Sometimes the strategy of where to end a chase day can get tricky. Reserve lodging too soon, and one may end up far from where the storms finish presenting their majesty to the observer. Too late, and lodging may be unavailable, uncertain, costly, or unsanitary. After finishing with a short-lived but ravishing supercell well to the northwest, near Sheridan, and knowing the next day’s target area was near the Black Hills, Gillette made a convenient stop along the way, especially considering some storms were headed there, timed out to shortly before sunset. So when I encountered a cellular data signal (not a given in remote northeastern Wyoming!), I pulled off briefly and reserved a room as soon as possible, at a place that looked nice and offered a great short-fused rate. Sharp plan, right? Fortunately the hotel indeed was very clean and hospitable—not just for spending the night, but for a huge field of wildflowers right in back that made a great foreground for those storms. I didn’t plan that. I’ve heard, “Better lucky than good!” Rubbish. I say, “Best to be lucky and good!”
Gillette WY (8 Jul 19) Looking NW
44.2822, -105.4505Floral and Electric Fields
Sometimes the strategy of where to end a chase day can get tricky. Reserve lodging too soon, and one may end up far from where the storms finish presenting their majesty to the observer. Too late, and lodging may be unavailable, uncertain, costly, or unsanitary. After finishing with a short-lived but ravishing supercell well to the northwest, near Sheridan, and knowing the next day’s target area was near the Black Hills, Gillette made a convenient stop along the way, especially considering some storms were headed there, timed out to shortly before sunset. So when I encountered a cellular data signal (not a given in remote northeastern Wyoming!), I pulled off briefly and reserved a room as soon as possible, at a place that looked nice and offered a great short-fused rate. Sharp plan, right? Fortunately the hotel indeed was very clean and hospitable—not just for spending the night, but for a huge field of wildflowers right in back that made a great foreground for those storms. I didn’t plan that. I’ve heard, “Better lucky than good!” Rubbish. I say, “Best to be lucky and good!”
Gillette WY (8 Jul 19) Looking NW
44.2822, -105.4505