Day 16, Hardin to Sheridan, 84 miles

Best: Really long downhill once we got into Wyoming.

Worst: Getting attacked at three separate points by dogs.

Most Unexpected:  Birds chirping at 2:00 a.m.

What is up with birds thinking it is okay to start singing at 2:00 a.m.  I heard the singing and thought it must be time to wake up only to realize what birdbrains birds are.  I wonder why that is.

The usual bfest, and then off into a slight headwind.  I was corrected later that just because I was finally    feeling wind on my face it didn't necessarily mean i had a headwind.  I just am not used to feeling wind anymore. We went past Custer's last stand one more time and crossed the Little Big Horn river three times today while only crossing the Big Horn river once.  Something seems backwards with the names.  The first part of the riding was across the Crow reservation and we were warned about dogs. We had two dogs start to come after us but our yelling stalled them at the edge of the road.  After the reservation we had two more packs of dogs come after us with the last two dogs within inches of my tender flesh.  Yelling didn't seem to help, but they seemed to tire just before they could dine.  The riders behind us didn't report any altercations so obviously we tired them out.

Within the first forty miles we passed four trains, each over a mile long carrying coal.  How do I know they were over a mile long?  Well the first factor was that two of the trains were stopped, and the second factor was my bike computer measured the distance.  Really clever.  The trains were probably stopped because of the extensive work being done on the tracks.  There was over a mile long line of specialized equipment going down the rails removing and reinstalling new rails. 

We crossed into Wyoming today with a whimper.  There was no large welcome to Wyoming sign, instead there was this.

I had told people that the big sign was further down the road, but either it fell down, or Dick Cheney shot it down. (resident of Wyoming in case you didn't know).  We will look for the large sign when we leave Wyoming and all fake a picture like we are just arriving.

Once again we are the benefactor of a tail wind, not near as strong as yesterday but much appreciated.  Unfortunately on the longest ride tomorrow of 112 miles they are predicting 7-10 mph headwind which will make for a really long day.

Last nights dinner surprised me with beef brisket instead of ribs, but I ate it all the same.  There was left overs for lunch today served at mile 40 at 9:30 a.m. which somehow doesn't seem right.  Never the less, I helped lighten the load that the van was carrying. 

Tonight we are having steaks bought by Terry's family and BBQd at our lovely KOA campground. Darn, steaks again.

Bear tipping, a new sport.  

An interesting juxtaposition of religions.

Riding through non beauty, this oasis appeared.

At the exciting KOA campground.