HWL’s TLC on the GDR

Leaving the comfort of the Boulder Lake Lodge was a difficult decision this morning. In the end we all agreed we couldn’t pass up a day of good weather. After saying goodbye to our new friends (Casey, Larry, Sharon, Paul, Clint, Thomas and the rest of the crew) we rode the 10 miles back to the main road, Wyoming’s scenic Route 353. It wasn’t long before ran into fellow thru-riders Ben and Daniel.

We chatted about yesterday’s storms and how they spent the evening with an oilman named Viking Dave who lives in a teepee year-round. Together, the five of us cruised down Route 353 and into increasingly remote country. Eventually we spotted two distant figures on the road ahead. Upon closer examination it turned out to be the other thru-riders, Deborah and Ralph. United for the first time on the trail the 7 of us cruised uneventfully deeper into Wyoming’s intermontane basin region. These relatively flat areas between Wyoming’s major mountain ranges are characterized by short grasses, low-lying brush and are mostly devoid of trees.

With storms on the horizon all 7 of us setup camp just off-route. Sharing the location with us was the father/mother/daughter team that makes up High Wild & Lonesome Adventures. For anyone interested in an adventure horseback vacation, we would highly recommend this friendly family. In a truly unexpected act of kindness, Mike (the father) invited all 7 of us to come over to their camp for bison burgers. Each of us scrounged through our food bags for something to offer in return, but our efforts paled in comparison to the Wade’s generosity. They filled our bellies with bison burgers, mashed potatoes, beer and hot apple cider as we sat around their fire and listened to Mike and his daughter Emily tell funny stories about their experience running their business, including their experiences with the Rainbow Family of Living Light. Thankful for their generous hospitality we returned to our tents for the evening.