We started off fresh on Wednesday with an 80 mile day to Luck, Wyoming. Yes, we’re in Wyoming.  I’ve been looking forward to riding through this state more than any other state we have or are going to ride through.  Luckily, our first few days through the state have been pretty short and I’ve been able to really enjoy the scenery.  For the last few days we’ve been riding next to the Laramie Mountain Range, which is known as the “feet of the Rockies.”  It’s really exciting to be seeing mountains, even though they are pretty small.  We get to climb them soon!!!

We are definitely in cattle country now.  We’ve passed countless ranches and when we visited Douglas, we were invited to dinner at the pastor’s ranch.  He had many acres of land that he raised cows on at the foot of  several large hills.  He also had a barn full of horses that we were allowed to ride!  It was awesome, except that both of the horses I was given to ride refused to do anything that I asked them to.  We had a great barbeque dinner and got to play with their sheep afterwards.  The place was just really cool.

Yesterday we rode to Casper, the second largest city in Wyoming.  Population: 50,000. Elevation 5,000 feet.  Riding into town was a bit bizarre.  We had to stop at a traffic light for the first time in a few days.  I really had to think hard to remember the last traffic light we had to ride through.  Because we didn’t have to ride our bikes the next day, we were able to go out last night.  Two friends from Lehigh, Christine and Emily have been working at a ranch outside of Casper all summer and they were able to come out with us.  It was incredible to meet up with them and hear about the work they’ve been doing all summer.   Thanks for coming in guys!

Today we had another good Build Day.  We were working on the outside of a Habitat house in a neighbor close to the host site, which by the way is a hotel.  Yes. We’re sleeping in beds.  It’s the first time I’ve slept in a bed in about a month.  It’s the first time I’ve slept in a bed with sheets and a pillow since I’ve been at home, back in mid-June.  It feels both wonderful, but foreign at the same time.

Anyway, more about the Build Day.  We weeded the entire back yard and laid sod down.  It was kind of bizarre to roll out a lawn, particularly in such a dry environment.  It felt a bit unnatural.  We also moved two sheds from the driveway to the back yards of the two houses we were working on.  The task required everyone’s participation.  We actually rolled the sheds on a few large pipes.  Accomplishing the move required a lot of team work and was really satisfying to complete.  Great job Bike and Builders!

This week we’re heading further West, and in the next six days we’ll be climbing into the Tetons, over Teton Pass and through Yellowstone National Park.  I cannot wait!!!!

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