues to be excellent, although a little cool at the start due to our elevation of 6-7,000 feet.
We turned onto Route 26 toward Dubois and Riverton and climbed several thousand feet to the Continental Divide at about 9,600 feet, with patches of snow all about us, and the temp dropping noticeably. Even with a shirt, coat, another rain coat over that, I was cold at times. I even put my rain pants on to keep warmer and to prepare for the daily afternoon thunderstorms. We only encountered one en route, and only sprinkles from that, although the sky is quite black now and we’re headed out for supper. It’s amazing that in 30 minutes or so, we’re very hot in 85 degree weather as we dropped down to a broad plain and the bright unrelenting sun. While proceeding up to the Continental Divide, we were halted again by a flagger in a construction zone and told that it would be a 10-15 minute wait. We shut down and walked around until the pilot truck arrived with a trail of vehicle behind it coming the other direction. Then it was our turn to go the six miles through meadows and high country pine forest on dirt road and torn up paved road for 6 miles, passing large construction vehicles and smelling the newly cut trees and the woodchips by the side of the road.
We ate at a gas station and had either a small pizza or sandwich, and the store was entitled “Grab and Dash.” At last, a store close to my heart. We turned into the Wind River Reservation and soon entered the Wind River Canyon, another great example of why God made motorcycles (before Harley did). The speed limit on all these two-lane roads is 65 and when you approach a curve there will be a sign saying, for example, “50 mph” or in some cases “15 mph.” The road in this Canyon is an excellent road and all curves, usually of the 50 or 55 mph speed limit type. What a blast. First to the left, decelerating from 65 as you approach the curve, leaning the bike and then accelerating into the curve so that you came out of the curve going 5-10 mph faster than when you went in. Then you would be upon the next curve, this one to the right, and you would do it all over again. And again and again for miles as the walls in the Canyon grew taller and taller, and you followed the Wind River to the end of the Canyon. I think it ‘s called “Wyoming’s Grand Canyon” but I’m not sure. After a while you just get in a rhythm and the bike steers itself and you’re just along for this most glorious ride in a beautiful surrounding passing by in a blur. I was sorry when it ended. But we have another great ride first thing tomorrow from Ten Sleep to Buffalo as we tackle the Big Horn Mountains again. I also think that we may have driven fairly near the burial site of Sacajawea, and am sorry that we didn’t make the effort to get there.
And to my good friend, Peter, Sugar and I want to wish you a very happy birthday. We will miss you on your special day and are thinking of you. Give our love to Ursula, and tell her I found a blonde to ride on my bike (although she is just on a Harley T-shirt I bought). Maybe you’ll be riding with us soon.
Good night, and thank you for your interest and comments.
Dad, Nat, Gnat, Matt, DB and Cain