Day 21 Casper-Lusk

Miles:  106.61           Terrain: Wide open spaces, gradual uphills
Depart:   6:44 AM      Arrive:  3:10 PM
Riding time: 6:33:03
Average Riding Speed: 16.3

            Today’s GarminDownload and Map (for cycling data junkies!) 

Today's Ride

My railroad friends have been asking me why in three weeks I haven't seen a train, or at least posted a picture of one.  There certainly have not been a lack of railroad tracks, but indeed very few trains.  That was until today on our 106 mile trip from Casper to Lusk, WY.
 

The trip today marked the last time that we will ride on the shoulder of an interstate highway.  After the first sag stop in Glenn Rock, we entered I-25 heading south for a nearly 15 mile run until we exited at mile 44 of our ride.  As I came down a downhill on the interstate, at the bottom of the hill before an -uphill was a police car on the shoulder with its lights flashing.  Because the car that had been pulled over was not visible, some of us wondered if he had stopped members of our group for (legally) riding on the shoulder.  But it was just a traffic stop, although it made it difficult for us to pass without going out into the right hand lane.  And as the picture shows, the vehicles on I-25 are allowed to move pretty fast!

After getting off I-25 we passed through the town of Douglas.  It is here that the first train encounter of the day occurred.  The town Chamber of Commerce runs a visitors center, that on this day was staffed by a husband and wife team of volunteers, Ron and Elaine.  Outside of the station was a collection of railroad equipment, including an ex-CB&Q 4-8-4 steam engine; the Burlington streamlined diner Silver Salver, complete with table settings; a former Empire Builder duplex sleeper Augassiz Glacier which was built for the Western Star train; a Union Pacific baggage car and an old Burlington caboose and Chicago and North Western coach.  And did I mention a statue of the seemingly obligatory mythical animal, the Jackalope?

Through much of the rest of the day, U.S. 18 and 20 on which we were traveling paralleled the Union Pacific’s line out of the Powder River Basin.   After passing through Lost Springs (population 4!)  a westbound headlight became visible.  It was a train of empty hopper cars returning to the coal fields, but when I heard another horn I looked back and saw an eastbound train with loaded hoppers.  I was able to snap a picture of the two trains as they met.  I totally forgot that my camera had video capability, but I remembered in time to shoot a video of the tail end of the eastbound train and the helper engine on the back end.  Not long afterwards, two other trains of empties passed heading back for new loads.

Not to ignore my military friends, during the day I saw three westbound convoys of heavy military vehicles.

We arrived in Lusk on the day of the biggest event of the year—  Our hotel was right on the parade route so we got to see the passage of western wagons, horses, Indian reenactors on horses, and the tossing of candy to the crowd. It was our exposure to a bit of local color--the Legend of Rawhide Pageant and parade.
 

 

Tomorrow’s ride will be “only” 93 miles.  We will enter our fourth state, South Dakota, and end up in Hot Springs—appropriately named for another day that will be near 100 degrees!