We had a fabulous time on this 86 day, 9801 mile trip! We traveled in 11 states, went on 7 boat rides and several train rides, including the cog railway to the top of Pike's Peak. We saw so many interesting places and things. Tom toured a record number of railroad yards and museums and air museums! He read several books and I read 27 novels, even though the only time I read while riding was back and forth to Montana.
We each had the opportunity to see a lot of cousins who we hadn't seen for many years, along with some friends from along the way, including my college roommate who I hadn't seen for 43 years. We had time with both of our moms and all 5 of our siblings and some of their kids.
We are counting on doing trips like this several more times - across America and Canada.
Our next big trip will be an 11 day tour of China in October. I will complete a blog when we return, so look for it the 3rd week of October! Then to Arizona for a few weeks in November and December, and, hopefully, to Italy and France next April!
The end
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
July 23 Driving from Livingston to Post Falls, ID. and views of Lake Couer D'Alene
in Montana
trees
of one of the mountain
passes - glad our blowout
was close to town instead!
Jacque's kids-Dalton is 12-1/2 and Peyton is 5
Part of the floating boardwalk in front of the hotel-it iss a huge square that goes around the marina
People were jumping off this cliff into the lakePictures from around Livingston and on the drive from Livingston to Post Falls, ID.
depot in Livingston, MT.
from his mom's deck
Bridger Canyon by
Livingston
This is a picture of the Sleeping Giant mountain, taken
from his mom's deck! See his face on the right, chest
and hmm further to the left!
Put Montana on your bucket list if you've never visited it. It is a beautiful state!
July 16 - 23 Livingston, MT. and Post Falls, ID.
We stayed at Tom's mom's in Livingston for a week. One day we took her to Costco in Bozeman, 25 or so miles away. There is a mountain pass between the cities and many of the trees on it are dead from the beetle. We returned by a different road - through Bridger Canyon - that I had never ridden on. It was very pretty on this 20+ mile trip. There were big, beautiful homes and many pretty rock formations. We saw 5 deer and a herd of longhorn cattle. We could see dead trees on hillsides.
Another day Tom took her for cataract surgery and then the return appointment the next day. Another day we helped her pick out a new stove, compactor and microwave. We went out to eat 3 times, had friends in for lunch one day, went to church and worked around the house and in the yard.
We drove to Idaho on a beautiful day of sunshine and 78 degrees. Many of the mountainsides across Montana had dead trees covering 1/3rd - 1/2 of it. Others are still healthy.
We were within 6 miles of our campground in Post Falls when we had a blowout on the camper. Of course it was on the highway side, but there was a little wider spot right there for us to pull off onto. The next day Tom replaced the 2 tires we hadn't replaced in Nebraska. We were thankful it happened there and not on one of the 5 mountain passes we had just crossed!
We spent Friday evening and Saturday with Jacque's family, going to 2 tournament games for 13-14 year
olds - a friend of Dalton's. It was a state tournament and they won so will go to California for western tournament. Dalton's team lost the Sunday before or their team would have been in Boise this weekend for the tournament. Had they gone there we were going to go there to surprise him on our way home.
I am going to include some pictures of Couer D'Alene Lake because some of you who are following this have never seen it. We enjoyed walking the boardwalk since we hadn't been there for a couple of years.
Another day Tom took her for cataract surgery and then the return appointment the next day. Another day we helped her pick out a new stove, compactor and microwave. We went out to eat 3 times, had friends in for lunch one day, went to church and worked around the house and in the yard.
We drove to Idaho on a beautiful day of sunshine and 78 degrees. Many of the mountainsides across Montana had dead trees covering 1/3rd - 1/2 of it. Others are still healthy.
We were within 6 miles of our campground in Post Falls when we had a blowout on the camper. Of course it was on the highway side, but there was a little wider spot right there for us to pull off onto. The next day Tom replaced the 2 tires we hadn't replaced in Nebraska. We were thankful it happened there and not on one of the 5 mountain passes we had just crossed!
