Wyoming

This just in from last summer in Wyoming. We took the scenic route (see: Ten Sleep to Shell) from Laramie to Ten Sleep. She'd read Shreve Stockton's book who, after traveling the world, settled there and described the area "glowingly." And it was!

Diversity in Evanston, Wyoming

With a half a pound of bacon in the cooler and no ice, two cans of smoked clams had been breakfast. It was time to go into town.

Culture is so varied; it's strangeness can be, if not fun, at least interesting.

Exiting the Evanston, Wyoming Walmart, a Tesla fastback glided acrosst the parking lot. At the perimeter, a tall, slender, Black woman with a beautifully round bottom, wearing a yellow headband with long, yellow, "tails" of shredded cloth, raised her arms in triumphant greeting to the 25 (or so) semi trucks parked together. Her enthusiasm brought to mind my sister; she too took pleasure (and pride) in pleasuring her clients.

At the light, a shiney, white Land Rover full of young girls (windows closed) went past. Who would've guessed Walmart would have excellent organic blueberries grown in Oregon?

Diversity! If we could only learn to celebrate it.

Greybull Thrift Shop

He had been transferred from a small town to Jackson, Wyoming where an efficiency apartment was $1,000.00 a month; his salary was $1,100.00 a month.

When one of the fellows admitted he couldn't cover his hand in the poker game, the Sheriff, who was also in the game, made him sign over his house. But even with that he couldn't afford to live there.

After selling the house for $45,000.00, he moved to a cheaper town, married and moved to Greybull. Now retired, he was filling in for his wife the day I came in. His story was much more interesting told first-hand, but I thought it might provide fair-warning for someone considering a move.

Ten Sleep to Shell

Danger lurks!

A good omen....

Cool camp among the cottonwoods.

Hot out there.

On to Hyattville!!

Photos in 7-7-19 Folder

Loo With a View

Aging knees present challenges. A lightweight, collapsible loo is an easy solution.

West

The Action

North

(Big Horn Mtns)

South of Tensleep

After gassing up in Shoshoni, we drove a few miles up CR-82 from Moneta. We had a beautiful camp and enjoyed the day lounging and watching the sun go over.

After a day of rest, we continued north. The countryside is beautiful and we had the road nearly to ourselves. But around three o'clock I hit a wall of tired. We'd struck pavement about 20 minutes earlier so I put the hammer down and once within cell service dialed up OnXmaps and found us some BLM....with a nice view no less.

After some spaghetti and rum-spiked Blockhouse smoothie (awful!) we enjoyed the freshening winds as a storm passed nearby....helping to cool the tempers.

She collapsed.

I heated water for a bird bath -- under the wings and behind the tail -- and a shave; I have yet to meet the woman who enjoys a brillo pad between her legs.

Tinnelli's House of Wonder

We arrived Moneta, WY, to realize we were short on fuel and with no choice but to continue the 22 miles to Shoshoni. There, in search of beer, we parked in front of an imposing building. Built in the '20s by President Ford's grandfather, an industrial baron, Ryan Tinnelli bought it from the Masons (the cult) over 15 years ago. It includes five theaters which visitors are encouraged to find by means of investigative discovery.

In homage to a former life.

The Front Room

This Way...

One of Five

Near the Ensconce-etorium

where one ensconces...on the throne.

A.k.a. The Ceramic Defecatorium

By Ryan Tinnelli

Two of Five

Affixed to a Bench

Now With Six Locations

Real action begins at 1:25

For more information or to schedule a tour, contact Mr. Tinnelli at 307 251 7956.

Nightmare of the Casper 5th Wheel

Continuing our northward trend, we left Laramie for Casper. But unfamiliar with Casper's camping options and facing a full day of "chores," we again opted for an AirBnb (up 'til now we've had good luck). At $69.00 a night it seemed a bit pricey, but sounded convenient.

The unit was pictured by itself without the surrounding buildings and though the neighborhood was described as urban we were completely unprepared for what we found....urban WASTELAND!!!

Still, neither of us having ever been in a 5th wheel, we approached with curiosity. Someday, when I'm totally bored, I'll look into where "Fun Finder" is positioned in the market. We found it hard to believe anyone would buy ANYTHING this chintzy....except maybe as a hovel for your immigrant slaves that you condescended to let have some pseudo plumbing (it stank!) and a noisy refrigerator.


We left the next morning earlier than I've broken camp from anywhere except the time I inadvertently camped at the wrong end of a shooting range.

Laramie....Wyoming

The latch that keeps the door of her camper from swinging in the wind broke; my rear door latch needs a new pull chain; there's laundry; the weather was gorgeous yesterday but then went back to monsoons. We found a cute AirBnb for $75.00 a night. (BEWARE the cleaning fee, taxes and other add-ons.)


Cute, as any gigolo will tell you, only goes so far. A former boarding house, the heat is controlled from downstairs (inaccessible) and the wiring hasn't been upgraded. So, while there are numerous strategically-located power strips, there're no space heaters and it'd probably be unsafe to plug one into a power strip even if there were.

But it's cute...

The baaaaath (said with Eloise's affected accent)....

