Riverside, WY

June 27, Riverside, WY

A day of serendipity: the phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for. That’s one of the joys of this adventure.

Left Rawlins early after seeing a weather report that winds would be under 10 m.p.h. today. Make miles while the winds are mild!

As I approached Sinclair I saw what looked like minarets on the horizon. Dozens of them. It soon became evident they were part of an oil refinery. In the town of Sinclair? Hmmm. Yep, it was a Sinclair refinery. But the tow had a creepy feeling to it…too well planned and uniform.

In the town square in front of the PARCO Inn I read the history: A man built the town of PARCO (Producers and Refinery Oil Co.) in 1925 next to his refinery. It was a company town. He built an elegant 60-room in the Spanish Colonial style. Live trout swam in the inside fountains. He sold his town and refinery to Harry Sinclair in 1934. Sinclair changed the town’s name to his own in 1942 and then sold the entire town to the residents in 1967.

When I got to the Wolcott gas station I had arrived in Wolcott. And when I walked out of the gas station I had left Wolcott.

It was time for lunch when I arrived in Saratoga so I asked a lady for her recommendation. She made one and then mentioned that I might want to take a dip in the town’s free hot springs. “I think we’re the only city in the United States that has a free hot springs,” she said.

I wheeled a few blocks over to the springs, also known as the Hobo Pool, by the North Fork of the Platte River and soaked for 15 minutes. A nice lunch set me up for the rest of the ride.

Am in a wonderful campground tonight, complete with new showers, lots of trees, a great host and free Internet service, all for $8. Nicked across the road to a bar/café for a beer and some pasta and am feeling great.

So after spending my day making my feet move in small circles and filling my lungs with fresh air I know I’ll sleep soundly tonight. Also, tomorrow I enter Colorado and will be rid of Wyoming! Oh, what joy!