The Black Hills

Arrived in Custer about noon today, a day early. Picked an rv park with wifi to catch up on blog, owner wears a real live 38 revolver, hope it's not a sign of his clientele. The next 3 days we will be in an National Forest park without a lot of amenities, may be a challenge for Nita, will have to keep her busy touring during the day. On top of that our Virgin cell phone service with Sprint is almost nonexistent here in the wild west. Anyway after check in we hopped back in the View and toured the hills in the area. The Black Hills are very green and beautiful, a local said a 11 year drought has been broken. Nothing is level here, up down and curves is the norm, View performs like a mountain goat, have put on more than 5K miles since we started in May. The antelope moma has her hands full with these 3 kids.

Bear Lodge in Wyoming

The Indians call it Bear Lodge, the white man named it Devils Tower. The tower is considered scared by a number of tribes and they hold prayer sessions around the tower. They leave behind prayer cloths in the trees around the base of the tower, there are signs not to disturb them. About 5000 people climb the tower every year, however in June the park bans climbing in respect for the Indians. This was the country's first national monument, named by Theodore Roosevelt in 1872. It's a shame it is June and we couldn't climb it, had to settle for a 1.3 mile hike around the base, oh well. They have a great camp area, our site looked straight up to the tower. We were surrounded by prairie dogs, they are fun to watch, deer wandered around the area. At 9pm a park ranger put on a slide show and lecture on the first climbers of the tower.

Pics: In line to enter the park, colored prayer cloths in trees and dinner time with a tower view.

Buffalo Bill Days

This event in Sheradin started Thurs. and ends this evening with a Wild West Show. This morning we attended a parade down main street. Pictures: Buffalo Bill leads the parade, a local observer, bareback Indian riders, women's Calvary, and Calamity Jane?

Over the Bighorn

It's a pleasure to drive the non interstate roads in these sparsely populated states, you can go for miles without seeing other vehicles and can travel at leisurely speeds and enjoy the interesting scenery. This morning we headed north from Thermopolis and took rt. 14 over the Bighorn mountain range, destination Sheridan, WY. Had light showers much of the day but visibility was good, saw lots of deer, antelope and a few elk. Lot's of curves and hairpin curves and the summit was over 9K feet.

Sheridan is a cowboy town, the old Sheridan Inn was partially owned by Buffalo Bill and still has the bar he installed. Kings Rope and Saddlery is not to be missed, full of supplies for riding roping for working ranches and rodeos. Salesman told me they sell 40 thousand ropes/lassos a year. Most of the clientele, men and women were right off the ranch and dressed like it. Was invited down to the basement where they make their own ropes, the ropes are hard and stiff, after they are wound they are soaked in hot wax then heated till cured. Had a beer at the Mint Bar where the locals hang out.

Pics: Kings, at first thought this big animial was a bear-seemed to enjoy his position, Buffalo Bills bar in Sheridan Inn and decending the Bighorn,

Hot Springs and digs

Thursday morning we decided to spend another day in Thermopolis, WY. The town is on the corner of The Wind River Indian Reservation, is was a part of it but when the gov. discovered the hot springs they decided it would be nice to develop and paid the Indians $60k for it in the late 1800's. The Big Horn river races north through this small town. We spent the day touring the attractive Hot Spring State park where you can bathe in a 104 degree pool, checked out a local buffalo herd, visited the WY Dinosaur Center and Dig and went to one of the 60 identified dig sites. The one we visited was called a Jurassic feeding site and had dinosaur bones and foot prints, it dated back around 150 million years ago, a relatively young site.

Pics: leg and rib bones, more dig sites, Nita and view of Thermopolis and Big Horn river from surrounding hill.

I Got the Sheriff, song by that name?

Tuesday morning we left Layton and headed north to Wyoming. Thought about going to the Tetons and Yellowstone but have been there before, after arriving in Evanston decided to go to Flaming Gorge. We went down 414 through Mountain View, kind of a pause in the road. It had a 35mph speed limit and being the law abiding citizen that I am that's what I did, on exiting the town I picked up speed again, about a half mile out of town here comes the sheriff in a flashing pickup truck. Was informed that the last few feet in town I sped up to 50, here we go again, I seem to attract zealous lawman or as it turned out lawwoman. After many questions and inspection of my licence, insurance papers, and registration she decided to let me off, the day just got a little bit better, she was about 22 and must have felt sorry for an ol' man.

