Day 26, 29 August: Douglas to Lusk, WY
Today’s ride started a little later, 30 min or so, to let the temps warm a little and since midday temps were projected to be only in the 80’s when we expected to finish.
The ride was not as filled with historical landmarks or unique vistas, but it was not uneventful or without eye catching views. Just the vastness of the prairie plains was breathtaking. More of the “railroad tracks to infinity.”
The route took us away from the bulk of the heavy traffic but did put us on some sections with road work ongoing. A 10 mile section of fine gravel surface created dust clouds and pebble strikes when the large trucks passed at speed. We have noticed that, out here, road crews hold traffic in one direction and have a Pilot vehicle lead the other lane of traffic over the area under construction. I imagine it’s frustrating for drivers waiting 10 min or more for their turn but it certainly reduces the windshield strikes – on cars as well as cyclists. The road crew were very deferential to us as well, holding traffic until we could get past the worst of it. Bill and I had a nice conversation with one flagman (woman); explaining what the heck we were doing out in the middle of nowhere. We learned she had a son getting ready to graduate from MARINE OCS. A nice diversion.
Something that did catch our attention was a string of rail cars on tracks paralleling the road. THIS line of cars just kept going and going… for like 2 miles. Bill and I did our best 8th grade math and estimate there were over 100 cars lined up.
Over the past few days in Wyoming we have seen a LOT of trains. At one of the Support Stops, Mark even came across an old rail bed, complete with ancient rail ties. It wasn’t hard to imagine multitudes of Chinese workers toiling all day, alongside surveyors, iron workers, and other support crews to move America west.
The looong low climbs – the kind you don’t really notice until after a couple hours, you feel like you are working way too hard to maintain pace. Ugh. The last 15 miles is always the worst, whether it’s 45 mi or 90 mi. I just kept hoping to see the outskirts of Lusk just over the NEXT rise.
Finally, that rise came and we dropped into Lusk, pop 5000, and pulled into the Covered Wagon Motel. Another day in the books.
Ron Bowman
USNA 1973 Ride-2-Remember 
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