Day 1 Cody to Mateetsee

No cell or internet service  so blog is one day late.  Taking about 3 minutes to upload one photo.  So might have to do a posting at the end of all the shots of the week,

Our first day adventure started with a 72 mile ride to Meeteetsee.  As I mentioned yesterday we are experiencing a heat wave.  So we tried to leave exactly at 7 am to beat the heat.  We met up with the boys from Missouri and we were going to ride together but the logistics of coordinating 400 riders made it almost impossible to connect.  I did run into Kyle (former MO State Police) and he was looking pretty fine.

Kyle is an artist and does painting of the old frontier.  And a good rider.

In any case Ken and I launched at 7 am and for the first 40 miles it was all downhill and cool.  But really rough terrain.

We stopped for lunch at about mile 55 and by that time the temperature was about 80 degrees, Hot but manageable.    But right after lunch it was like someone turned a heat lamp on and the temp jumped to 103.  It was so hot my water bottles were so hot you could not drink them.  But there was nowhere to get new water - so the last 25 miles was uphill with the tar melting.  Sucked.

Luckily we got into Meeteetsee about 4 pm and the town welcomed up with open arms.  They let us camp in their football field and opened up their pool and showers for us.  That's is a lot given there are 400 people riding.  They even hosting an event in town where you got to taste local food.  You  got a small taste from each resident and if you like the food you drop a tip in the jar. At the end of the night the local person with the most money won.  Great charity idea.

Food has been pretty good and for the interested riders there are round tables about Yellowstone.  Last night it was standing room only for the black ferret discussion.

Donald Trump and Yellowstone

After dinner there was another speaker from the Yellowstone Coalition and he was talking about how for the last 10 years they have been fighting to prevent a dam on the local river.  He started his discussion with there was a major decision this week.  He said "Donald Trump".  "Donald Trump" and the crowd jumped and were about to shout and boo.  

All of a sudden he finished his sentence...  Donald Trump this week signed the Preserve the Wyoming River Act that prevents any dams or development on the local river.  The crowd did not know what to do.  Some clapped and most were shocked that the President had done this.  As one of the guys from Missouri said.on  ...  Do you think CNN covered this?

It cooled down in time to grab some sleep.  So we are ready the next adventure.  On to Thermopolis.