Greetings from the Residence Inn in Casper, Wyoming! In every plan, it would seem, there lies the danger of a monkey wrench and we seem to have found it. After an extraordinary stay in a cabin outside of Hill City, South Dakota, to which we’ll shortly return, we headed west, as in our original plan. However, we neglected to reconfigure the plan after cancelling our stay in Jackson Hole, WY, and Yellowstone National Park, so there was really no reason to drive in this direction. But halfway to Casper we realized this; it was just too late, so here we are, taking a two-day R&R after our whirlwind travels. On to Boulder, Colorado, tomorrow.
Fortified with our provisions from the Whole Foods store in Lincoln, NE, we set out across the plains/prairies to our next stop, North Platte, NE, a stagecoach stop on the way west. Fortunately, we found a Fairfield Inn by Marriott to bed down before our final drive to Fort Collins. Nebraska is not for the faint of heart; it possesses similar vistas in all directions to the endless infinity of Saskatchewan. Lots of hay, farms, cows, and nothingness past Lincoln.
We arrived in Fort Collins after the trek through Nebraska and were happy to see daughter Abby, husband Steve, and The Armstrong Hotel. We settled into our comfortable suite and enjoyed a wonderful, easy-living social whirl with Abby, Steve, their friends Andrea & Joe, and John & Julie Barr, our Menton connection. For the first couple of days we took it easy. I took my book, went downstairs to Mugs coffee house, ordered my iced Mocha, and sat and read for hours. Jayne and I walked around, played some golf at the city course, met with Abby, Steve, and their friends Andrea & Joe with whom they were staying. Had a BBQ at Andrea’s & Joe’s, went to mile-high Carter Lake to while away a lovely afternoon watching the boaters, kayakers, and just plain relaxing in good company.
As planned, we were happily joined by John & Julie Barr after a few days as they were on their eastward travels from Carlsbad, CA and Sedona, Arizona. They also bunked down at The Armstrong, so our social circle grew. To make our week or so even merrier, Mark Snipe and his wife, Maria, drove up from Denver to join us in a Sunday picnic at City Park. Where was George Seurat when we needed him? Sunday, Joe & Andrea invited us to dinner at the clubhouse at TPC Colorado, site of their new home and a new PGA golf venue.
Our idyll lasted until Tuesday, July 14th, when we left for South Dakota, The Barrs drove to their cabin in the woods at Estes Park, and Abby & Steve piled the last of their belongings into a rental truck, heading east to their new home in Vergennes, VT.
Heading north to South Dakota through Wyoming we drove through a vast, limitless prairie that gives one a new perspective on our place in the universe, let alone on Planet Earth. Those of us who live in North American or European populated areas can’t begin to appreciate how small, alone and insignificant one feels in the midst of such limitlessness. To give it more practical weight, there are huge stretches with no cell phone service – totally blank areas on the service maps of all cell service providers.
Finally reached our cabin in the woods outside Hill City, South Dakota. We’d been told that there was no cell service where we were, but there was WiFi. What they neglected to mention was that the WiFi was only available at their house/office down the dirt road from our cabin. So, when we weren’t out in the wider world we’d have to sit in the car in front of the house in order to check in. Mind you, it was a small inconvenience once we got over the shock.
Our first day we drove to Mount Rushmore. It was crowded with tourists and looks just like all the pictures you’ve seen. Yet it was an exceptional sight. The next day we drove through Custer State Park, where the excitement started to pick up. As we were driving along the Wildlife Trail we suddenly came to a halt behind a line of motorcycles. In front of them a lone buffalo was meandering down the road at its own pace. As soon as a car got close to it, the animal charged, and the car had to do some fancy driving to avoid being rammed. The bikes wouldn’t dare try to pass it until it finally strolled into the grass. We did see more buffalo on our drive, but missed any deer and antelope playing.
The next day, however, was much more exciting and educational. We went to Crazy Horse Monument, the Native American tribute to a leader and way of life that was almost obliterated by the American and European settlers moving west. The entire complex is full of cultural and educational exhibits, art, and, of course, the obligatory gift store. But the mountain is compelling in a way that Mount Rushmore isn’t. We returned at night for a laser light show projected on the side of the monument, accompanied by narration and music. It was a highlight of our trip.
Our last day in SD was a glorious ride through the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, and a stop at Bridal Veil Falls. We then had a picnic lunch in Spearfish City Park. Interestingly, the oak pellets used in our Hancock pellet stove were made in Spearfish, SD. End of curiosity.
This takes us up to today in Casper, WY. The heartland of America has to be seen and felt. Pictures can’t begin to do it justice. The way of life is so different from whence we come in the more urban areas of the country. In order to really understand the values in this part of the country, you have to be here. Not surprisingly, in many of the places we’ve been, people are wearing masks and appreciate the fact that we, too, are doing the same.
Once we get to Boulder, we will have almost 2 weeks of R&R. Lots of lakes, parks, picnic areas and day trips and Colorado air.