We hope to visit the Ivinson Mansion and the Art Museum before trundling on....but it's rigorous out here.

 The nearest Public Lands camping we could find is 41.2 miles to the west at Arlington. It was raining when we arrived and required 4 whl drive to keep from tearing it up.

Piddling In Place

This IS a color photo

Having had our way with Laramie, we went north to Arlington where a wet, gouged out, two-track led steeply up. Even in 4 whl we were at risk for slipping into the trough between the tracks...a situation that would likely disable her refrigerator. (Oh, the travails of accoutre-ized rigs!). That plus the fact we didn't want to damage the road by driving on it when wet prompted us to take the first spot available. We stepped out to a magnificent view that included a flat-topped hill be-furred with the oscillating fans of a windfarm.



Only about a mile above the freeway and its endless stream of trucks, we were fortunate that the wind was in the right direction and it was quiet. And the hills are (well, they were yesterday afternoon) ALIVE with color from myriad wildflowers.

The Beaufort Scale lists 37 knots (42.5788 mph) as the low end of Gale. I think it qualified. And somehow the exhaust fan cover developed a crack. Not a major issue with snow, but likely to cause annoyance with rain. But she had an idea. I'm too fat to go aclambering. But SHE is an animal! (It was June 23rd, not 24.)

Spring thaw courtesy of her iPhone 8....

The next morning....

Environmental Muck-raking Gets Green Light in Wyoming - 29, October, 2018

A press release dated 30, October, 2018, from Western Watersheds Project (click HERE to donate to WWP. Any amount helps.)....


After "following" the link below, scroll down to The Wildlife News. It's under that heading where there are links to various articles about the law.

https://www.westernwatersheds.org/2018/10/federal-court-strikes-down-wyoming-data-trespass-laws-as-unconstitutional/


In an effort to discourage environmentalists from gathering photographic/video documentation of environmental law-breaking, the Wyoming legislature passed a law creating penalties, including jailtime, for "data trespass." On October 29, 2018, Judge Scott W. Skavdahl, presiding in the District Court (Federal) in Cheyenne, Wyoming, struck down and, permanently established, the unconstitutionality of the "data trespass" law.

(Case filing)

Big Horn Symposium - Riverton, Wyoming

There I was, bombing along northbound on I-25 and Kim Fuka, the world-famous quiller (see July 4, 2014 post), had just rung me up. Suddenly, I looked down and noticed the temperature gauge was in the red! I pulled over and settled into the conversation while Eggbert regained his cool. Back in town, the mechanic said he'd get right on it, but he doesn't work weekends. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it'll be a one-day job.  

The unusual Time-is-of-the-Essence circumstances are due to having discovered, AND REGiSTEReD FOR, the (FREE) Big Horn River Symposium in Riverton, Wyoming, Sept 10-12. Below was lifted from the symposium's main page...

Logo used with permission

The Big Horn River general stream adjudication was initiated by the Wyoming legislature in January 1977 in response to an assertion of water rights in the Wind-Big Horn River system by the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes.  The adjudication is currently poised to reach its conclusion later this year.  The Wyoming District Court is expected to enter a final decree in the adjudication, which reviewed water claims held by over 20,000 parties within the Big Horn Basin.  This complex and often contentious proceeding has now spanned thirty-seven years.  It has been visible regionally and nationally, prompting two seminal opinions by the Wyoming Supreme Court as well as one closely watched decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, all of which involved water rights held by the two tribes located on the Wind River Reservation in the southwest corner of the basin.  Constituting a landmark in the fields of western water law and American Indian law, the University of Wyoming (UW) College of Law is proud and excited to be hosting a symposium focusing on the Big Horn River general stream adjudication from September 10-12, 2014, at the Wind River Hotel and Casino in Riverton, Wyoming. 


Other obligations had me ambivalent about attending until I spoke with Professor Debra Donahue, author of The Western Range Revisited: Removing Livestock from Public Lands to Conserve Biodiversity. Her enthusiasm for the speakers and the fact that she too will be there convinced me to go. You should too!

Kim R. Fuka - Ranchester, Wyoming

I noticed the sign for Indian Art in Ranchester (red on yellow next to pole), but it was late in the day and I wanted to get to the Bighorn Nat'l Forest and make camp.

But I had time the next day and followed the arrow through the alley to the gallery. Unfortunately, it was closed. But the business card taped to the door had a number. Ah whuppt out muh trusty cell, 'n' begin tuh punchin' numbers. ('Member duh daiz when we dialed?) It wuz then ah heard sumbody yellin'. Ah turned tuh see a guy and dog approaching. He allowed as how the dawg wharn't too friendly and sed he'd return after putting him away. 

When he came back he unlocked the door to the unprepossessing house

and we stepped into an oasis. The mix of old and new is museum quality and arranged in a way that inspires comfort and curiosity. 

Kim R. Fuka came to the area in the early '70s from the south side of Chicago. Over the years he's raised two boys, now 19 and 20, and has developed a relationship with the Crow Tribe such that all three have been adopted in. This Spring he's featured in an article on pages 10 and 11 of Destination Sheridan magazine, a bi-annual publication showcasing the cultural amenities of the area.