It was a beautiful drive to Flaming George, had a camp spot right near the water. There were antelope wandering all over the country side as well as at our camp site. This morning we left there and drove north up through Rock Springs, Lander, Riverton and have stopped for the night at Thermopolis. We enjoyed the scenery all the way, lots of antelope, the old Oregon Trail and just before Lander the Red Canyon. There are some interesting sites to see around Thermopolis and we may decided to spend another day here, depends on our joint mood in the morning. The picture with Nita on the Oregon trail shows the ruts left by the wagon wheels from 1870 to early 1900's, the Parting of the Ways is actually a few miles west of this point where the trail splits, one going to Utah and California and the other toward the right to Oregon.

Layton, UT

We had a nice visit with our son Chris and his wife Kathy Sunday and Monday. Had some time to clean our dirty View and get it in the shop for a front end alignment, tires were wearing uneven. Monday evening Chris and Katy had a picnic where we meet Kathy's family. Kathy's son's dog was killed 2 weeks after giving birth to 8 pups. The picture is her son Wiley feeding one of the 8 pups which he must do every 4 hours, doesn't get much sleep. The other pic is Kathy giving moral support to the pups.

Uinta National Forest

On our way to Strawberry Reservoir in the Uinta's to meet our son and his wife we had to climb over the mountain on rt. 191, about 9100 feet in alt., the little ol diesel didn't have a problem. Stopped at Dochesne for lunch and was entertained by the prairie dogs, there were so many. Taking a picture of them was a challenge, many were standing by their hole but when you would get close they disappeared, kind of like the "whack-a-mole" game, back off and up they popped again. We ran into some snowy rain on the way to the lake at about 8000 feet, some cross country bicyclers were really suffering.

We had a beautiful campsite on Strawberry Res. We were at 7700 feet, the first night got below freezing and our water hose was frozen the next morning. My son Chris and his wife arrive the next day, he lives in Layton, UT and he brought his boat and camper to join us. Didn't catch a lot of fish but did get 2 nice rainbow trout. There is a large group of white pelicans on the lake that were fun to watch. The last morning there we had a good storm and a pretty rainbow when it ended. The boat picture is Chris and Nita.

Capital Reef National Park

In the wilds of Utah have not had much wifi access to make new posts so am somewhat behind. Capital Reef is another outstanding Utah park with great sights and hiking trails. We got a nice site in the park for last Tues. and Wed nites, handy to many trails and full of Mule deer.

Pics: 1st 2 hike through the Grand Wash, view of park from hike up in the ridge, campsite, and pink rocks and pink lady.

Still behind will catch up later, gotta run to Salt Lake to meet my son Chris for lunch.

Heading NW

Yesterday we left the Bates place and headed for the National Bridges National Monument. It is on the White Canyon and years of erosion have created 3 bridges, hiked down in the canyon to photograph the Owachomo Bridge shown. From there went north on 95 and through the Glen Canyon, it's like driving in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, it cuts across the top of Lake Powell. Every mile you see different amazing scenery, camera getting a good workout. We arrived at Capitol Reef National Park around 6pm, their campground was filled at 4pm but we found a nice private campground not far away. This morning was clean up and laundry time, off the explore the park soon.

Norman Bates rv park

Sunday morning we departed Chaco Canyon after some hiking. Headed west, did some shopping in Farmington and headed to Shiprock to spend the night. Shiprock got it's name from a huge natural monument several miles out of town, it can be seen for miles from any direction and is considered scared by the Navajo. Farmington is in the Navajo Indian Reservation. The description on the only RV park there says it is on the river, great views of Shiprock and a laundromat. From what we could determine there were no other parks for many miles and we were tired. Surprise, the park no longer had a laundromat, the view of Shiprock was obscured by power lines and no view of a river. What it did have was horses, no leash laws and dogs all over the place, some kind of tailless rodents running about, mostly permanent trailers no newer that 20 years old and lots of dirt and dust. Not wanting to drive more hours we took a spot. If you saw the Hitchcock movie Physco you must remember the scary Bates Motel. Well this place got kind of scary, at dusk a 3rd pickup drove up to the 18ft trailer next to us and 2 native men and a women got out. The men were drunk and started fighting and chasing one another around the truck, we quickly locked up and prepared to drive off even though we were hooked to water and elect. Fortunately they wore out after awhile and one passed out in the back of the truck where he spent the night and probably slept more soundly than we did.