We spent Friday evening and Saturday with Jacque's family, going to 2 tournament games for 13-14 year
olds - a friend of Dalton's. It was a state tournament and they won so will go to California for western tournament. Dalton's team lost the Sunday before or their team would have been in Boise this weekend for the tournament. Had they gone there we were going to go there to surprise him on our way home.
I am going to include some pictures of Couer D'Alene Lake because some of you who are following this have never seen it. We enjoyed walking the boardwalk since we hadn't been there for a couple of years.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Explaining the Yellowstone pictures
I have 5 minutes left on the library computer and it won't let me type next to these pictures!! Loved the snow on the mountains in the Park! The view out of the truck is of a stand of dead trees from the beetles. We are sure there are 10's of thousands, maybe even 100's of thousands of dead ones in Yellowstone.
It is so sad!!! Tom's mom had to have 11 trees removed from her yard last month that the beetle had laid eggs in. That's what they do and it destroys the tree.
The last picture is of a portion of the beautiful drive between Yellowstone and Livingston. Montana is aptly named Big Sky Country!
It is so sad!!! Tom's mom had to have 11 trees removed from her yard last month that the beetle had laid eggs in. That's what they do and it destroys the tree.
The last picture is of a portion of the beautiful drive between Yellowstone and Livingston. Montana is aptly named Big Sky Country!
Cody WY. to Livingston, MT. via Yellowstone
a river in the Park
right: sitting next to the camper having lunch we had this nice view!
this area on the hillside is called The Devil's Slide!
July 16 Cody to Livingston, Mt. - through Yellowstone
Cody is a desert, having only 4-6" of rain per year. We didn't find out how much snow they get, but Yellowstone is only 50 miles away and they get a lot each winter. We saw unusual rock formations and craggy mountain peaks.
Everywhere we drove we saw nice homes - many log or cedar- along the rivers and up the mountainsides. Some are so far from towns that we wonder if retirees live there, or people who work from their homes. We love watching tree lined rivers flowing next to the highways. Looking up we saw rocks that looked like Greek or Roman ruins and some have smaller rocks that look like they are balancing on top of another part.
Soon we drove through the Shoshone National Forest. Thousands of trees are brown and dead from the beetle. We wonder how they will be stopped before they destroy all the forests in America.
Yellowstone - the second National Park we've been in on this trip where we didn't have to pay because I bought the Senior Pass - a lifetime pass for $10. Yellowstone costs $25 per car. We were just sick looking at hillside after hillside and all along the roads - hundreds of thousands of dead, brown trees.
There is still snow on the mountain tops and fast waterfalls coming down hills by the road. We had the window open and could hear birds singing.
Passed a yellow school bus that said Redneck RV. Saw pelicans in lakes. It took about 3-1/2 hours to drive through the part of the park we needed to. It was 57 degrees when we entered. 7 different times we saw lone, bull buffalo, sitting by the road, or walking by it. The ones sitting were sure posing for all those photographers. Further into the park some trees looked healthy! But in the distance we could see where the back part of a stand of trees were dead.
Found a pretty spot to set up our chairs and have lunch. A lake and the snowy Gallatin Range behind it. 90 degrees now.
Outside the park a highway sign says the Wyoming American Legion clubs maintain the white markers that indicate highway fatalities.
As we approached Livingston we saw snow on the Crazy Mountains. We left here May 2nd - where has the summer gone since we were here? This is where I was in the hospital. We have traveled 8300 miles since we left here - 9000 altogether! It's 92, unusually hot for here. Tom will skip the railroad museum here, since he has been in it a couple of times. I remember once when he and our friend, Dave, were in it and they were standing upstairs by a telegraph display. Directly below them a woman typed in Morse Code on a telegraph machine and was she ever surprised when Tom answered her. There is still snow on the Beartooth Mountains here.
We will be here several days. Tom's mom will have cataract surgery Tuesday and we will stay a day or so after that. Then, unfortunately, we will head home, after a stop to see Jacque's family in Idaho.
Everywhere we drove we saw nice homes - many log or cedar- along the rivers and up the mountainsides. Some are so far from towns that we wonder if retirees live there, or people who work from their homes. We love watching tree lined rivers flowing next to the highways. Looking up we saw rocks that looked like Greek or Roman ruins and some have smaller rocks that look like they are balancing on top of another part.
