Today was the longest day of the Big Ride, 112 miles from Sheridan to Gillette. We climbed 4400 feet and afternoon temps were near 100 degrees. To say that the day was a challenge would be an understatement. When Scott and I rolled in to Gillette and were greeted by Jeff, who knows what we did on the road today, I almost burst into tears. The last ten miles, I had pasta for legs with no power available. Throughout the day, as our spirits and bodies waxed and waned, Scott and I supported each other. Each hill and blast of heat took its toll. We just kept on pedaling. One stroke after another.
The countryside today was a strange mix of ranches, oil and gas drilling, wildlife, and at the end, several giant open pit coal mines.
We saw many deer, and a number of antelope near the road, bounding away as they saw us, or staring transfixed at the strange sight of road bikes spinning away. The cows were amused as well, some running away from us, and some coming over for a chat. We saw beautiful young colts with impossibly long legs frightened by our strangeness and running to mama.
At the end of the day, the dust from the coal pit with its gigantic scoops and impossibly large trucks was visible from miles away. After a cloudless day, we saw our first cloud drift in and cover the coal pit in shadow when we stopped to take pictures. I couldn’t help but have the old song running in my head.
Home, home on the range,
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom was heard
A discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

Today's rider is David. David is Catherine's husband and is a very strong rider. He is a returning Big Rider having ridden the first Lung Association Transamerica ride in 1987. He is shown here with a new friend who wanted to try on his helmet.