Cody 3rd of July Parade

Black Hills to Cody, Wyoming was a long day on the bike. It didn't seem possible, but Wyoming was even windier than South Dakota. Kind of scary at times. The wind hits you and you have to lean the bike into it, then that gust goes away and suddenly you have to unlean it again... you'll be passing a treeline or hillside that offers a little protection, then suddenly - boom! Blasted from the left again. We got off at one rest stop and people were practically watching their children blow away when they got out of their cars. But somehow we managed to make it all the way to quintessentially Western Cody, Wyoming. We'd called around for a reservation over lunch and had a hard time finding a room. Then we noticed what looked like a big street party going on along Main Street. When we checked in at the historic Chamberlin Inn, we asked the girl at the front desk if there was something special going on in town. "Uh, it's the fourth of July weekend," she said. "We celebrate that here." Oh, right! Fourth of July... we'd forgotten all about it. We joined the locals for a drink at the 2nd of July street party later that night, then came out early to watch the 3rd of July parade down Main Street. Lots of beautiful horses and patriotic small town groups marching down the street to applause from the appreciative ranchers and townspeople who'd gathered to watch.