Soon we drove through the Shoshone National Forest. Thousands of trees are brown and dead from the beetle. We wonder how they will be stopped before they destroy all the forests in America.
Yellowstone - the second National Park we've been in on this trip where we didn't have to pay because I bought the Senior Pass - a lifetime pass for $10. Yellowstone costs $25 per car. We were just sick looking at hillside after hillside and all along the roads - hundreds of thousands of dead, brown trees.
There is still snow on the mountain tops and fast waterfalls coming down hills by the road. We had the window open and could hear birds singing.
Passed a yellow school bus that said Redneck RV. Saw pelicans in lakes. It took about 3-1/2 hours to drive through the part of the park we needed to. It was 57 degrees when we entered. 7 different times we saw lone, bull buffalo, sitting by the road, or walking by it. The ones sitting were sure posing for all those photographers. Further into the park some trees looked healthy! But in the distance we could see where the back part of a stand of trees were dead.
Found a pretty spot to set up our chairs and have lunch. A lake and the snowy Gallatin Range behind it. 90 degrees now.
Outside the park a highway sign says the Wyoming American Legion clubs maintain the white markers that indicate highway fatalities.
As we approached Livingston we saw snow on the Crazy Mountains. We left here May 2nd - where has the summer gone since we were here? This is where I was in the hospital. We have traveled 8300 miles since we left here - 9000 altogether! It's 92, unusually hot for here. Tom will skip the railroad museum here, since he has been in it a couple of times. I remember once when he and our friend, Dave, were in it and they were standing upstairs by a telegraph display. Directly below them a woman typed in Morse Code on a telegraph machine and was she ever surprised when Tom answered her. There is still snow on the Beartooth Mountains here.
We will be here several days. Tom's mom will have cataract surgery Tuesday and we will stay a day or so after that. Then, unfortunately, we will head home, after a stop to see Jacque's family in Idaho.
Cody, WY. - Buffalo Bill Museum and LDS Church murals pictures
Beautiful murals lined the rotunda in the entry of a Mormon church in Cody. The second one shows the farmers giving praise as the seagulls arrived to eat the grasshoppers that were taking over their farm. They were all very nicely done.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Trail Town historic center in Cody, Wy.
display with women's items. Tom couldn't stand anywhere without a reflection of himself
July 14 - 15 Driving to Cody, Wy. and time in Cody
Today, our "baby", Jacque is 36. We've been having trouble with the camper's slideout this week and had the motor replaced before we left Casper this morning. "Only" $680. So, this trip included buying 2 new camper tires, a slideout motor and a new hitch and sway bars for the truck. Oh, well, things wear out. By the time we left at 10:00 it was 75 degrees and sunny.
Drove for over 100 miles and saw no crops - grassland and sagebruch. Wide open spaces with a lot of antelope. We eventually saw some cattle a couple of times. At least the wind had died down some. There were mountain ranges on both sides in the distance. The western ones still had snow on the tops. Eventually we drove through miles of high rock formations. The highway had sets of gates every so often, so the highway department could close off the highway if there was a bad blizzard.
Rock formation in a park where mineral waters are. A pipe was inserted years ago to make it into a fountain
We drove through the Wind River Indian Reservation, which consists of 2 million acres. Then along the Boysen Reservoir and saw sandstone cliffs of all colors. Then through 3 car tunnels - saw a railroad one too. Then through the Wind River Canyon and along Wind River. Gigantic boulders were in the river. Watched seagulls and a hawk by the river. Then a sign appeared, pointing to a cliff, that said these red rock cliffs were 188-225 million years old!
Mineral springs are advertised. I read that some people think they are fed by the same underground system as the hot spring ponds in Yellowstone. Since they are pretty close, they probably are.
Town of Thermopolis has an active dinosaur dig. We saw 2 fawns running in a yard and then a young buck 2 houses down. No mama in sight.
