Picto Diary - 25, 26, 27 August 2020 - Retrieving the LT from Sheridan, WY
Three Stage Trip by Mwah (sic) and TIMDT to get the 2005 (almost vintage!) BMW K1200 LT motorcycle, abandoned three weeks ago in Sheridan due dead battery.
25 August. Salt Lake City to Sheridan, 510 miles, in a one way rental car.
26 August. Riding, tandem. Sheridan to Thermopolis. Rode US 14 over the Big Horns, reaching 9 thousand feet of elevation, down, via Worland, to Thermopolis. 170 miles.
27 August. By motorcycle. Thermopolis to Park City. Breakfast in Riverton, 40 miles down the road. Pit stop in Kemmerer, 180 miles further on (kudos to TIMDT... trooper... that's a long ride segment sans stopping). Late lunch at Don Pedros in Evanston, fifty miles from Kemmerer. Sixty miles to Park City and home... arriving around 3:30 PM. Total miles: miles 330.
We drove a one day, no return rental car up from Salt Lake City, today. Goal: To retrieve the BMW K1200 motorcycle, left in Sheridan three weeks ago due to dead battery.
Sheridan has an "authenticity" as a Wyoming town missing in Jackson and Cody, each now touristy faux cowboy. Look, I love the Cowboy Bar in Jackson. But, lets be fair... its a tourist bar... that's where the money is. Sheridan is not faux cowboy... the cowboys are cowboys... there isn't much tourist traffic through Sheridan. Yet... Coronavirus may alter that. The lady who drove us in the Best Western Motel shuttle van back to Sheridan from the Sheridan airport where we dropped off our Avis rental said the airport was busy... not with commercial flights... but, with corporate jets bringing out executive types seeking to get out of the cities.
"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Above: Bishop with roped pants. Sheridan, WY. 26 August 2020.
In Search of Authenticity Tour
Out and about on the LT
To find authenticity it is not necessary to substitute a piece of rope for a leather belt. But, authenticity IS having rope available as a backup in case you forget your belt. I learned from Boy Scouts, "Be Prepared."
"The land is the appointed remedy for whatever is false and fantastic in our culture." Ralph Waldo Emerson — with Margaret Taylor in Sheridan, Wyoming.
Above: Door sign. The Brass Plum Restaurant. Worland, WY. 26 August 2020.
Searching For Authenticity Tour
Out and about on the LT.
She: Halibut sandwich
He: Corn chowder with salad.
Food authentic. Owner authentic. Sign on door authentic. Recommend this place for food, friendliness, but, most of all, Authenticity.
Out of a population of a half million, Wyoming has reported 3722 cases of Coronavirus and 37 deaths. In other words, based on numbers to date, a Wyoming citizen has a .0074% chance of dying from Coronavirus and 1% of dying from the disease if he/she is diagnosed with the virus. Throughout the parts of the state where we are travelling, compliance with posted government mask orders is minimal, including by employees in retail establishments... bars, restaurants, convenience stores etc. Social distancing protocols are generally respected.
"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries. Jean-Jacques Rousseau — at The Brass Plum.
Out and about on the LT.
For remedy of old age ailments, Bishop takes the waters at Thermopolis. Bishop is hoping for miracle cure of his itchy scalp.
Sign on the mountain says, "Nation's Largest Mineral Hot Spring." That's by volume of water produced. There are two main concessionaires at the source of the spring. Also, Wyoming State Parks has its own free access to a hot spring pool... but, it's currently closed. Nearby hotels' hot tubs use heated water from the spring. There is a minimal sulfur smell wafting through the atmosphere. At the pool pictured here is a water pipe rising some eight feet at the side of the pool, looping around as a an inverted "J". You can stand under the pipe in a rush of water sourced directly from the hot spring in what, is in effect, a "shower" some 10X the volume of water of the shower in your home. The water is quite hot... but, survivable. Not many seem to experience the spring that way, but, I did... and loved it. My sensitive skin spots, including my scalp, underwent the equivalent of one big scratch session... the feeling of relief was wonderful. I might have to go back. Not sure this treatment would be recommended by my dermatologist.
