| Location: | Cody, Wyoming |
| Mileage: | 4,500 |
We rolled into Cody today and are immersed in gunfights and rodeo! It's our 4th day in the USA already and we have already ridden through the volcanic boiling pot of Yellowstone, and drank beers under the wooden vault of Old Faithful Inn, celebrating Paul's birthday - he'd reached the grand old age of **! Yellowstone was awash with animals (and unfortunately RVs!) and many got to see bison close up on the road.
Glacier National Park was not as kind to us and the normal magnificent views were masked behind banks of swirling mist and heavy rain. It was still easy to get an impression of the sheer mountain landscapes, with a little imagination!
We came through Canada with barely a hitch. Jeff the Van Man has been pretty quiet - mended a puncture, banged right a few panniers (one rider came off on a slow tight wet turn in a golf course . . . . ), changed a few tyres and carried Jim, one of American riders, in the van after he upset a waiter (so he says) and ended up with 24hr food poisoning.
From Yellowstone, the Beartooth Pass was open. It is almost 3,500m with many switchbacks, hairpin bends breathtaking views from the top. The road is still recovering from the landslide in 2005, so over the top remains a graded gravel road. At the top, there was snowflakes, and almost freezing temperatures and within 20 minutes of steep descent, it was boiling!
The team have got well into daily riding routines and the practical joke side of a few is coming out. The "FOR SALE" sign on the only Suzuki in the trip was a bit mean, but Jim, the American owner holds up well to the merciless teasing. As yet, everyone is good humoured, but as we say there is a long way to go. It's Moab and Arches National Park tomorrow.
