May 22, 2010

No tornadoes!
We left Scottsbluff, Nebraska on Rt 71 in fog, at 8:00am 59 degrees. Rode out of the fog quickly and it was clear and partly cloudy with some wind. The morning ride was nice viewing the large sandstone bluffs with many varied shapes, some looked like castles, forts and just unusual shapes. After traveling 145 miles, now on Rt I-80, a large interstate with lots of 18 wheelers the wind got heaver. The winds increased tremendously leaving Cheyenne, WY. and after 25 miles, west of Cheyenne, and fighting severe winds the highway posted a flashing sign warning of 50 plus wind gusts, I had enough as I was sure we were going to be blown off the road and said to Ken lets get off. The only exit was in Buford, WY the Buford Trading Post and here we called for a tow into Laramie. Buford is a small town with population of 1. It used to be 2 but the father died. The tow guys were great. They dropped us off at McDonald's on route 230 for the next leg for the day.

Rt 230 was still windy along the prairies but as we got into the mountains and forests the wind was less and we started seeing more snow. Arriving in Colorado we stopped in the town of Walden for a late lunch at the Moose Cafe. We were now ready for today's final 60 miles into Steamboat Springs which was a beautiful ride. We rode through Rabbit Ear Pass which was like a winter wonderland and there were snowmobiles out and the temp dropped to 39 degrees. But as we came out of the pass and started our descend into Steamboat the views were breathtaking looking down at the village it looked like a village in Switzerland. We arrived at 6:00pm and were very happy to put our feet on the ground.

One of the tow truck fellows, Charlie, was telling us how he moved from Phoenix to Laramie, WY to start a Ranch for girls in peril and they could be unwed mothers. I was very impressed. GOOD LUCK CHARLIE.

Sandy from the Fort Laramie American Grill restaurant corrected me as there are 5 restaurants in Fort Laramie but he feels his is still the best.

And I forgot to tell you about seeing my first real cowboy, a man on his horse with his dog herding cattle. It was quite a site.

We are staying here in Steamboat for a couple of nights then heading to Utah.