At the end of a long day when I start looking for a place to stop for the night there is a 'magic formula' that I look for; the trifecta of goods and services in close proximity to one another. The desired establishments are Bar, Motel & Gas Station (ranked in order of importance). Last night in Lovell, WY nailed it!




Yesterday was great riding due to a tailwind, today even better with no appreciable wind, flags hung limply from their masts. This relieves the buildup of pressure on chest and face, but with the added benefit of no buffeting from on coming traffic.

Leaving Lovell and heading south on WY789 for those of you following along at home I followed the Big Horn river for sometime through a slot canyon full of twisties and tunnels. The variations of scenery were amazing through the area, in one short 5 minute period we went from yellow clay rocks, to painted desert style red hills, to gypsum white cliffs! The Big Horn Basin is a very beautiful place.




I purposely chose to avoid going through Yellowstone Park, I have already been there and I knew the traffic would be a nightmare.

A little known fact about the Park is; that all of the geo thermal energy comes from a 'Super Volcano' under the area that measures 55 x 72 km, yes that is kilometers!. It has erupted 3 times over the last 2.1 million years and each eruption was an extinction level event that saw over 1000 cubic kilometers of ejecta into the atmosphere. This blackened the sky for decades and blanketed North America in a foot of ash. The largest eruption created 2500 times as much ash as the Mt St. Helen's eruption. Imagine that happening today? Chaos!

Had to stop for gas just north of Thermopolis, went off the highway a mile to Gebo, WY that featured a small Conoco station and little else. Took a little drive around and shot some footage of the main street, now deserted except for one brave little bar. I can imagine the rent must be pretty cheap!




Turned east on WY20 and headed towards Casper, WY. (I will leave the friendly ghost references to you!) Was a great run with speeds of 160+ kph at times on a mostly deserted highway. The canopy overhead was all blue sky with the exception of a couple of isolated storm cells, like the one pictured below in this panorama shot;




I kept thinking I would drive into one, but then the highway would bend and I would miss it. To date, having drove a little over 2200 km I have been rained on for exactly 30 seconds. Overall it has been a very enjoyable trip thus far, but as is often the case sacrifices must be given by others for my enjoyment. The follow video contains images that may be offensive to some viewers (especially lovers of small birdies!):



Much to my chagrin I needed to drive on the Interstate for awhile east of Casper, and after all of the deserted roads I have been on I found all the other traffic quite offensive, I was thinking like: Hey, Dude, Get offa my road! Around the same time my noise cancellation stopped due to a dead battery. I don't like it in YOUR world, too noisy with all the wind, loud pipes and other cars. I like it much more in Lou's World, inside my helmet with active cancellation, much more serene! I shall ensure my battery is charged daily!

Turning onto hwy 26 I stopped for a quick nap about 100 km short of my stopping point. I realize I was very close but we have to remember we are on vacation here and when it is nap time the call must be heeded;




Finished for the day in Scott's Bluff, NE. Once again pulled the trifecta with bar, bed & gas (BBG) right next to one another. Had an amazing bone in rib eye at the Whiskey Grill, a couple of happy pops and back to my room!

I see I have rambled on quite a bit here so I shall stop now and talk to you soon!