Across Wyoming - June 24-30, 2006

We spent the next week traveling across Wyoming toward Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Our first stop was in the small town of Buffalo where we spent three days relaxing, playing golf and checking out the local sights. Our park here was situated in a lovely, tree-shaded spot where we were visited daily by deer and three wild turkeys. The park featured a short trail through an adjoining wooded area where we spotted red winged blackbirds and meadowlarks. The golf course was lovely – lots of trees and big, grassy fairways. My game is improving so I’m enjoying it more. Soon I may have to start keeping score!

We spent a couple of delightful happy hours with Mary Jane and Joe, full timers who spend their winters in Wellton outside of Yuma. When they reported seeing moose on the highway a few miles out of town, we had to go take a look. I’ve never seen a moose! We saw lots of great scenery (as usual) but no moose . . Better luck next time. . .

Another day of driving through the “big wide open” of Wyoming brought us to the small town of Lander. Like many of the towns we’ve passed through in the west, this one is loaded with historic charm. It’s easy to see why so many retirees and telecommuters are moving here from the big cities. But we always have to remind each other – just think what it’s like here in the winter!

Lander had one advantage missing in many of the towns we’ve visited – a better-than-decent restaurant (with a funny name)! We spent a great evening dining on the vine-covered porch, drinking good wine and listening to a funny little band that wandered in to provide some background music. If you’re ever in Lander, Wyoming – visit Cowfish!

We decided to take a guided audio-tape tour through the mountains around Lander. It’s kind of fun driving along and listening to the narration which included western music and cowboy poetry. . Our first stop was Sinks Canyon – a remarkable spot on the Popo Agie (rhymes with ambrosia!) River where the stream cascades into a cave and runs underground for over half a mile before rising into a tranquil pond where dozens of huge trout hang out year round. Alas, no fishing allowed!












Our tour also took us to South Pass City, a historical mining town, where we looked through the restored buildings and tried to get a sense for what it was like when it was a bustlin’ burg. Times were tough – in the cemetery we saw the grave of a 19-year-old girl who died when her kidneys burst because her corset was fastened too tight! And I thought low-rise jeans were unforgiving!

We also stopped in at the bar in nearby Atlantic City for a couple of cold ones. This is also a historic town, but folks are still living there, trying to eke out a living where the snow drifts can reach 23 feet in winter and the snow plows don’t come through on the weekends. There was a picture on the wall of a young Robert Redford relaxing at the bar – I bet he was there in the summertime!

Before leaving we made a pilgrimage out to a small cemetery on the Shoshone Indian Reservation where it’s believed that Sacajawea is buried. According to stories, she lived to be 100 years old! I’ll be reading a history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to learn more about this remarkable woman who left on her journey when she was just 15 years old.

Stayed tuned – next stop Grand Teton National Park. .