Tiny town of Meeteetse has boardwalks like 125 years ago. Amelia Earhart and her husband were having a cabin built here when she disappeared. Article didn't say whether he ever had it finished or stayed there.
Cody - pop. 8835
All of the places we have been visiting are full of tourists - motels, hotels, B & B's and campgrounds all say no vacancy or we see campers leaving because there aren't any spots available. Lots of retirees and families. So many motorcyclists - many are men and women baby boomers.
We visited Old Trail Town in Cody. It sits on the site of the original Cody and consists of 26 buildings that were brought in from various places in Wy. and hundreds of artifacts - rifles, wagons, wheels, bottles, dishes. They had a sign saying many ranchers had helped by donating artifacts they had or had found on their properties. Most of the buildings were built 1850 - 1898.
It was a beautiful afternoon so we drove out of town to see the Buffalo Bill Dam. When it was built it was the tallest in the world. We went through 2 tunnels to get there, the second one being 1/2 mile long. The canyon around the dam was so pretty. The dam was originally built for irrigation and flood control, with a hydro plant added later.
View from Buffalo Bill Dam
This was the tallest dam in the world when it was built
View from the dam
It is a bit of a hike from the parking area to the visitor center because they moved the parking after 9-11. So a golf cart is available to take people back and forth. We walked to the center and when inside discovered it was considered like a national park, so Tom was going back to the truck to get his National Park passport to be stamped. As he opened the truck, the golf cart driver pulled up to him, saying he was wondering who that truck with the AF security police sticker belonged to. He said he was determined to watch until he saw its driver come out. So they visited and found out this retired Security Police Lt. Colonel knew several of Tom's former Commanders and also a couple of retired AF people who Tom worked with at Hanford. Small world!
We stopped at Walmart on the way back to the campground and saw our friend, Vic's, "twin"! His mustache wasn't quite as large, but he sure looked like him. This was the first town under 10,000 pop. where we saw a WM, but were not surprised because of the number of tourists who come every year.
Wed.
Tom visited the famous Buffalo Bill Historical Center and rifle museum, a museum called the Dug Up Gun Museum and a couple of gunsmith shops. I elected to have lunch downtown and walk around all the shops. Had a nice time, too, and picked up a couple of things. After he picked me up he drove to a quilt shop that my sister, Brenda, had asked if I could find and take a picture of for her. She has ordered items online from them and was curious about the shop. I occasionally visit quilt shops because I think they have cool stuff and my mom and sister are quilters. I took about 10 pictures inside and out for her. I told the ladies it was the neatest one I had ever been in.
The town's veteran's memorial is on the highway to the campground. We could see it while driving. Also visible was the memorial to the Korean War veterans - the only one in the state.
We had a brochure about a beautifully painted dome at a Mormon Church, so went there so I could take pictures of it for a friend of mine. It was worth the time. While in their restroom I used the first automatic toilet paper dispenser (like the paper towel ones) I'd seen.
86 and sunny this afternoon.
That night we went to a Western music revue with the main singer, Dan Miller, who used to perform in Nashville. His 12 year-old daughter is already a whiz on the fiddle and a woman singer who played the bass. Tom loved watching the lead guitarist play and bought their cd so he can listen more. I told him he has time now to learn to play even better!
This tiny camper was next to our at the campground. They hauled it with a small SUV - couple and their mid size dog stayed in it. We can't figure out how you could stand up in it!
Drove for over 100 miles and saw no crops - grassland and sagebruch. Wide open spaces with a lot of antelope. We eventually saw some cattle a couple of times. At least the wind had died down some. There were mountain ranges on both sides in the distance. The western ones still had snow on the tops. Eventually we drove through miles of high rock formations. The highway had sets of gates every so often, so the highway department could close off the highway if there was a bad blizzard.
Rock formation in a park where mineral waters are. A pipe was inserted years ago to make it into a fountain
We drove through the Wind River Indian Reservation, which consists of 2 million acres. Then along the Boysen Reservoir and saw sandstone cliffs of all colors. Then through 3 car tunnels - saw a railroad one too. Then through the Wind River Canyon and along Wind River. Gigantic boulders were in the river. Watched seagulls and a hawk by the river. Then a sign appeared, pointing to a cliff, that said these red rock cliffs were 188-225 million years old!
