Tuesday, May 8, 2012

YOU CAN'T RIDE A BIKE IN A BUFFALO TURD


Hey, we’re riding bicycles into Yellowstone Park.
  You need to come.  It’ll be FUN!  Come on.  
It’s only a short ride from Madison Junction into Old Faithful, no hills. 

I swore I’d never go with this pack of insane women again.   
Isn’t it weird how our brains can’t remember pain?

 So there I was, helping unload our bikes out of the back of Charlene’s pickup truck sixteen miles away from Old Faithful Geyser.  At least the traffic in the park wasn’t bumper-to-bumper tourists hanging out of cars like it is later in the year.

In no time at all we were helmets on and wheels on the road.

These ladies are training for an iron man triathlon.  They’d already swam a couple of hundred miles in the campus pool before we were out of bed.  They left the rest of us in the dust—literally.

The weather was perfect and the scenery helped take my mind off the hills that weren’t supposed to be there.

 This is exactly what it looks like.  Do not ride your bicycle through it. 

 Where does a two thousand pound buffalo go?
  Anywhere he wants to.

 So I’m taking these photos with my cell phone while riding.  
We’re getting awfully close to these big wild bovines.  
The only way to get past them is to go around them very carefully.

 This one was a bull. Trust me.  I went by close enough to get a good look.

Time to put the camera away and ride, blockhead.

 Well, the rest of the trip in was pretty tame after that encounter.  
We parked our wheels and went inside for lunch.

We almost had the café to ourselves since the six busloads of Asian tourists were all out by the big geyser waiting for the ultimate photo op.  The eruption wasn’t as spectacular as some I’ve seen and I was chowing down on a sandwich so I didn’t get much of a picture.

 The ride back was interrupted by a mechanical failure.
 (Pay no attention to the finger over the lens).

 This pedal is still attached to the shoe but not the bike.
  All attempts to repair the problem were unsuccessful.

 So she had to finish the last five miles using only one leg.  
At least most of those miles were downhill. 
She said it was kind of like riding a skate board.

I was so proud of myself for being able to at least keep up with some of these biker babes.  
But my backside is telling my head not to get any wild ideas about long road trips.

13 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

yowza! the bison would have totally freaked me out to ride past! glad your friend's mechanical difficult was all that occurred! :)

Bragger said...

So jealous. I want to come ride your part of the world.

And I'm glad I'm not the only one who takes pictures while riding.

Buttons Thoughts said...

I bet your butt is sore but it was so worth it wasn't it?
Cow turd is the same and I have been known to ride through it while being distracted. It only smells for awhile:) Awesome pics. Congrats on your achievement. B

susan m hinckley said...

Okay, that looks FUN. Hopefully you weren't also composing the post on your bike while simultaneously taking pictures of wild animals and riding hills. Although for the amazing Leenie, that probably wouldn't be such a feat. JEALOUS!

Brian King said...

That's a great story! Glad no one was hurt in the process. Nice shots on the move, too! It's not everybody who can say they rode a bike by a bison.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Bikes are sure fancy nowadays the way your shoe attaches to the pedals..I have not seen that before. Great shot of the buffalo..I would have never had the guts to do that! You are brave:)

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Wow!!! What a ride!

This Ozark Farm chick popped over from that wonderful Far Side's place when I say the title. I am Cow Patty Surprise, ya know.

Ya'll we're brave 'round those buffalo. I've had enough dealin' with 'em to know they can be meaner than a ticked off rattler!!!

Congratulations on the ride sweetie!

Have a fantastically blessed day from the happy hills and hollers of the wonderful Missouri Ponderosa! :o)

Terry and Linda said...

I so agree with TexWisGirl.....I don't think I could EVER do the stuff you do...I'm so out of shape!!!


Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Leenie said...

Linda: A lady who can work along side her farmer husband like you do is NOT out of shape. I'm always impressed by the hard work you do and your beautiful fields.

Pearl said...

Oh, wow. I can't imagine riding in Yellowstone, let alone past a buffalo. I love this.

Pearl

Small City Scenes said...

More power to you and specially to the triathlon gals. Yowser! Ya gotta watch out for them Buffs and what they leave behind. LOL
MB

Alica said...

I don't know how I missed this post, but I did...and wow! What a wonderful place to ride bike! I think I'd be a little nervous riding around those buffalo too...how many people can say they've done that?! :)

kendalee said...

I am very impressed by your talent and skill with watercolours (catching up on posts in reverse order - that painting is gorgeous) but this is beyond impressive! Bikes and I are not great friends unless they have a basket on the front. What a beautiful place and a great way to see it!