Day-38 * WYOMING ! *
18-deg. to start in Ft.Collins! brrrrrr I haven't worn flip-flops or shorts in a week! Why? Oh yeah, I'm on a 'journey'. Today I find out the deprivations and hardships the pioneers faced on the largest 'un-forced' migration in the history of the world when 400,000+ traveled across mid-America to the West. But first, leave Colorado and enter Wyoming at their beautiful SE Wyoming Welcome Center!
One of the first things you see is a wooly mammoth set of bones, highlighting dinosaur digs in Wyoming. It's a life-sized Columbian mammoth cast similar to 11,600-year-old "Dee" at the Tate Geological Museum in Casper.
Don't be bashful! Get out there and travel on the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System. There's lots to see and do. Most states have invested in building gorgeous welcome centers. Here's a few more pic's :
Getting back on I-25, I enjoyed the wide-prairie, wide-sky, and all of the different rock formations heading north. Serendipity crept back into my decision making and I took an exit because the town name of CHUGWATER intrigued me (population : 220+). I captured three neat pic's :
mural :
on the way out of town :
Jim had suggested that I see .. Ayres Rock, but as I was about to drive 5-miles off of the interstate I noticed a 'Closed' sign. It's only open from April 15 - Oct.15. dogggone it! Here's the sign.
On to the big town of Casper and the : What an AWESOME museum !!
It shows the history of the convergence of four major trails in Casper :
It's on a bluff overlooking Casper and the North Platte River that the pioneers had to cross.
Another neat thing they've done is a large rock wall where pioneers carved names and dates are recreated.
Names were carved in three locations, Register Cliff, Independence Rock, and Names Hill. Great stop. Lots of National Historic Trails guides like I told you about earlier in the trip.
Headed down the hill to Hwy.20/26 for Shoshoni and Thermopolis. Guess what ? More historical signs and some wildlife. This one's for you, Charlie :
Here's the geography behind the sign :
I tried to creep up for a picture of Pronghorn Antelope (Jim says they're known as 'speedgoats', which is also the name of a beer "Speed Goat Golden Ale" brewed by Ten Sleep Brewery) .. but they were too wary. Maybe I'll get lucky on my way over to Western Wyoming on Sunday.
Cautiously crept through the town of Shoshoni and their over zealous speed watchers and made it to the wondrous and spectacular WIND RIVER CANYON. No pictures! You have to see it to believe it!
Arrived in Thermopolis at the 'decent' time of 4-pm. Carol & Jim were waiting. Enjoyed a delicious dinner and wonderful dessert of 'white chocolate lasagna'.
Tomorrow .. we visit ALL of Thermopolis -or- Fishopolis -or- Dinopolis (dinosaurs) ... :)
today's .. 80mph on hwys and 70mph on 2-lane roads!! mileage : 361
accumulated trip mileage : 7446
One of the first things you see is a wooly mammoth set of bones, highlighting dinosaur digs in Wyoming. It's a life-sized Columbian mammoth cast similar to 11,600-year-old "Dee" at the Tate Geological Museum in Casper.
Don't be bashful! Get out there and travel on the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System. There's lots to see and do. Most states have invested in building gorgeous welcome centers. Here's a few more pic's :
Getting back on I-25, I enjoyed the wide-prairie, wide-sky, and all of the different rock formations heading north. Serendipity crept back into my decision making and I took an exit because the town name of CHUGWATER intrigued me (population : 220+). I captured three neat pic's :
Jim had suggested that I see .. Ayres Rock, but as I was about to drive 5-miles off of the interstate I noticed a 'Closed' sign. It's only open from April 15 - Oct.15. dogggone it! Here's the sign.
On to the big town of Casper and the : What an AWESOME museum !!
It shows the history of the convergence of four major trails in Casper :
It's on a bluff overlooking Casper and the North Platte River that the pioneers had to cross.
Headed down the hill to Hwy.20/26 for Shoshoni and Thermopolis. Guess what ? More historical signs and some wildlife. This one's for you, Charlie :
I tried to creep up for a picture of Pronghorn Antelope (Jim says they're known as 'speedgoats', which is also the name of a beer "Speed Goat Golden Ale" brewed by Ten Sleep Brewery) .. but they were too wary. Maybe I'll get lucky on my way over to Western Wyoming on Sunday.
Cautiously crept through the town of Shoshoni and their over zealous speed watchers and made it to the wondrous and spectacular WIND RIVER CANYON. No pictures! You have to see it to believe it!
Arrived in Thermopolis at the 'decent' time of 4-pm. Carol & Jim were waiting. Enjoyed a delicious dinner and wonderful dessert of 'white chocolate lasagna'.
Tomorrow .. we visit ALL of Thermopolis -or- Fishopolis -or- Dinopolis (dinosaurs) ... :)
today's .. 80mph on hwys and 70mph on 2-lane roads!! mileage : 361
accumulated trip mileage : 7446
Yikes, sounds like another white knuckle driving day! I like the pioneer vandalism
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