Mineral springs are advertised. I read that some people think they are fed by the same underground system as the hot spring ponds in Yellowstone. Since they are pretty close, they probably are.
Town of Thermopolis has an active dinosaur dig. We saw 2 fawns running in a yard and then a young buck 2 houses down. No mama in sight.
Tiny town of Meeteetse has boardwalks like 125 years ago. Amelia Earhart and her husband were having a cabin built here when she disappeared. Article didn't say whether he ever had it finished or stayed there.
Cody - pop. 8835
All of the places we have been visiting are full of tourists - motels, hotels, B & B's and campgrounds all say no vacancy or we see campers leaving because there aren't any spots available. Lots of retirees and families. So many motorcyclists - many are men and women baby boomers.
We visited Old Trail Town in Cody. It sits on the site of the original Cody and consists of 26 buildings that were brought in from various places in Wy. and hundreds of artifacts - rifles, wagons, wheels, bottles, dishes. They had a sign saying many ranchers had helped by donating artifacts they had or had found on their properties. Most of the buildings were built 1850 - 1898.
It was a beautiful afternoon so we drove out of town to see the Buffalo Bill Dam. When it was built it was the tallest in the world. We went through 2 tunnels to get there, the second one being 1/2 mile long. The canyon around the dam was so pretty. The dam was originally built for irrigation and flood control, with a hydro plant added later.
This was the tallest dam in the world when it was built
View from the dam
It is a bit of a hike from the parking area to the visitor center because they moved the parking after 9-11. So a golf cart is available to take people back and forth. We walked to the center and when inside discovered it was considered like a national park, so Tom was going back to the truck to get his National Park passport to be stamped. As he opened the truck, the golf cart driver pulled up to him, saying he was wondering who that truck with the AF security police sticker belonged to. He said he was determined to watch until he saw its driver come out. So they visited and found out this retired Security Police Lt. Colonel knew several of Tom's former Commanders and also a couple of retired AF people who Tom worked with at Hanford. Small world!
We stopped at Walmart on the way back to the campground and saw our friend, Vic's, "twin"! His mustache wasn't quite as large, but he sure looked like him. This was the first town under 10,000 pop. where we saw a WM, but were not surprised because of the number of tourists who come every year.
Wed.
Tom visited the famous Buffalo Bill Historical Center and rifle museum, a museum called the Dug Up Gun Museum and a couple of gunsmith shops. I elected to have lunch downtown and walk around all the shops. Had a nice time, too, and picked up a couple of things. After he picked me up he drove to a quilt shop that my sister, Brenda, had asked if I could find and take a picture of for her. She has ordered items online from them and was curious about the shop. I occasionally visit quilt shops because I think they have cool stuff and my mom and sister are quilters. I took about 10 pictures inside and out for her. I told the ladies it was the neatest one I had ever been in.
The town's veteran's memorial is on the highway to the campground. We could see it while driving. Also visible was the memorial to the Korean War veterans - the only one in the state.
We had a brochure about a beautifully painted dome at a Mormon Church, so went there so I could take pictures of it for a friend of mine. It was worth the time. While in their restroom I used the first automatic toilet paper dispenser (like the paper towel ones) I'd seen.
86 and sunny this afternoon.
That night we went to a Western music revue with the main singer, Dan Miller, who used to perform in Nashville. His 12 year-old daughter is already a whiz on the fiddle and a woman singer who played the bass. Tom loved watching the lead guitarist play and bought their cd so he can listen more. I told him he has time now to learn to play even better!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
July 13 Cheyenne to Casper, Wy. (stopping in Douglas)
I-25 north was bouncy, but in pretty good shape a lot of the way. They were actually resurfacing it for a couple of miles. Drove past miles and miles of grassland, no crops or livestock. Passed an area of nice homes that looked like they sat on 4-5 acre plots. Eventually we saw mountains to the west. Saw some coal trains - some full, some empty, going back and forth to Montana mines.
