Cycle Across America – Day 35

Buffalo to Arvada

47miles / 645ft climb

For only the second time so far, I needed my long thermal cycling tights on today. It was markedly colder than it has been of late and there was suggestions of a storm brewing later in the day.

As on a number of previous days, the directions were simply, ‘turn right onto the main road and cycle for x miles until you reach your destination’. Today x = a flat 46 miles.

There was only one road and we shared it with perhaps a dozen of so other vehicles throughout our entire ride.

We passed signs for the few populated areas we cycled through which proudly displayed population counts such as Clearmount 43, Ucross 26.

Passing by a number of large ranches, there were also vast areas in between with nothing to occupy them. There was only one place between Buffalo and Arvada that might possibly sell food and so we were delighted to find it open and serving lunch.

Walking through the door of the cafe, we immediately realise we have walked into someone’s home. A little girl jumping around playing with four tiny kittens, an area to eat in, a bar, a dance floor, shelves lined with long life items, pharmacy essentials and gifts but also a child’s playroom, a family TV area and a family kitchen. The only people who live in Leiter are this one family. We had a satisfying lunch, learned a little of the history of Leiter and ventured out to finish our ride.

Arriving at our cabin in Arvada, we find, once again, it to be a perfect overnight retreat. It is miles from anywhere and the scenery beautiful. We shan’t venture out for food tonight for we have passed nowhere and we are advised there is none within the 60 miles to Gillette, our destination tomorrow.

We shan’t starve. We have bread, jam and an eclectic mix of leftovers. All of it squashed, some of it unrecognisable, it’s remaining nutritional value questionable but we are becoming quite adept at improvising and so we will make something out of what we have and look forward to a satisfying evening meal tomorrow when we reach Gillette. The bottle of wine we carried may help mask any culinary voids.