“…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

                                                                SUMMER TRIP 2023

Route 16 just west of Buffalo WY.

        Today was a great example of journey vs destination. Casper WY, my destination for today, is only 114 miles from Sheridan WY by interstate. I rode just a little over 300 miles today. Along the way I would ride an excellent motorcycle road, end up riding about 2 miles in the mud, and then ride one of the best motorcycle roads I’ve seen. THEN have a picnic lunch in a beautiful little park, and ride along a river through an amazing canyon. What a day!

Some of the amazing rock formations along WY 16.

        I got on the road around 8:10. The ride down I 90 to Buffalo was uneventful but pretty. In Buffalo I started to ride to the small community of Saddlestring about 5 miles out of town it turned into a dirt road. The Goldwing, an amazing bike, weighs over 1200 lbs. It is not a dirt bike. Discretion being the better part of valor, I turned around and rode back to Buffalo. There I got on WY 16 west towards Worland. INITIALLY  it was a nice ride. Going up the Bighorn Mountains into a pine forest. Very pretty. 

The very nice park in Worley WY where I had my picnic lunch.

        Riding on 16 through I came across a sign stating road work for 22 miles. The road became a little rough, but no big deal. Since it was Sunday I was pretty sure there would be no work done today. Riding along, enjoying the alpine like view I came across a “pavement ending” sign…..and then no more pavement. It did not become a gravel road. It became a dirt road…which had been rained on over night…turning the dirt into mud. Riding the ‘Wing in the mud is EXTREMELY difficult. I felt the bike slide several times…picking up this bike in the mud is almost impossible. YUCK!

Some of the amazing scenery along US 20 out of Worley toward Shoshone.

        You will notice there are no pictures of the muddy section of the road. I was far too busy keeping the bike moving and  up over the 2 mile stretch of mud. Not my favorite….BUT the reward was an amazing ride down the mountains on the other side. It was fantastic. 

US 20 south of Worley, where it passes through a canyon along a fast moving river.

        I decided to gas up in Worley and get lunch. Right across from the gas station was a Subway. I got a sub and then went to a nice little park and had a picnic. After that the route was all US 20. Down to Shoshone and then over towards Casper. Along the way were some fantastic rock formations. It was 97 miles from Shoshone to Casper. I arrived in Casper by 4 pm, gassed up, and was in my motel by 4:15. Tomorrow on to Valentine NE.

Fantastic view south through the canyon.