For the first time on this trip it feels like we made some real progress. We spent a lot of time in Cheyenne before we headed out but most of the time today was spetn driving. I have found that if you use the cruise control set at 55-60 we can get 250 miles out of a tank of gas. Generally gas has been running about $3.90- $4.15 a gallon and cost roughly $70 to fill-up. 8671 pulls really nicely, she tracks well and is easily visible around when making lane changes. We have been tugging her along with a 2006 Honda Pilot that has been plenty strong enough to handle the load. I was nervous about making the great devide but that too was cake even with a ton of stuff in the trailer we have collected along the way. The best thing to me is being able to use the camper as intended and sleep in it at night. The double bed Davis and I have been using is very comfortable. It is what I guess they call a goucho in Airstreaminese. It is a couch that pulls out and the back cushion slips down to make a double bed. Why they don’t call them a coucho is beyond me.
Cheyenne is a very industrial city. It looks a little depressed, with a lot of houses for sale, closed stores, and not much happening in the rural area. Downtown on the other hand was a lot nicer, the attention to detail on the buildings added interest one wouldn’t have seen if they just skirted the city’s periphery. It was the first time I got a real sense of home sitting in the Starbucks sipping a grande mocha (“easy on the moch”, which equates to 2 pumps) as I bee blogged away. Unfortunately I left my A/C cord in the car when my sister and mom went thrifting, I only had a 43% charge on so I wasn’t able to get nearly what I had hoped done.
While checking out the town I found an old used bookstore. Hoping for a rare find of a bee or airtream book that didn’t happen. However, I did find a 1st edition Diane Arbus book for $9.99. Also in Cheyenne I met an old timer that took an interest in 6871, he told us that the Governor of Wyoming kept an Airstream at his mansion that the public were allowed to visit. It turned out to be a beautiful early model 22 foot Globe Trotter. You couldn’t go in the trailer but a window was left open, the inside had obviously been redone to governor’s standards. A lot of birch, reupholstered cushions, and the windows had been replaced with bullet proof looking glass. I asked the grounds keeper about the trailer and he talked about how little the trailer gets used, “ the Governor just doesn’t have time”. The grounds of the mansion were impeccably groomed, I saw the first bee I had seen in the last few states buzzing the flora right next to the man’s unused Globe Trotter. It was exciting to see, not only because I didn’t think I’d see another honeybee on the trip also because the Wyoming honeybee is much darker and the bands around the abdomen much more pronounced. I only saw one girl so who knows if all the bees in the area are so distinctly different. Besides the difference in the color the bee I saw appeared much more nimble in flight. She was whipping around with agility my Napa bees don’t possess, or with me don’t care to exhibit.
Just outside of Salt Lake City is a town called Rock Springs, Wyo. It is seriously the most delightful town we have visited on the trip. Rock Springs is clean and has an old time charm that was beyond words. Albeit, out in the rough a little for me, but big enough to have all the amenities needed for an extended stay. We had dinner at the Bitter Creek Brewery, the Boars Tusk beer and salads were soundly welcome compared to the crap we have been eating along Highway 80. One of my biggest challenges has been to keep a well rounded diet in Davis as we travel the roads accommodating the masses. According to Michael Pollen 2 of 3 Americans are over weight and 1 in three are obese. Go figure……. The majority of the food across this country is fast food like Mcdonalds, Arbys, Taco Bell, and Dunkin Donuts. Mind you, I’m down with the Dunkin. Boston cream donuts are bliss first thing in the morning w/a cup of coffee.
Next to the brewery was a neat bike shop. We rolled into town at 7ish so it was closed but I could tell it was for the serious cyclist. They carried Specialized and Gary Fisher. Through the window I saw big hit bikes, commuters, 29ers, and even a decent looking custom built single speed.
So having the bike shop right next to the brew pub is a win-win situation as far as I can see. Any town with that combo is good by me, I wish we could have stayed longer. A great night had by all with possibly the exception of my sun burnt, sleep deprived little boy who fell running to the camper and scraped all the skin off his nose. Its been rough for the kid. A new camper, awful diet, and a skewed sleeping pattern has left him slightly behind the proverbial ball.
Cowgirl Up! You've gotta love Cheyenne.
The Governor's Globetrotter.
Me and the Governor's Globetrotter.
Bees and the Governor's Globetrotter
My Mom and Davis waiting to go.
Before
After
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