Further West We Go.

Here in Gering (Scottsbluff suburb), just like our westward bound folks of yore, we spent a few days to rest, recuperate and reprovision. We visited the infamous bluff which they tried to reach by the July 4 deadline to get through the mountains ahead, walked part of the original trail and hiked the top of the bluff. We were sent to the Agate fossil fields by the rangers and saw some fossilized land beavers (paleocastor) and their colonies (daemonhelix). These are fossil sites that were discovered by local ranchers between 1887 and 1892.

We purchased locally raised corn and meats at the farmers market in Scottsbluff and enjoyed our three night stay at the Robidoux RV park, which is run by the City of Gering. This pretty park with great views of Scotts Bluff and the surrounding area is perfectly maintained by the city. Unfortunately, we just missed the Balloon festival held right on site, sigh (looking forward to October in Albuquerque). On a side note; we have decided that Nebraska corn is thee mostest, bestest corn in our nation. This bi-color sweet corn grills well and is acclaimed by us as the pinnacle of corn eating (apologies to my friends from Iowa).

As we head further west with some northing on our compass we pass into Wyoming. We have reached my west. This is the land that shaped a childhood/dreamer into some semblance of whom he is today. This is the land where I got my first guns, shot my first birds, learned to fish for those wily brook trout, track animals, have my own first horse (not a pony), and be somewhat independent (for a kid).

Wyoming was not a destination for most of those forebears travelling west (at least the farmers), it was just a hazard to travel through with high mountains and few wagon friendly passes and always the risk of getting caught out by snows, winds, prairie fires, and of course the natives. Add snakes and prickly pear cactus to the mix and broiling sun beating down on those travelers and you can imagine that they just wanted the ordeal over and to be in those fabled lush lands of the Oregon Territory and the storied Willamette Valley. We can also imagine the wonder (and maybe terror) of those travelers who had never seen the great herds of the Buffalo, the great Elk, the weird Moose and the insanely athletic and graceful speed of the Pronghorn, (locals here affectionately call them speed goats). I (romantically, and from my current state of comfort) can only dream of seeing this country through those eyes of yore with fresh wonder and amazement.

But still… Have you been there?

As you travel westward from Nebraska and you enter into Wyoming you start to see the landscape change. The forever fields of crops start to reduce and you see more natural vegetation. Less flat land stretches out around you and more canyons come into view. The first thing to hit me is the change of smell. No longer dust and water, but that cloying smell of the northern prairie, and all of a sudden you are driving through sage brush and spotty prickly pear cactus. As you come closer to Casper, the oil and natural gas wells rear their foreign yet familiar heads above the prairie. Casper changes things and you go from agrarian to full on oil field look.

We spent the night in Casper and enjoyed the historic downtown district with shopping and looking into the 7 floor Lou Taubert western store, this icon of western wear has been around a long time and clothed many a Wyoming cowboy/cowgirl. https://www.loutaubert.com/

The next morning we were off and running to the north and west again; Destination=Cody, Wyoming. We have been to Cody before (https://bigfokkerdog.com/category/travelcamping/), and we love the scenic beauty as well as the eclectic western lifestyle here. And did I mention the Nightly rodeo? Yep, every night of the week from June through the end of August. https://www.codystampederodeo.com/p/about/cody-nite-rodeo.

We find Cody to be a perfect jumping off spot to visit this beautiful area of Wyoming. You are an easy run to all of Northern Wyoming, Yellowstone is less than 30 minutes away, entering through the East gate with access into the entire park. You are an hour from the Bighorn National forest where the sights are boundless and the location of the ageless Medicine Wheel National Historic landmark https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/bighorn/home/?cid=fseprd521531. You can visit the towns of Jackson, Sheridan, Thermopolis (hot springs heaven) and of course Cody itself. Hours can be spent in the museum, exploring downtown, eating at the local restaurants or tasting local only craft beers from local breweries. Your author wishes that Tensleep Brewing would bottle Speedgoat Ale!

We visited Yellowstone and of course took in all of the sights in the Cody area and spent a night at the rodeo, spent an afternoon on horseback and hiked our tails off. There were wild Wyoming thunder storms every evening to add spice to life. This is our kind of adventure area.

As we pull through Cody and up the Shoshone River canyon towards Yellowstone, we pass the Buffalo Bill State Park, where we stayed last time but couldn’t get a reservation for this year (reserve early for this state park at https://wyoparks.wyo.gov/ ). We got great reservations for the week at https://mountain-view-resort-rv.business.site/. The folks at Mountain View will call you back or you can call them after filling out the online form. They were very accommodating and welcoming. This is a great private park to base out of and is much more scenic than those parks located in Cody but is a 40 minute drive from town.

We got set up and take in the grandeur around us as the sweeping hills and cliffs give a hint of the expanse and beauty of this particular area of our great land.

We hit the local farmers market in Cody and then snuggle in for the night, visions of our adventures to come over the next week rolling through our heads.

Join us next time for some adventures in the Cody/Yellowstone area.

Jeff

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