Douglas, Wy. (pop. 5288)
Stopping here to visit Tom's cousin, David Campbell, brother of Bill and Mary of Colorado Springs. He and his wife, Judy, have lived here many years. For the past 12 years he has been the chaplain at the jail. They are babysitting 2 of their grandkids for a few days so we enjoyed them as well.
Douglas was established in 1886, across the river from Ft. Fetterman, which for 25 years had protected traffic on the Oregon and Bozeman Trails. It was the setting of the western novel The Virginian. Altough we didn't go in it, I read that the museum here holds the teepees from the movie Dances With Wolves. By lunchtime it was 93 degrees and very windy. There is a large statue of a jackalope on a hilltop on the outskirts of town. A jackalope is a mythical creature - looks like a jackrabbit with elk antlers.
After we ate lunch we headed out. We saw wind turbine farms on 4 hillsides. We could not understand this: the wind was blowing so hard, yet only 4 of those turbines were turning. They were in the midst of assembling many more, so maybe they weren't turned on or something. I know an email has been circulating that says they are a farce-all subsidized by our tax dollars, don't generate much power, take a lot of electricity to run, etc. Of course I haven't had time to research this while traveling. We could see rolling hills for miles and a mountain range in the distance.
My sister called to say she was taking my mom back to the E.R. because of some more internal bleeding. We decided we would only go a few more miles in case it is serious and we had to go back to Denver. But she was released after a couple of hours.
We arrived in Casper mid afternoon, with the temperature of 94 and winds at 45 mph. We set up the camper and stayed inside away from the dirt, heat and wind. Its population is 70,000 and it is the state's business center. It was settled in the mid 1880's because it was the point of convergence of 6 major westward trails. We didn't see anything spectacular to go see.
Douglas, Wy. (pop. 5288)
Stopping here to visit Tom's cousin, David Campbell, brother of Bill and Mary of Colorado Springs. He and his wife, Judy, have lived here many years. For the past 12 years he has been the chaplain at the jail. They are babysitting 2 of their grandkids for a few days so we enjoyed them as well.
Douglas was established in 1886, across the river from Ft. Fetterman, which for 25 years had protected traffic on the Oregon and Bozeman Trails. It was the setting of the western novel The Virginian. Altough we didn't go in it, I read that the museum here holds the teepees from the movie Dances With Wolves. By lunchtime it was 93 degrees and very windy. There is a large statue of a jackalope on a hilltop on the outskirts of town. A jackalope is a mythical creature - looks like a jackrabbit with elk antlers.
After we ate lunch we headed out. We saw wind turbine farms on 4 hillsides. We could not understand this: the wind was blowing so hard, yet only 4 of those turbines were turning. They were in the midst of assembling many more, so maybe they weren't turned on or something. I know an email has been circulating that says they are a farce-all subsidized by our tax dollars, don't generate much power, take a lot of electricity to run, etc. Of course I haven't had time to research this while traveling. We could see rolling hills for miles and a mountain range in the distance.
My sister called to say she was taking my mom back to the E.R. because of some more internal bleeding. We decided we would only go a few more miles in case it is serious and we had to go back to Denver. But she was released after a couple of hours.
We arrived in Casper mid afternoon, with the temperature of 94 and winds at 45 mph. We set up the camper and stayed inside away from the dirt, heat and wind. Its population is 70,000 and it is the state's business center. It was settled in the mid 1880's because it was the point of convergence of 6 major westward trails. We didn't see anything spectacular to go see.
July 12 Denver area to Cheyenne, Wy.
Since we were parked in Tom's cousin's driveway, we fixed breakfast and ate it on the back patio, overlooking the next tree-covered mountain.
We drove around the edges of Denver (pop. 504,000) and into Wyoming (state's population is 509,000) via Interstates. Had reservations at Terry Bison Camp, which was the most interesting campground we had been in so far. They had a bison herd and sold the meat in their store, had 6 camels and llamas. They gave horseback trail rides and had pony rides for kids, a small carnival and a nice playground. Had a restaurant and saloon too.
