Hot Springs State Park

This will complete my series of posts detailing our many experiences yesterday. Driving through this park in Thermopolis, Wyoming you can climb above the town to gaze upon this view. They claim that there are buffalo roaming up there but we didn't see a trace of them last evening. It was a beautiful drive up to the top and then along the Big Horn River through a free range area.

The park is Hot Springs State Park. There are two commercial and one publicly owned hot springs pools in the park. Rich says the water is hot; I minded the signs and kept myself out of the hot mineral water...goody goody me! The source of the springs is on the other side of this rocky hill but this is where it comes through the ground into the park.

It flows under a street and small parking lot to here, where the sulphur smell is very strong, then

it Meanders its way across ground to a pool that flows over the bank and into the Big Horn River below.

  

We walked across this swinging bridge...yes, Sis O'Mine, you are not the only daredevil Pogue daughter! It wasn't very swingy at all after Rich got off of it! Think he intentionally tried to frighten me?

  

The terrifying exhilarating walk was worth it for this view of the minerals that have built up over many years and that continue to grow as the waters drip down over this edge on their way to the river.

 Look closely, enlarge it if you want, to see the dripping hot mineral waters.

 And here is a wider view of the mineral stalagmites and the Big Horn River.

  

From there we had dinner in town at Pumpernick's. In the middle of the main downtown street, across from the restaurant, was this (insert your own amazing adjective here...ha ha) bronze statue. It depicts a cowboy pouring soil from one hand to the other while his horse waits nearby. The title of this sculpture is "From this Soil Come the Riches of the World." Isn't that beautiful?

Lovin' Life,

  Bev   

Boysen Reservoir & Wind River Canyon

As promised, I'm continuing to share photos from yesterday. After lunch we encountered a windy rainy storm. Thankfully, it did not last long and I have an expert driver behind the wheel at all times.

We came to Boysen Reservoir and Dam which was even more beautiful this morning with the sun shining on it...more on that later.

Shortly after entering the 10 mile long Wind River Canyon, we came to these tunnels. The one on the left is a railroad tunnel and there were three vehicle tunnels.

The canyon was deep, colorful, constantly changing, breathtaking...HELP, I'm going to need a fresh supply of adjectives for this trip! Here are several photos of the canyon and the Wind River that flows through it. This drive ended at the town of Thermopolis where we stayed last night.

I sorted through the three hundred photos taken yesterday to give you some idea of the variety and magnificence of just this one section of Wyoming from Cheyenne to Thermopolis. Last evening we enjoyed a completely different experience so there's more to come from the photos taken yesterday.

Lovin' Life,

 Bev

All This (and much more) Before Lunch!

This is only our third day in the West and we are already on sensory overload. How I love this part of our no-words-to-describe-because-it's-so-beautiful country.

We began our day on I-25 out of Cheyenne and saw this...

and then we saw this...

and then this...oh my word!

But then what should appear but a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train traveling alongside the North Platte River!

Yes, you read that right. We meandered alongside the South Platte River in Nebraska and today's meandering found us alongside the North Platte River.

And does this girl know how to meander!!! Isn't this a beautiful river?

We also enjoyed great sights like this very old stone house...

And the harvesting of a golden field of wheat...

And this cute Post Office, in an apparently abandoned little town. We parked along the highway here for lunch and never saw another soul.

Yes, I'm closing this post at lunch. When I get around to posting about this afternoon and evening, you'll be amazed at all we saw...thus the sensory overload comment. Meanwhile, here are my traveling companions. This is a view of them reflected in the mirror on the back side of my sun visor as we roll down the highway.

Lovin' Life!

 Bev

Boots & Bronzes in WY Capitol

All of the photos in this collage were taken today in Cheyenne. The eight foot tall boots were decorated by local artists, like the Chicago Cows years ago, and are scattered around town. The bronze sculptures are also found in various locations. Most of the sculptures are life-size, all are magnificent!

We had a great time exploring Cheyenne!

Note: I edited this collage the next morning; new to Picnik and still learning how to resize frames; also decided to include the capitol building in the revised collage.

 Bev

Good Morning, Wyoming!

Here was our sunset at the RV park last evening...

It is amazing what several thousand feet of gain in elevation does for the weather! We slept with all the windows open and rested deeply in the dry cool air. The girls get in our bed in the  morning and you can probably tell that Dora did not want to get off so that the bed could be made.

This was taken from our RV window a few minutes ago...we are lovin' the open spaces and open windows!

Note to Ross: thanks for the tip about deep zoom...this was taken through our window screen. We're off to explore the area this morning.

 Bev

Finally...this is the West!

A beaut of a butte!

Yeah, this is what the west looks like!

I love seeing these old farms and imagining the lives of those who made this their home.

Nebraska energy production, the new and the old within a stone's throw of each other.

And this, my favorite Nebraska photo out of today's choices... 

When Rich and I were in Nebraska a few years ago, I saw fields of sunflowers for the first time. For some reason that I can't explain, this sight thrills me immeasurably.

 Bev

Meandering along the Platte River in Nebraska

Here was the sunset at the Nebraska WalMart where we parked last night.

Today "we" drove nearly 500 miles and are in Wyoming tonight. Until you get pretty far west, Nebraska looks much like the rest of the Midwest...corn and soybeans...then more corn and soybeans.

Occasionally though we would see the Platte River as the I-80 and we "meandered" alongside this meandering, changing river.

As we passed several Rest Areas, I noticed a scattering of mini pavilions throughout the grounds at each of them. When we finally stopped to walk the girls, we discovered that they are individual little picnic pavilions furnished with a table and benches...cute, and perhaps practical as a wind break? I wonder...

This amazing sculpture, Nebraskan Gateway, was at that Rest Area and is one of twelve commissioned as part of Nebraska's celebration of the nation's bicentennial.

Even from my perch in the RV, there is so much to see and enjoy and share with y'all. Now that I can blog while "we" drive, I may post several times a day...you lucky readers you...haha!

  Bev

Heeeeere's Tom!

 We never know what to expect when Tom is around...but putting an arrow through his mom's head...yikes! 

Or levitating one of his great-nephews!

From the road...somewhere in seemingly endless Nebraska.

 Bev

Bon Voyage, Rich & Bev

Here's the family sending us off after breakfast at Hardees in Carlinville...yummmm...the best biscuits & gravy!

Look how cute Amber's & Ross' boys are in their matching motorcycle shirts!

Right this minute we are driving across northern Missouri and will spend the night in Nebraska...gotta love mobile broadband for blogging!

Bev