Three days in Sheridan, Wyoming

Three days at a nice KOA campground on the edge of Sheridan, Wyoming. Found a trail nearby on State Trust land that got us out and close to the grasslands to appreciate how vast this land is. Only thing that was less than perfect is the smoke/haze here from fires in Canada, Oregon, Montana and California. All depends on the way wind is blowing.

cattle on the trail we're just as curious about us!

The Sun looks red at 9 in the morning!

A day long drive up into the Big Horn Mountains just west of Sheridan. 

Found Shell Falls which was doubly impressive because of the very deep canyon it flows thru.

AND celebrated my birthday today!! Started with breakfast at the Cowboy Cafe. Ended with dinner at the Sopporo Japanese Steakhouse for dinner. Seems unlikely place for Japanese food but it sounded good to me and it was. Got my free birthday Cappuccino from Starbucks. Loved getting phone calls, emails, Facebook posts, videos, well wishes from friends and family. I felt so Blessed!

Amazing store in downtown Sheridan called "King Saddlery and Rope". Is a retail store that sells not only saddles but every kind of tack and ranch gear plus every imaginable Western item anyone could want. Also a "museum" of the same. 

They are also a manufacturer of rope for any kind of wrangling!

Statue in a park that was also a fountain.

Sandhill cranes along the roadside.

Moving on

One more day of Rodeo festivities and then it was time to move on.

We packed up early in the morning and left the rig in a park-and-ride by the rodeo grounds so that we could head out of town as soon as we were finished for the day. Drove a couple of hours before we stopped for the night. 

We were also watching the sky as we could see a rain storm brewing and heading toward us.  Almost made it to our campsite before the sky opened up-- but not quite! Set up in the rain, but certainly did cool the temperature down 

Next morning was clear skies and heading north to next destination, Sheridan, Wyoming 

There isn't a lot of anything in North East Wyoming. Lots of open space, cattle grazing the grassland, not many towns even. Is scenic in a particular sort of way. 

Took a chance and stopped for lunch at a country restaurant in a small town that advertised a Sunday buffet lunch. Packed with locals coming in for lunch after church. Great comfort food, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, jello salads, pickled beets. . .good farm cooking and Will was particularly happy.

Pancake Breakfast and more of Cheyenne

On selected mornings of the festival the local Kiwanis Club serves a free Pancake breakfast downtown at the old depot plaza. It's incredibly popular--today they served upwards of 6000 people. A miracle in itself, but was done quite well and pancakes were really good.  However as much fun as eating was the 'show" that the cooks and servers put on. Hard to get a picture but the cooks flipped the pancakes from the griddles into the air and servers caught them on trays to serve them. In some instances they flipped the pancakes over the cook tent and were caught on opposite side!  What a hoot. And also note the guy on top -- he is mixing the pancake batter IN A CEMENT MIXER!!

A little dubious about truthfulness of ingredients, however.

After breakfast we walked up the street to Wyoming State Capitol Building and toured it. Had a complete renovation in recent years and is lovely.

Didn't do the rodeo today--took in other attractions like the Messenger Museum. A private collection of Western memorabilia that we both enjoyed. The owner/collector was there and was interesting to visit with. 

He had just everything imaginable including this old Sears and Roebuck catalog --actually it was a replica but you know the West grew with items from Sears and Roebuck--anything imaginable was available.

Broke down and got me a Cowboy hat!! 

Frontier Days

It's "Frontier Days" in Cheyenne and that's the reason we are here! We have been to Cheyenne, Wyoming a few times before but never during their big Cowboy celebration. It's 10 days of promoting and celebrating every thing about the Western lifestyle and especially a Rodeo like non other.

  RV space was hard to find because so many visitors here this week. We ended up in a funky place called "Last Chance." Basically a big open field, we had to dry camp with no electricity. It is hot here and would have liked to use my air conditioning in RV but luckily there was a constant strong breeze so wasn't so bad. And we were out enjoying the festival when it was hotest.

Went downtown Cheyenne for the Festival parade. Started at state capitol grounds and circled around the downtown district. We brought our folding chairs and found a nice spot on the curb and enjoyed the parade. Lots of horses, lots of old carriages and horse drawn wagons. 

This team of a 12 horse hitch just was so cool. Those mighty Percheron Draft horses were jet black and almost sent a chill when they tromped by!

Then to the Festival grounds for today's rodeo. All the favorites. And never have seen so many white Stetson hats in my life.

If you look closely I got a picture of the moment the rider got bucked off!

I tried to take a panoramic picture to show how huge this rodeo arena is. Great fun.

Making our way to Cheyenne Wyoming.

One night near Loveland Colorado. Drove the very scenic Thompson Canyon. And then our campsite was right on the Thompson River.

Then a short drive to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Two iconic landmarks of Cheyenne;

 First the old train depot which now is a  museum, visitor center and part of downtown plaza which today was full of people gathering to listen to live music, shop and enjoy Cheyenne.

 Just off the plaza is "Wranglers" which is a historic department store featuring all manner of western wear. That wooden horse on the top '"gallops" continuously--moving all the time.

  Unfortunately it has heated up again and it's hot--again! 

On the road again

Time to part and leave Albuquerque. Doug, Tammy and Lia and Aeri caught an early flight back to New Jersey and we hit the road early also.  We headed north, back to Colorado. Ran into cloudy skies mid morning and soon rain. Didn't last all that long and mostly good traveling.

Stopped for the night at Lathrop State Park in Southern Colorado. Nice Park with dramatic view of "Spanish Peaks" behind us.

We are back in mountains and was amazing contrast to heat of Albuquerque. We actually had to put our furnace on in the morning as it was down right cold! We took a morning walk around the park and I needed to put on my sweatshirt!

There is a Colorado Scenic Byway here called "Hiway of Legends". We drove the 80 miles thru interesting geology, historic coal mining towns, up to 11,000 ft Cordova Pass, views of Spanish Peaks and ending in town of Trinidad, Colorado.

Dusky Grouse calling to her chicks to follow her.

Family

Here they all are.  Tammy, Aeri, Doug and Lia.

It just so happens to be Aeri's 10th birthday today. She wanted Sushi for her birthday dinner. Nobody objected and we had a feast!

Birthday girl

Another round of competition.

Those targets look a long way off. Over 800 people involved in 4 day competion of JOAD, 2024 Nationals. All spread across the Balloon Festival grounds in Albuquerque. Fun event but just think the promoters could have picked a better location than Albuquerque in July. Was definitely hot, hard on participants and spectators alike.