Even more isolated

After leaving Abiquiu we drove west on rt 96, great scenery all the way, turned NW on 550 toward Aztec and Shiprock. Saw a sign to Chaco Cultural National Heritage Park. It was about 25 miles south into the desert with 15 miles of bone rattling washboard dirt/gravel road. I believe this is a place not to be missed. This is the birthplace of the pueblo people as they exchanged their nomadic life style for agriculture and a permanent settlement. There are the remains of 13 magnificent great houses that were constructed starting in the 9Th century.

Well Nita enjoyed this even with no phone, elect., water, TV, stores, etc. Our little motor is pretty self sufficient so it's not too tough. Love NM of the beaten path.

Pics, dirt road into Chaco Canyon, bute on right in distance is at N end of canyon, Casa Bonita-had 4 stories originally, 11th century farmer home under cliff on camp site, me on hiking path up to masa

Lake Abiquiu, 6500 ft altitude

After departing Chimayo late in the afternoon we decided to take a look at the Corps campground at Lake Abiquiu. We had no reservations but lucked out and got the only electric left. Hard to believe but for seniors an electric site is $7/nite and nonelectric is 5. It's hard to describe how beautiful this lake and surrounding mountains are. We stayed a 2ND night and I would have stayed a 3rd but my traveling companion gets a little itchy when there are no phones, tv, wifi, stores, etc. So off we went with a tentative destination of Shiprock.

Those who wander are not lost

We departed Santa Fe after lunch on Wed. Was told by a local we should stop by the small town of Chimayo on the way north to see Chimayo blankets being weaved, and while there go to the only very good restaurant in town and a famous old church. Well the weavers weren't weaving and the restaurant had a recent fire and was closed. The old church was interesting, in 1810 a farmer witness lightning emanating from the soil and then found a cross on that spot. That soil reputed to have healing powers and some handicapped people were in the church today in a circle around a pit containing that soil, didn't witness the results but as we exited the church one wall was lined with cast off crutches and braces.

Near the church we found a food stand selling pinion nuts and chili tamales, think maybe that tamale had healing powers as my lips and stomach burned all afternoon. We did enjoy the visit.

The town that wan't

Yesterday morning it was raining in Santa Fe, snow on the mountain tops. Decided not to go into downtown and took a trip to Los Alamos to visit the Bradbury Science Museum and the other points of interest there. Los Alamos was the town that wasn't during WWII, it was kept secret as they developed the atomic bomb. The museum was fascinating with lots of hardware and history of the development of the site. Most interesting was the bio's of the people who worked there and details of the spies worked there. There was a model of the Fat Man bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The streets in town were named after atomic test sites and key scientists, like Trinity, Oppenheimer, etc.

This morning the weather was bright and beautiful and a little cool. Went to downtown Santa Fe early and wandered around, Nita spent much of the morning in the shops doing you know what. We are back in our motor home now and will depart soon to the NW, may make it to Shiprock today.

Pictures are Fat Man bomb, countryside near Los Alamos, San Miguel Mission Church-one of the oldest church in continual use, constructed in 1610 and some of the buildings in Santa Fe.

All the way to Santa Fe

This morning we left Amarillo with the intent of stopping at Santa Rosa, NM for the day, however we picked up an hour as we crossed into mountain time, so we decided to go on. We also picked up a 30 mph headwind which made driving a little tiring. As you can see from the picture Nita relieved me for a spell while I perused the maps for a new destination. We stopped at Santa Fe for a day and tomorrow we will explore the down town area, may spend another day if we can't cover it all. Kinda nice moving around as we please, starting to feel like gypsies.