Day 13 Wapiti to Ten Sleep

It was indeed a beautiful morning in Wapiti. Beautiful is not only what the eyes see, it is also the sensation of a westerly breeze on your skin, when you leave the motel room. This morning I went out to do some stretching on the parking lot. I do not feel a great urge to exercise even more energy but it is good to stretch and activate the non cycle muscles. From the parking lot I had this sight:

• 

• 

A man called Francis Lee Smith dreamed of building his dream mansion on a look-out above Wapiti. After more than 15 years’ work, he fell from his then tall construction and killed himself in 1992. He always worked without safety lines despite the Wyoming winds. Now the mansion sits unfinished and resembles the setting for a horror movie. There are initiatives to collect money for the house’s completion. Now it just looks scary.

One good thing about staying at a roadside motel is that you drive in and out and do not lose any time. We therefore took full advantage of the breeze and made it to Cody and through Cody in no time. Cody could be worth a longer visit, since it seems to the heart of cowboy country with rodeos, stampedes and naturally of a lot of Buffalo Bill history including a museum. He was born William Francis Cody and came from another part of the US. He liked Shoshone river area and was an important figure in establishing the town. Around the turn of the century (1900) he established Hotel Irma named after his daughter and he was also playing a part with government in establishing the dam and the State Park we came by in the morning.

We were headed towards Worland and both Garmin and Google recommended that we left the highway after Cody, but 100 yards into the road recommended, it turned into gravel – they do not waste money on asphalt here in Wyoming. A guy came in his truck and recommended us to go to Greybull on the highway and turn right. We asked for the next gas station to refuel and the gentleman offered us a bottle for the ride. Things appear to happen at nice relaxed pace here and people have the time to talk and be polite. Wyoming might also have their share of lunatics but 99.9% are definitely good hearted people some of them with a gun in their glove compartment.

In Greybull we had a good long lunch and spoke with a lady who works at Ten Sleep Museum. She recommended that we should go to Ten Sleep instead of Worland. Then we would cut a corner and be closer to Buffalo, where we are going Thursday.

Ten Sleep also sounds a lot better than Worland. Maria in Greybull told us that the name comes from native American culture. Native Americans did not own land as we are used to but they had an inherent right to different areas. In areas of great elevation differences, the native Americans had summer and winter camps. In winter they moved to lower altitudes and in summer then went up to stay cool and hunt where the wildlife was. The name Ten Sleep originates from a native American rest stop, so called because it was 10 days’ travel or “10 sleeps,” from one camp to another.

We are staying at the Carter Inn with some Harley bikers. Most are on their way to or from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. When you meet them on the road some nod and greet and other ignore us. Off their bikes they are people roaming around like us and you quickly connect talking about places you have been and places you are going. The first two rounds of beers at the restaurant were on the Harley people.

Music on the road – not yet

It still does not feel safe and monotonous enough to listen to podcasts and music on the road. We speak with each other now and then and keep an eye and an ear to the traffic. But (almost) gone is the liking for European music and rock. Here it is about good ole country music. We listen to Shanendoah, Blake Shelton, Deane Carter, Shania Twain. It is all the same sentimental lonely cowboy stuff but it is also the soundtrack of Wyoming. Wyoming is even compatible with music we do know and music we should know. When they played “Knockin’ on Heavens Door” by Guns N’ Roses and we had our Wyoming Whiskey shot, the night ended in selfies and “good lucks” . Maybe it is just a superficial encounter, but in the future a Wyoming Whiskey will taste of Ten Sleep and the music of Jackyl will transition us back to a memorable night in The Saloon in Ten Sleep. This is also why we are doing this trip, today 210 k or 130 miles after more than seven hours in the saddle. Yesterday Ten Sleep meant nothing. Today it is John and Carol, it is native Americans, it is the atmosphere in the Saloon.

Music in Movies

Troels and I are not exactly watching movies on the television before we sleep. Before my family flew home, however, we watched the premiere of Lion King. Definitely an impressive digital performance, but one of the trailers held a promise of a must see movie: Blinded by the light. Bruce Springsteen music .and Feel Good

The Day 13 Map