July 5 - Sabrina is the consummate fundraiser. No matter what time of day or night, business comes before pleasure. We were all ready to hit the road, finally at 9:50 and as we rode out of the Kampground, the phone rings. Twenty minutes later, we did actually leave. About 1 mile later, Ben and Wayne drove by us, trailer packed and in tow.
What a hoot! Fourth of July in Riverton and we stayed at we stayed at Owl Creek Kampground, the second KOA ever, hence the K in Kampground. But, it's no longer KOA affiliated, so we got the whole story from the current owner. She's the hoot. She was a chef for Marriot in N.Y. and then they sent her to CA. She and her ex bought the Owl Creek after making a bundle in the property boom in CA. Her Harley still has CA plate although they may be expired! You get the picture. Nice place, definitely a basic clean campground, for campers not an RV park. The thing we liked best was that they have fire pits for open campfires. RV parks don't need those! DUMB! So, off we went for 80 miles of NOTHING but long gradual hills (who said it was downhill from Riverton to Casper?) and antelope. Meanwhile, Ben and Wayne were off to Thermopolis and a hot springs spa! So unfair!
Well, Sabrina and I pulled into this historical site, Hell's half acre, which we couldn't even see from road level on a bike, so I almost rode by it. Off the parking lot we see it, 320 acres of cavern that looks similar to the Bad Lands. But as you rode by on the road, you didn't even see it. Here, Sabrina received a follow up phone call confirming our Rotarian hosts for the night in Casper. Oh no, it's 5:00 and we still have 40 miles to Casper and dinner at Don and Hallie Harris' home. These Rotarian are simply marvelous, they treated us like family and after two nights in their home we feel like they are family. The most gracious and giving people you would ever think you could find in the whole world. They were the epitome of their motto, "Others before self."
God save the Queen, in drove Ben and Wayne. Our knights in shining armor. We just loaded up the bikes and drove to Casper and arrived at our host's in time for dinner. The next morning we drove back 42 miles and Wayne and I bucked 15 mph headwinds as we rode into Casper under threatening, gray cloud cover. Wayne was talked into riding Sabrina's bike instead of Ben's and boy did he regret it. Compared to Ben's Roubaix, Sabrina's bike is a tank. Oh well, making memories and sore butts. Well this half day ride gave Sabrina time to talk at a gathering of key people invited by the new Rotary president and also time for us time to see the National Trails Interpretive Center in Casper and boy was it worth it. It told us of the history of the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, the California Trail, the Overland Trail, and the Pony Express. Not only was the facility totally self explaining, but after the video presentation, we received a guided tour by a most knowledgeable guide, who was familiar with the history of the area. He was a retired history teacher of 28 years and he gave us the in depth info. That answered practically all our questions.
Sadly, that night we had to bid ado to Wayne. On the 11:00 Grayhound out of Casper, he left us to go back to work in CT.
Keep Them Wheels a Rollin'
Paul
What a hoot! Fourth of July in Riverton and we stayed at we stayed at Owl Creek Kampground, the second KOA ever, hence the K in Kampground. But, it's no longer KOA affiliated, so we got the whole story from the current owner. She's the hoot. She was a chef for Marriot in N.Y. and then they sent her to CA. She and her ex bought the Owl Creek after making a bundle in the property boom in CA. Her Harley still has CA plate although they may be expired! You get the picture. Nice place, definitely a basic clean campground, for campers not an RV park. The thing we liked best was that they have fire pits for open campfires. RV parks don't need those! DUMB! So, off we went for 80 miles of NOTHING but long gradual hills (who said it was downhill from Riverton to Casper?) and antelope. Meanwhile, Ben and Wayne were off to Thermopolis and a hot springs spa! So unfair!
Well, Sabrina and I pulled into this historical site, Hell's half acre, which we couldn't even see from road level on a bike, so I almost rode by it. Off the parking lot we see it, 320 acres of cavern that looks similar to the Bad Lands. But as you rode by on the road, you didn't even see it. Here, Sabrina received a follow up phone call confirming our Rotarian hosts for the night in Casper. Oh no, it's 5:00 and we still have 40 miles to Casper and dinner at Don and Hallie Harris' home. These Rotarian are simply marvelous, they treated us like family and after two nights in their home we feel like they are family. The most gracious and giving people you would ever think you could find in the whole world. They were the epitome of their motto, "Others before self."
God save the Queen, in drove Ben and Wayne. Our knights in shining armor. We just loaded up the bikes and drove to Casper and arrived at our host's in time for dinner. The next morning we drove back 42 miles and Wayne and I bucked 15 mph headwinds as we rode into Casper under threatening, gray cloud cover. Wayne was talked into riding Sabrina's bike instead of Ben's and boy did he regret it. Compared to Ben's Roubaix, Sabrina's bike is a tank. Oh well, making memories and sore butts. Well this half day ride gave Sabrina time to talk at a gathering of key people invited by the new Rotary president and also time for us time to see the National Trails Interpretive Center in Casper and boy was it worth it. It told us of the history of the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, the California Trail, the Overland Trail, and the Pony Express. Not only was the facility totally self explaining, but after the video presentation, we received a guided tour by a most knowledgeable guide, who was familiar with the history of the area. He was a retired history teacher of 28 years and he gave us the in depth info. That answered practically all our questions.
Sadly, that night we had to bid ado to Wayne. On the 11:00 Grayhound out of Casper, he left us to go back to work in CT.
Keep Them Wheels a Rollin'
Paul
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