July 28, 2014
Today we left Saratoga Lake pretty early. The bugs were bad in the morning still, so I was trying to get everything packed up quickly. It was a nice day and the scenery was only getting better. I did not know that Wyoming had scenery like it does. I thought it was going to be the same as Kansas. Today I crossed the Continential Divide two times, but they were not as big of climbs today. This made for an easier day. I went through the Great Divide Basin today too.
THe roads were horrible and the weather got hot in the afternoon, not to mention the wind. After Rawlins the services were sparce and finding water became a challenge. Many of the town we were going through had stores at one point, but they were closed because there was not enough business. I began to save my water because I realized that I might not find a place to get water for the next 45 miles. Eventually, we made it to muddy gap and it was like an oasis in the middle of high dessert. There was a lone house with green grass and big trees. I rolled up and Rich was sitting in the shade waiting for the rest. As we sat in the shade the own pulled into the driveway and walked out to the street to talk. He said "Looks like you found the only shade for 50 miles around." Rich ended up doing most of the talking and the owner eventually asked where we wer staying. We told him at the camp area a mile down the road. Bart, the owner, said we could stay at the place for the night. We were shocked. It was amazing to find a place like this in the middle of nowhere. Bart continued to talk to us and the drove us all to the store down the street to get some food and supplies. Once again it was amazing that people in this world are so nice to complete strangers.
After getting back from the store we made a proper dinner because we had a stove and pots. I was excited to have a shower for the evening and a warm bed to sleep in because the next few days are going to be alot of camping in the national parks. Overall I did around 85 miles today and it was a pretty long day.
Today we left Saratoga Lake pretty early. The bugs were bad in the morning still, so I was trying to get everything packed up quickly. It was a nice day and the scenery was only getting better. I did not know that Wyoming had scenery like it does. I thought it was going to be the same as Kansas. Today I crossed the Continential Divide two times, but they were not as big of climbs today. This made for an easier day. I went through the Great Divide Basin today too.
THe roads were horrible and the weather got hot in the afternoon, not to mention the wind. After Rawlins the services were sparce and finding water became a challenge. Many of the town we were going through had stores at one point, but they were closed because there was not enough business. I began to save my water because I realized that I might not find a place to get water for the next 45 miles. Eventually, we made it to muddy gap and it was like an oasis in the middle of high dessert. There was a lone house with green grass and big trees. I rolled up and Rich was sitting in the shade waiting for the rest. As we sat in the shade the own pulled into the driveway and walked out to the street to talk. He said "Looks like you found the only shade for 50 miles around." Rich ended up doing most of the talking and the owner eventually asked where we wer staying. We told him at the camp area a mile down the road. Bart, the owner, said we could stay at the place for the night. We were shocked. It was amazing to find a place like this in the middle of nowhere. Bart continued to talk to us and the drove us all to the store down the street to get some food and supplies. Once again it was amazing that people in this world are so nice to complete strangers.
After getting back from the store we made a proper dinner because we had a stove and pots. I was excited to have a shower for the evening and a warm bed to sleep in because the next few days are going to be alot of camping in the national parks. Overall I did around 85 miles today and it was a pretty long day.