Woke up yesterday very strong and gusty winds so the first thing I did was check the weather reports for central Wyoming, especially for I-25 south toward Cheyenne. Most of it was fairly good except from Wheatland on south but our route of travel had us turning off onto US 26 to Torrington, WY. Good to go.
We left Casper about 9:30 AM, jumped on the interstate and headed south. Most of the way we had a quartering westerly tailwind but we did get a few straight cross-gusts that got our attention. The winds were much better after tuning east onto US 26.
We stopped in Torrington, WY for fuel, paying $2.39 a gallon. Joyce calculated that we got 8.7 MPG on this last fill-up so that made us pretty happy.
We pulled into the Riverside Campground in Scottsbluff, NE about 2:30. This is a city park with all pull-though sites on dirt/gravel. Not bad, especially for $20 a night.
After getting set-up in our site, we drove down to visit the Elks Lodge. The drinks were cold and the natives are darned friendly.
We plan to visit Scotts Bluff National Monument this morning and then hit the Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gersey this afternoon. Tomorrow we will go see Chimney Rock National Historic Site and maybe take in the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
September 16, 2015
Yesterday was a busy, touristy kind of day.
After having a store-bought breakfast at the local Perkins, we headed off the visit Scotts Bluff National Monument. After checking in at the visitor’s center, we got our National Parks Passport book stamped and after watching a great video about the Bluff, we took a short walk on the trail.
Joyce did a little more walking up the trail so I sat down on a bench to rest. While sitting there and taking in the grandeur above me, I wondered just how hard the trip through this area was for the pioneer’s. I could only imagine the heat, dust and danger’s they endured.
Mormon pioneer hand cart.
After spending a while there, we then drove to the top of the bluff on a road that was built in 1937. We took two short walks that allowed spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
Next stop, Chimney Rock, about 20 miles to the southeast of Scottsbluff.
We watched another video and then took a few pictures. Since the formation is on private land you can’t walk out to get closer.
The local Indian’s called this rock formation Elk’s Penis. Remember, the Lakota Sioux had no way to relate the look of the formation to a chimney so they named it for something they were familiar with. Read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimney_Rock_National_Historic_Site
September 17, 2015
Yesterday was another full day of sight seeing.
After having a quick breakfast, we drove the fifty miles back over into Wyoming to tour Fort Laramie National Historical Site. The fort played a significant roll in the region from it’s establishment in 1834 to when it was abandoned in 1890. Many of the buildings have been preserved along with numerous artifacts.
On the drive to the fort, I noticed a dive bar in Lingle, WY called The Bitch’s Corner Bar. Well, you know we just had to stop in and check it out.
Yup, it’s a dive alright. Lois Tobin, the owner wasn’t there but the young lady bartender told us the story of the name. Seems Lois complained a lot so she called herself The Bitch. Lois had to fight with the city council to allow her to put up the sign but, in the end she finally prevailed. Very interesting place and to top off the day, they make a killer hamburger and chicken gizzards.
Thanks for visiting our blog site.
Barry & Joyce