Drove into town that afternoon. There are several large boot statues that have paintings on them. One in front of the train depot looks like a quilt and has quilt blocks with the name of each former governor of the state.
We took the narrated trolley ride to hear about the town. This would be a perfect job for me, I decided! The gal told us that Jack McCall killed Wild Bill Hickock. (I remember relating this while in Sioux Falls). He escaped being hung in the Dakota Territory by telling them that Bill had killed his brother, so he was warranted in killing him. They set him free. But he made the mistake of coming back to Cheyenne and bragging that he had been set free. Hickock had lived in Cheyenne various times and people found out McCall didn't even have a brother, so he was hung there.
There was a block in town called Millionaire's Row where beautiful Victorian homes had been built in the 1800's. During the 1960's some people persuaded others there that the town needed to look more modern, so they were all torn down! Now most townspeople there wish that had never happened. There are only a few homes of that type left in town.
In the 1870's there were only 12 trees in town. Some women decided they needed to plant more so they took the train to Nebraska and dug trees up from gulleys along the train tracks, etc. But they soon discovered there wasn't enough rainfall in Cheyenne to keep them healthy. So they would save their laundry water in buckets. When their husbands came home for lunch they would carry the buckets of water and stop to water a tree. Their kids would pick the buckets up after school. Pretty ingenious system.
During WWII there were 26,000 military trainees in town because the F.E. Warren Base is nearby. Three subdivisions were built for them to occupy. Mr. Coors considered building his brewery here, but didn't.
A Union Pacific Big Boy engine sits in a city park. One year they had 6" rain and so much hail in one day that it was covered!
After the trolley ride we went back to the old depot to the Snake River Pub and Grill for pizza. They have the Shadows Brewing Co. there in that end of the depot. The beers they brew are: Hobo Hefeweizen, Big Boy Amber, Buffalo brown ale, Boxcar stout and Cowboy cream ale. We watched 2 U.P. trains go by as we ate.
These famous people grew up on that military base: Dr. Walter Reed, Sammy Davis, Jr., Neil Diamond and country singer Chris LeDoux.
90 degrees today, but not humid!
Union Pacific depot
in Cheyenne, Wy. Picture in
the depot
museum
Map inset in the
floor of the depot
showing expansion
of railroad across
the country, including
through Cozad, Neb.
There are large boot s
statues all over Cheyenne.
This one has a train on it and
the one in front of the depot
looks like quilt blocks and each
one has the name of a former
governor on it
We drove around the edges of Denver (pop. 504,000) and into Wyoming (state's population is 509,000) via Interstates. Had reservations at Terry Bison Camp, which was the most interesting campground we had been in so far. They had a bison herd and sold the meat in their store, had 6 camels and llamas. They gave horseback trail rides and had pony rides for kids, a small carnival and a nice playground. Had a restaurant and saloon too.
Drove into town that afternoon. There are several large boot statues that have paintings on them. One in front of the train depot looks like a quilt and has quilt blocks with the name of each former governor of the state.
We took the narrated trolley ride to hear about the town. This would be a perfect job for me, I decided! The gal told us that Jack McCall killed Wild Bill Hickock. (I remember relating this while in Sioux Falls). He escaped being hung in the Dakota Territory by telling them that Bill had killed his brother, so he was warranted in killing him. They set him free. But he made the mistake of coming back to Cheyenne and bragging that he had been set free. Hickock had lived in Cheyenne various times and people found out McCall didn't even have a brother, so he was hung there.
There was a block in town called Millionaire's Row where beautiful Victorian homes had been built in the 1800's. During the 1960's some people persuaded others there that the town needed to look more modern, so they were all torn down! Now most townspeople there wish that had never happened. There are only a few homes of that type left in town.
In the 1870's there were only 12 trees in town. Some women decided they needed to plant more so they took the train to Nebraska and dug trees up from gulleys along the train tracks, etc. But they soon discovered there wasn't enough rainfall in Cheyenne to keep them healthy. So they would save their laundry water in buckets. When their husbands came home for lunch they would carry the buckets of water and stop to water a tree. Their kids would pick the buckets up after school. Pretty ingenious system.
