Sturgis, SD to Denver, CO (Miles 1,804 - 2,937)

7 - 10 August 2014

We woke up and broke camp, and just like the Pacific Crest Trail camp breaking, it took us at least 3 hours to get ready to leave.  Although we couldn't wait to get to Denver to visit Barbra, Hanna, and Zoe, there was a lot to see between Sturgis and Denver...one place being Devil's Tower, Wyoming.  This is where we planned on getting to and camping out the first night, but of course, there is a brewery between here and there:

Miner Brewing Company, Hill City, South Dakota

After the brewery, we made it to Devil's Tower.  Here are some really cool picture of Devil's Tower, AKA landing area for Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

I don't know what it is about this place, it is just a rock jutting out of the earth, but we were mesmerized by Devil's Tower. 

After a great nights sleep in the tent, we woke and did a 5 mile hike around the tower and couldn't take our eyes off of it.  This place is a definite must for any traveling in the area!  We got back to camp around 11am, broke camp, and was out of there around 12:30.  Our goal for this night is to make it to Sheridan, Wyoming (only 173 miles) were we hear there are many breweries there and on the way to there.  Speaking of which, here are the breweries on the way to Sheridan:

Gillette Brewing Company, Gillette, Wyoming

Prairie Fire Brewing Company, Gillette, Wyoming

Clear Creek Brewing Company, Buffalo, Wyoming

We made it to Sheridan with time to check out the local brewery scene there...3 breweries in this small Wyoming town!!

Sanford Brewery, Sheridan, Wyoming

Black Tooth Brewery, Sheridan, Wyoming

Luminous Brewing Company, Sheridan, Wyoming

Wow...what a day...6 breweries visited.  The next day we got up SLOWLY with the goal of making it to Laramie, Wyoming (300 miles) where we hear there are a few breweries to check out...but wait...on the way we found The Wonder Bar in Casper, Wyoming where Wyoming State Brewing Company calls home.  This would be a perfect stop for lunch.

Wyoming State Brewing Company, Casper, Wyoming

After lunch, we checked the directions to Laramie from Casper and saw a shortcut through the mountains.  We headed up an incredible road that kept getting smaller and rougher till it turned into a dirt road.  We took the dirt road a couple of miles until we finally decided that our road bikes weren't made for this so had to back track at least 45 minutes...we weren't happy at the time, but it was a beautiful road and was really worth it now that we can look back on it.

We made it to Laramie with plenty of time to check out the brewery scene there:

Coal Creek Tap Brewery, Laramie, Wyoming

Altitude Brewery, Laramie, Wyoming

Library Brewery, Laramie, Wyoming

After 3 breweries, the next morning was another SLOW wake up, plus I started feeling really congested.  We didn't plan on making it to Denver till the next day, but decided to head that way and see how things panned out...maybe we would stop in the mountains halfway to Denver to stop for the night.  As we rode the twisty, curvy mountain roads my head was getting stuffier and stuffier so we made the decision to complete the ride to Denver.  By 6:00 pm, after over 200 miles, we were hugging Barbra, Zoe, and Hanna hello and I was happy to be able to rest my stuffy head.

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Numbers Games
Total States Visited: 11 (New ones: Wyoming, Colorado)
Total Breweries Visited: 15 (New one: Miner, Gillette, Prairie Fire, Clear Creek, Sanford, Black Tooth, Luminous, Wyoming State, Coal Creek, Altitude, & Library)
Total Miles Ridden: 2,937