Renowned for his quill work, Fuka can barely keep up with the demand. Custom orders are welcome and he also does restoration. He can be reached by phone at 307-655-9157 or via email at kimfuka@yahoo.com.

Alpine, Wyoming - Filet Mignon, Capers & Laundry

Two miles from the border of Idaho, Alpine, Wyoming, is a cosmopolitan hub-of-the-universe offering all the essentials...including capers.

To the North the highway is bounded on the west by Palisades Reservoir and some mountains on the East. Here and there a stream flows down. There are only a couple of roads into the mountains and, as far as I could find, few dispersed camping sites...and those were taken.

Forced, FORCED, I tell you!! to resort to a campground, I was pleasantly surprised to find Calamity C.G. almost empty. I chose tent site C-11 at the top of the hill.

1957 Cummins Diesel (click to largen)

Next morning I supervised the Corp of Engineers launch of their tugboat to clear driftwood from near the dam outlets. Afterward, I explored Little and Big Elk creeks.

Little Elk is pretty small, but there are three (count 'em) dispersed camp sites along it. All were taken. Big Elk looks like good fishing but no camp sites.

The drive up Sheep Creek is beautiful and worth the price of the gasoline, but the area is closed for revegetation.



I found filet mignon for $8.99/pd at the Alpine Market. The butcher ground it up and with the aforementioned capers it made superb beef tartare.

Click on photo to largen

It was late afternoon when, following my Lucky Herrmann instinct, I took the road out of the center of town toward a large canyon. It was the Grey's River road. The Grey's is the last undammed waterway in the U.S. that connects with the Columbia and the Pacific ocean. I soon came to an area of dispersed camping and, as luck would have it, with a beautiful overlook of the river.

Traffic on the road was intense and as the day advanced, it worsened. As beautiful as it was, I decided to push on. However, for those of you who don't mind neighborus proximus or being ogled by passersby (there's not much room between the road and river), there were quite a few dispersed sites. And everyone looked suitably civilized.

Knowing I'd have to drive a while to the next forest, I stayed another night at Calamity Campground. Cheryl and Mike, the campground hosts, are the best! From Mustang Island (Gulf of Mexico) to Palmer, Alaska (NE of Anchorage), their pit toilets are the cleanest.

I was about to mosey on North but an R.V. park owner said the only laundry facilities in the next four counties was in Thayne, 18 miles south.

Omnivores' Delight - Dave's Custom Meat Shop

In Evanston, Wyoming I chanced upon Dave's Custom Meat Shop.

It came about quite serendipitously. After gassing up at The Maverick (supreme $3.77/gal ) I took an exploratory turn (let's see where THIS goes) to scout the town. Suddenly, as I emerged from an underpass, there it was... Dave's -- big as life! (was going strong in 2012)

While traveling in The Yukon the other day I was invited to dinner at the home of an artist. Her husband had shot a bison so that's what we had. I was surprised at the flavor and now prefer it to beef. Besides phenomenally lower in cholesterol, its milder flavor makes beef seem gamy. Like beef though, I enjoy it raw. So it was with pleasure I found Dave's had some and at $8.50 per pound, a bit cheaper than other places.

I also bought a pound of Dave's Smoked Sausage (approx. $5.65/pd). I let the sausage thaw in the afternoon sun on the dashboard as I toodled along at my death-inducing speed (they come upon me so fast most lay rubber standing on their brakes) of around 40 miles an hour. To facilitate the process I slit open the package. I quickly found myself doing "The Pavlovian," salivating like a dog, and had soon eaten it all.

As with the cupcakes (see: June 21, 2012), I was thrown back to childhood. This time to the public pool in Germany where for lunch we ate bratwurst and gummi bears purchased from small, privately-owned stands. My taste buds were undoubtedly  influenced by the heady combination of chlorine and the company of my German girlfriend, but I've yet to find the equal of those pool-side wursts. But Dave's brought back the memories.

During the night I put out to thaw a package of Dave's bison. In the morning I was surprised to find it was separated into patties with paper dividers between each (elves!!). I had it for breakfast, straight from the wrapping, similar to beef tare-tare. It vuz excellent!!! Augmented with a bit of bell pepper and onion, it made for a fine supper. Hear yea all you omni/carne vores....Dave's is a must-stop when in Evanston. Please tell them you saw it here.

Daves Custom Meat shop
20 County Rd
Evanston,Wyoming  82930
Ph: 307-789-6555

Home On The Range

I had been on the road to Canada about a week (summer 2010) when I stopped for the night on a Wyoming mesa. The dirt road was a county connector between "highways."

I drove off-road (apologizing PROFUSELY to the plants) to be out of range of headlights in the night. I was reading when I noticed the light had changed. I looked up to see a magnificent sunset streaming o'er low clouds.

To the east, a squall advanced. The sun worked its magic.

As the storm moved closer the rain raised puffs of dust. Then, a complete, end-to-end double rainbow formed.

The light kept changing. (Different from traffic lights.)

The other end.

As the clouds dispersed the cerule peeked from behind and I knew, once again, I'd found my way home.