Our tractor site proved to be comfortable,  a little too much road noise but no problems.

We, being hunting innocents were not aware that today was the start of the season for Antelope and Sage Grouse. The weapon of choice being a rifle (it opened 2 weeks earlier for anyone with a crossbow though). Before first light there were already 3 pickups parked up preparing their guns and stuff (not quite sure what other stuff you need, gun oil, gun polish, gun moisturiser?). There was a lot of camouflage being worn so I could only guess at how many people were there, although some wore orange  (to avoid being mistaken for Antelope I believe).

These moved on and a couple of families (with 3 four year olds wearing orange vests, obviously avoiding confusion with the much smaller Sage Grouse) then arrived, they spied 6 antelope across the valley, crawled along, positioned the rifle complete with a telescopic sight (it must be what a sniper does) aimed carefully and … an almighty crack (not like the tv gunfire) and missed. The now spooked antelope ran off narrowly avoiding death.

It is not a good time of year to be cloven hoofed and a resident of Wyoming.

We finished packing up then left them to it.  The initial section was on paved road, a very fast (75 mph, the passing cars not us) and 5 miles long, uphill of course so I felf unsafe along here.

Then it was down the track, a lot nicer now but tough cycling, yesterdays long day had left it’s mark on our legs (one of those tasteful chain links just around the ankle which seem popular at the moment).

We passed through the Pine Creek wild camp, there was no surface water so not a good move if you planned to stop there.

Several long steep climbs and we reached todays maximum 8000 feet height, and made a very steep descent into South Pass City, this was another ghost town growing with the discovery of gold then vanishing just as quickly.

It was a very steep climb out passing the Clarissa Gold Mine which actually remained open on and off to 1949.

A few days earlier we had made a provisional booking at a Gun Shop in Atlantic City to stop the night. As we arrived early it was time to stock up on food and move on. Now Atlantic city…. visualise what you think it would look like, this is what it actually looked like.

It did have a very nice bar where we had a huge burger lunch and brought a few supplies including Pork and Beans in a can, more about this later.

The wind was blowing hard on our backs (nothing to do with the beans) gusting to 25+ mph. But there was a very steep climb out of the valley which involved a lot of pushing bikes. The road turned to the east (if only I could write song lyrics there is one in there somewhere) and we began to be blown along. We covered the 12 miles to our intended stopping point at the Sweetwater River, there was a lovely flat grassy area past a cattle grid and off left, we resisted and carried on.

A cow posed for a picture (sigh .. no comments please).

Carrying on a further 13 miles to Diagnus Well, again the lovely wind assisted us all the way. On the skyline a herd of wild horses. It was incredibly sandy, it got everywhere (including our illusionary icecreams).

The tent was set up, for a 360 degree view go HERE.

The well.

Then with great anticipation I opened the cans of Pork and Beans (remember from earlier), only to find a lack of pork, we had purchased the only cans of pork free Pork and Beans in existance I think, the night was now ruined.

It was very quite here, as expected a very long way from everywhere. The night sky was so bright with stars and galaxies, them mind boggles. I cannot get the camera setting correct to take a picture of it (yet!).

The weather has a peculiarity around 6.00 to 7.00 pm the very strong gusting wind stops, it is the same every day. With the clear skies the temperature drops quickly, minus 2 or 3 most nights.