Today's essense is Familar/home
We had a 8:00 a.m. scheduled start today since we only had a 52 mile ride. They ave us a short ride, I think becuase the next town was Sheridan Wyoming nad that would have made the day 128 miles. So they split it in 2.
Many riders were a bit annoyed at the late start. Many of us would have preferred to leave earlier, and arrive earlier, even if the school was not ready for us. we just wanted to avoid the heat of the day and some of us wanted to head out to Custer's Last Stand.
Here is a typical morning breakfast gathering and start at the truck.
Once we got rolling, we had a great ride. My achilles was felling better and we had tail winds for lot of it. It sort of clicked in the my mind that htis was like a trainig ride back home and so I was trying to ride it as such.
I could visualize the 20 miles left to home with the Pecos Road hills etc. WE got riding and I was flying. I finished ithe ride in 2.5 hours rolling time and just under 3 hours elapsed time. I hit several section where I was holding 30 mph. I was riding with Stephen and we gained the front and then I just found another familiar gear and I took off.
We actualy got to town before Pollie, our ride director did.
Here is me pointing at the "You are Here" sign in Hardin. ...And no, I am not doing my impression of John Travolta "Staying Alive."
We went into town to find lunch and located the Lariat country Kitchen.
Slow service since the proprietor was doing everything and was a one woman crew. She had funny books at each table to keep us entertained and so I bought one in the end. It is different sayings on why life isn't fair.
Afterward we returned to camp found a group and headed out to Custer's Last Stand. Now I know I had been out there as a 10 year old kid, on a faily vacation, but it was a empty battlefield and i was 10. How exciting can it really be. Going this time, it totally made sense what had happened, in the batlle, why ahd how. We listeend tot he ranger talk of 45 minutes and he was exceptionally good, explaining what was going on politically, militarily and just general lifestyle in the indain village. It was really educational. I was glad I went.
I really enjoyed this realtively knew monument that has been erected in honor of the 7 tribes that came together and worked cohesively against Custer. Regardless of the fight, I like that both sides were commemorated and I like the art and flow of this Native American piece.
After riding a bit up on the the Last Stand Hill road, we headed back to fight the now headwind. It had been a marvelous tailwind ont he way out, but the headwind was a tough battle for 3 of us to work against.
One thing we also did see was at Crow Agency they have a monument to all the crow who have served honorably and come home and had a reintroduction ceremony held. It list the soldiers from WWI right through the Panama Invasion and Irag war #1. It was very cool.
Once back home at camp we got showers and found out that the winds we were having were unusual. An Upper level Canada front was pushing down and continued to blow all night last night. As of the weather report there haad been sustain 70-80 mph winds. Tents were flapping and it was crazy.
It was Dan Scott's 60th birthday wo he had arranged cake, but the local 4H club came by and aksed if they could serve us all ice cream. Not being someone to turn ice cream down we had them return at 7:15. That was such a wonderful treat.
I also had lots of mail waiting for me. Thank you all for the letters and cards. I actually am keeping them all to put them in to a Big Ride Scrap book for when I get hope. But your thoughts and encouragement are amazing. It it great ot hear what is going on back home in your lives. Our world is fairly insular, so getting news from you is really fantastic.
Some of the letter make we humble, some uplift me, some make me thankful to be able to to do something that might help a family member. Others just make me feel loved. I appreciate them all.
Late last night I didn't feel like journalling. i am a bit tired of trying to record and not just absorbing it all. So I just wrote more sort of poetically about how I was feeling and alllowed myself ot jsut relax and enjoy the sound of the storm and rest.
After all my 52 miles ride had extended to 90 when I tacked on the additonal 38 miles that were teh out and back to Custer's Last stand.
It was a really good day. a selfish day. Missing home. missing family. Resting instead of blogging or cleaning my bike or doing other chores. I even missed the familiarity of driving home in traffic last night.
Anyway I went to bed content.
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