July 17, 2001 - Mike and Marilyn's 2001 TranAmerican Bike Tour

 

Lander to Crowheart, Wyoming. (46 mi.) Mile 2866

Through the Wind River Reservation

"Everything the power of the world does is done in a circle......The wind, in its greatest power, whirls......

and so it is in everything where power moves."

Black Elk

I was reading these words in one of several Indian Crafts and Gift stores we checked out today, while still stinging from the road rash and bruises suffered yesterday when the wind picked me up and slammed me into the side of the road. Though I was not seriously injured (a bicyclist is not seriously injured if his or her first words after the accident are, "Is my bike OK?"), the power of the wind has made its impression and tired us out. Maybe those tailwinds wished for us from different parts of the country got mixed up into a whirl out here in the middle.

We slept in this morning, started late through the Wind River Indian Reservation, and stopped for lunch at Fort Washakie, near the purported grave of Sacagawea, Indian guide and interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expedition. This reservation is home to Shoshone and Arapaho tribes.

Crowheart Butte

Much of today's route was more desolate rangeland and badlands. We didn't feel like pushing hard today, especially since the head wind picked up again in full force. Not only was it discouraging to be working so hard to go so slowly, but I had a new apprehension about being blown off my bike.

We made use of a rest stop wind shelter to fix a flat.

We called it quits after only 46 miles of this when we came to the Crowheart general store and got permission to pitch our tent across the highway next to the volunteer fire station. We ate our dinner of miscellaneous groceries at a picnic table, and were in the tent and asleep by 8:30 pm.

We dry camp at Crowheart with the Wind River Range in the background.