During WWII there were 26,000 military trainees in town because the F.E. Warren Base is nearby. Three subdivisions were built for them to occupy. Mr. Coors considered building his brewery here, but didn't.
A Union Pacific Big Boy engine sits in a city park. One year they had 6" rain and so much hail in one day that it was covered!
After the trolley ride we went back to the old depot to the Snake River Pub and Grill for pizza. They have the Shadows Brewing Co. there in that end of the depot. The beers they brew are: Hobo Hefeweizen, Big Boy Amber, Buffalo brown ale, Boxcar stout and Cowboy cream ale. We watched 2 U.P. trains go by as we ate.
These famous people grew up on that military base: Dr. Walter Reed, Sammy Davis, Jr., Neil Diamond and country singer Chris LeDoux.
90 degrees today, but not humid!
in Cheyenne, Wy. Picture in
the depot
museum
floor of the depot
showing expansion
of railroad across
the country, including
through Cozad, Neb.
statues all over Cheyenne.
This one has a train on it and
the one in front of the depot
looks like quilt blocks and each
one has the name of a former
governor on it
Monday, July 19, 2010
July 11 Pike's Peak or bust!
We've been on a lot of trains, but this was our first experience on a cog railway that takes you up a mountain. This mountain is 14,110' . I think the town is at about 6500'. The train was steam until the 1950's and then diesel. The first ride was in 1891 and cost $5.00 (would be about $125 in today's dollar). Today it costs $33 for an adult. Well worth it!
Partway up the mountain is a town called Ruxton, with a population of 2 - a couple who run the power plant and check the reservoirs daily. They have to drive around the mountain and a total of 77 miles to buy groceries.
We saw a herd of elk and a deer on the way up. Narrator said it was the largest herd of elk seen so far this summer. There are some bristlebrush trees on the mountainside that are over 2400 years old! Some in another place in the world have been proven to be over 5000 years old.
We could see lots of red rocks from the train and counted 5 kinds of wildflowers closer to the top. It was 81 degrees when we boarded the train at 12:00 and 40 degrees at the top of the mountain. But no wind and sunny and the views were beyond words. I could see why mountain climbers find being on the tops so exhilarating, especially when they got there by their own steam! Our friends said the other time they were on the top the wind was blowing so hard they could hardly walk, so we were blessed to have perfect weather. They make hundreds of donuts up there every day for the tourists to buy and they were really good.
Our friends, Greg and Jan Young, who we met in the mid '70's in Alaska. They were doing a mortgage through my dept. in a bank and we became friends. They moved to Brighton, Co. after he retired from the State of Alaska (after getting out of the A.F.)
Lake and mountains from the train
rock formations on the side of the mountain
One of the views from the top
View from another direction at the top of the mountain
Going down the mountain. More than one train operates at a time
Partway up the mountain is a town called Ruxton, with a population of 2 - a couple who run the power plant and check the reservoirs daily. They have to drive around the mountain and a total of 77 miles to buy groceries.
We saw a herd of elk and a deer on the way up. Narrator said it was the largest herd of elk seen so far this summer. There are some bristlebrush trees on the mountainside that are over 2400 years old! Some in another place in the world have been proven to be over 5000 years old.
We could see lots of red rocks from the train and counted 5 kinds of wildflowers closer to the top. It was 81 degrees when we boarded the train at 12:00 and 40 degrees at the top of the mountain. But no wind and sunny and the views were beyond words. I could see why mountain climbers find being on the tops so exhilarating, especially when they got there by their own steam! Our friends said the other time they were on the top the wind was blowing so hard they could hardly walk, so we were blessed to have perfect weather. They make hundreds of donuts up there every day for the tourists to buy and they were really good.
Our friends, Greg and Jan Young, who we met in the mid '70's in Alaska. They were doing a mortgage through my dept. in a bank and we became friends. They moved to Brighton, Co. after he retired from the State of Alaska (after getting out of the A.F.)
View from another direction at the top of the mountain
Going down the mountain. More than one train operates at a time
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