On the Road in 2000

Tuesday, July 18 - Thursday, August 10 - Thermopolis, Wyoming area:
This is a working ranch, but some animals are here just for the enjoyment of the kids (all ages) in the campground, including Llamas, Miniature Horses and a friendly Bassett Hound, we called "Sad Sack". We had rain last night and the temps are nice. We slept late, then went to the free pool at the hot springs. We used the outside pool. The water temp is 104 and you can only stay in for 20 min. It saps your strength but makes you feel good. We sat out with the Caldwells and Currys until 9:30 PM. The Currys left Wednesday AM. The temps at night are in the 50s and we had to add cover to the bed. For the next 2 weeks our schedule was - sleep late, go to the hot spring, sit outside in the recliners, feed the birds and ride bikes for Sue, Donna and Harry. Joe's stiff knee won't let him ride. We made some short excursions in the car, and some longer ones on ranch roads, where we occasionally needed the 4-wheel drive on the Honda. On the 31st we went to the Thermopolis Museum and up to the Dinosaur Museum and to the "Dig Site". It was all quite interesting. They have found a LOT of dinosaur remains in this area. We see a lot of antelope along the roads. On August 1st, we took the Honda on an all day excursion to Cody, WY. Smokey, the cat, has been roaming loose outside, since we've been here, but didn't come home last night, so she's "grounded" on her leash, again. On the 2nd we went downtown and to the wax museum. On the 4th, we packed a picnic lunch and all drove up the Big Horn Mt. to Powder Ridge Pass at 9666'. A fire tower was up there and we could see forever. It was a long climb up steps, but worth it. We also visited the Aerial Firefighters Museum. On the 5th, we attended the Treaty of the Waters re-enactment, when the Shoshone Indians deeded the land of the hot springs to the USA. Part of the treaty required the waters to be available to all, so the pool we have been using is free. There are several touristy motels and pools, which use the waters, but there will always be the free, treaty pool. On the 8th, we made an all day excursion on the ranch roads in the Honda. The trip was on dirt roads. We traveled for 60-70 miles and saw only one ranch in the distance. At one place we had to ford a small stream and were glad to have the 4-wheel drive on the Honda. The DeLorme maps are great for this because they show all the jeep roads and even trails. We saw mule deer and, in one field, about a hundred antelope.