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!
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