Daily Update for Cycle Across America

July 17

July 17, 1999

Newcastle, Wyoming to Gillette, Wyoming

Brian’s Ride Miles Biked: 77.7 Average Speed: 17.1 mph Max Speed: 29.1 mph Time Pedaling: 4 hours 32 minutes Total Feet Climbed: 2360 Start/Stop Time: 8:00 am to 1:30 p.m. Wind: Southeast changing to south. Weather: Overcast and cool (64oF) changing to mostly sunny and warm in the afternoon.

Comments: A nice tailwind propelled me northwest from Newcastle to Moorcroft with an average speed of 18 mph. From Moorcroft to Gillette I took Interstate 90. Biking on the interstate is legal here and I-90 is a good one with 8 foot shoulders. The condition of the shoulder changed frequently and sometimes it was too rough. But I continued on. The terrain for the day was long rolling hills of 2 miles or more for each ascent or descent.

I reached Gillette with the fastest average speed for the trip so far, 17.1 mph. Since I arrived early and had plenty of time to play with, I visited Spoke and Edge Sports for some questions about my bicycle. The store featured more than biking but still is a great bike store. Chris Engle from the store provided a complimentary check on my bike and patiently fielded my many questions. Thank you Chris.

The scenery today was of empty prairie, grazing lands and animals, trains hauling coal, oil wells, an oil refinery, and an open pit mine. Add tourism and you have the economic engine that drives the state.

Joan’s Version

Newcastle to Gillette WY The Sag-Wagon Princess & the Rodeo Queen A windy rainstorm swept through the RV Park, and we awoke to gray skies and wind from an indeterminable direction. Brian, skeptical that rain could greet him today, proceeded with care and a yellow rain jacket. I did laundry, jump roped and putzed around on the web for way longer than the time I had allotted. Shelley and I didn’t leave camp until noon!

Thankfully, Brian is well-equipped with food and snacks now, as he knows the "Sag Princess" (as Joan and Dave dubbed me) may not show. In an attempt to make up time, we hopped onto the interstate and cruised toward Gillette. Once we finally picked up cellular service, 2 miles from our destination, we reached Brian. Literally we reached Brian, on the phone and on bicycle… and on the interstate! At first it was disconcerting to see him on the highway as trucks whizzed by, albeit legally at 75 mph. I soon realized that the shoulder was wide enough to reduce fear…kind of.

We arrived at Crazy Woman’s Campsite to discover the town was brimming with people associated with the National High School Rodeo Finals. Our new camp neighbors provided details…38 states send its’ state champions who compete for national title in each of several categories including goat tying, calf tying, barreling, poles, just to name a few. Both women and men participate…only the women compete for Rodeo Queen.

After dinner at camp, Shelley and I rode bicycles 6 miles to check it out for ourselves. We gravitated to the auditorium to watch the teenage cowgirls compete for the title of Rodeo Queen. Captivated by the beautiful fringed deerskin outfits, matching pointy toed-cowboy boots and sparkly cowboy hats, we sat mesmerized as sassy girls spoke of the freedom, leadership and attitude necessary to become a Rodeo Queen. Life on the ranch (including "goat-tying") is rugged…now I understand why cowboys are so tough…they have to be, to keep up with the cowgirls. As we left the auditorium, we encountered 2 women from Griffin, Georgia, about 40 miles from our home in Atlanta, who brought with them a delegation of 39 from our state!

We wished we could stay in Gillette until Monday to see the competition, but my Aunt Barbara was arriving on Sunday in Sheridan, and Brian is trying to stay on schedule.