We rode around Ranchos de Taos with flimsy directions looking to pay homage to Dennis Hopper, an early inspiration. A dirt road led back to Jesus Nazareno Cemetery: a simple carved wooden cross, loose stones, an American flag, a blue glass bottle. Modest. Born in Dodge City, died of prostate cancer. Rebel Without a Cause. Easyrider. We rode away, and stopped in front of nearby Paul’s Bar. It looked like the kind of place he might have once visited.
I'm glad the tequila is gone. Said goodbye to Mike and LuAnn and headed south into the Black Hills: Custer State Park. Rode the "Wildlife Loop" and saw a couple of antelope and buffalo. Rode through the town of Custer: a clusterfuck of tourists, traffic, bikers, and folks dressed up as pioneers. Hah…folks dressed up as bikers. I waited for the same traffic light four times! Glad to get out of there. Gassed up in Newcastle, Wyoming, and took route 450 to Wright, desolate, nothing but antelope for 70 miles, and hot ninety five degrees. Made it to Casper just before the rain. Had a dream my tooth fell out. Woke up and it was still there. Route 220 out of Casper, lots of antelope, and 287 to Rawlins, where we found I 80 west. Crossed the Continental Divide three times: once on 220, once on 287, and once on I 80. Temps. on the high prairie ranged in the high 80's, but once we descended into Salt Lake City,...