So, Saturday morning I got the last few things packed up on the bike. There are always a few things :) Since it was a bit chilly, I threw on my sweatshirt, against Rita's advice :)

I get a last picture of me on the bike and go. Only to remember about a block away that I forgot my keys! Doh! I zipped back, snagged them and _then_ I was on my way :D

Beautiful morning for a ride too. Headed up 287 through Loveland and Ft Collins then into Wyoming. The temps stayed pretty cool so I kept the sweatshirt on, hovering in the high 50's. Most of 287 is pretty flat to Laramie so that was the next stop. I debated following 287 around to 80 but wanted to make sure I got to my campsite on time so hoofed it on 80 instead. Funny thing. As I'm leaving Laramie, I come over a hill just as I'm passing an SUV and there's a state cop on the shoulder. I looked down and found I was a little ahead on speed but not all that much so kept on passing. The cop didn't follow so I'm good :)

When I pulled into Rawlings, the skies were cloudy and the temps stayed on the cool side. I caught 287 north and headed to Lander. One thing I noticed on the way was that on 287 up to Laramie I encountered maybe one other rider on an old Honda but on 80 I saw a lot of Harleys and Honda Goldwings. I did see a bunch on the way up to Lander though. I hadn't realized that Sturgis was ending which explained all the riders on the road.

It started looking a bit like rain after the turn onto 789 north to Riverton. It was a ways off still though. Past Riverton to Shoshoni I could see the clouds building over to the east and north, about where I was going. Funny thing is that after Shoshoni, I turned straighter north and the rain slid past me to the east. Still, there's rain ahead. A nice big, heavy rain cloud.

Lots of straight roads in Wyoming :)

Following 20 I rolled through the Wind River Canyon. Rita and I went through there last time coming south. I did spot a nice view at the end of the canyon.

Thermopolis was pretty interesting with the Largest Hot Springs. I didn't stop (although Rita would have forced it; she likes Hot Springs :) ).

I was moving right on schedule and the rain over the southern Big Horns looked pretty bad. Past Thermopolis though the roads had the remnants of rain. A little wetness. No rain yet though.

The closer I got to Lovell, the more I realized that the heaviest rain surrounded the Medicine Wheel. I did get a little wet but nothing real bad. The temps were still the worst. Once I put my rain coat on, I was able to deal with it a bit better and stay a little warmer. I should have done that earlier :)

Still though, I might get a little damp before making the right turn on 14.

Made the turn and headed up Rt 14 to the Medicine Wheel. It's a bit of a dirt road from the main road a few miles to the ranger station.

The Medicine Wheel is about a mile and a half walk but it's worth it. I've been there a few times now and feel better after having been. No idea why though.

On the way back, there's an overlook of the Five Springs Valley. This is the area I was just riding in up to Lovell and then up into the Big Horns.

Walked back to the bike and headed over to Bald Mountain campgrounds. Since it's Free National Parks weekend, I was able to just park and set up the tent. It was a bit chilly, under 50 degrees but there was plenty of time to get set up and ready to hit the sack. I figured I'd read for a bit and then to sleep.