"Go to the [hot springs] to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries. Jean-Jacques [Bishop].
Above: Thermopolis High School Football Team. Thermopolis High School. Thermopolis, Wyoming 26 August 2020.
In Search of Authenticity Tour
Out and about on the LT
Geaux Bobcats! Can we substitute these kids for NFL? In fact, I'm semi serious. If the local High School Team plays here in Park City, I'm inclined to go to some games... authenticity as compared to professional sports' rotted out, value vacuum core.
"The land is the appointed remedy for whatever is false and fantastic in our culture. Ralph Waldo Emerson — with Margaret Taylor at Thermopolis High School.
Bishop at the One Eyed Buffalo Restaurant. Thermopolis, Wyoming. 26 August 2020.
In Search of Authenticity Tour
Out and about on the LT.
Best Brew Pub in Park City area. The restaurant was about a mile's walk from the hot spring where we were staying in a local motel. So, we got in two miles of walking.
"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries. Jean-Jacques Rousseau — with Margaret Taylor at One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company, LLC.
Above: TiMDT relaxes on the bank of the Big Horn River. Thermopolis, WY. 27 August 2020.
Searching for Authenticity Tour
Out and about on the Duc.
When the Wind River, which originates in the Wind River Range, reaches its furthest southerly point, near Riverton, WY, it "U's to the north, and is dammed, creating Boyson Reservoir. Beyond the Dam the River flows through Wind River Canyon to reach, after twenty miles or so, Thermopolis. Whereupon.... the Wind River's name changes to The Big Horn River. Same river... different names. The Big Horn flows north, along the side west side of the Big Horn mountain range until it reaches, one hundred fifty miles, from Thermopolis, the Yellowstone River in Montana. Tributaries, as the Big Horn flows north, include the Greybull River coming from the Absaroka Range to the west (near Yellowstone National Park), and the Tongue and the Little Big Horn flowing out of the Big Horn Range to the east. This, of course, was Indian Country... the country of the Crow, the Sioux, and the Cheyenne. Custer Battlefield Park is in Montana, only forty miles north of Sheridan where the broken down LT spent three weeks recuperating before we picked her up.
"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau — with Margaret Taylor at Big Horn River.
Above: TiMDT and LT. Trailhead Family Restaurant. Riverton, WY. 27 August 2020.
Searching for Authenticity Tour
Out and about on the LT
Best family restaurant in Park City area.
"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau — with Margaret Taylor at The Trailhead Restaurant.
Above: Maverick. Kemmerer, Wyoming. 27 August 2020.
Searching for Authenticity Tour
Out and about on the Duc.
More authenticity found here.
Woman exiting car notices us two geezers standing, having a cold drink, after a 180 mile LT beeline from Riverton. She says, unsolicited, "hey guys, there are some tables around the corner!"
Sho' (sic) 'nuff (sic), we go around the corner and there are the tables!
"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Above: Don Pedros Restaurant. Evanston, WY. 27 August 2020.
Searching for Authenticity Tour
Out and about on the LT.
Authenticity found here. Straw served with soda sans having to beg. This place never...never disappoints. One of our favorites. Best Mex in Park City area.
"The land is the appointed remedy for whatever is false and fantastic in our culture." Ralph Waldo Emerson — with Margaret Taylor at Don Pedro's Mexican Family Restaurant.
Above: LT Rendu. Park City, UT. 27 August 2020.
Searching for Authenticity Tour
Out and about on the LT. 27 August 2020.
LT back in the dock. First time all three bikes have been in same place for weeks.
"Go to the woods to lose sight and memory of the crimes of your contemporaries." Jean-Jacques Rousseau
ADDENDUM:
Pandemic or no pandemic, we only use Amazon 2 or 3 times a year at the very most. We always shop locally!
As for all the 📦’s, break them down and recycle them.
Nerissa,
Ashland, OR
Considering the danger, you're taking risks that I won't take. I feel badly for the local merchants. I keep thinking that there must be some way to eradicate the disease risk from their stores. Good idea. We'll flatten the boxes and put in our recycling bin.
THE WAITRESS ACT ME SMILE. LOL
Jeff Decker,
Columbia, SC