Trip #102 (33): Wyoming and Montana, Farewell to Katy
July 7 – 27, 2019
Wyoming is beautiful!
2019
Tuesday, July 16 – Drive to Big Sky, planned ahead to stay at an RV
camp, elec and water. Lucked out to be on the backside, away from the noise of
the interstate. Went to town to walk the boulevard, this place is busy. Started
to rain so good time to duck into one of the many coffee shops. Found a decent
farmer’s market was right in town at the park so checked that out in the mud.
Later went to Belgrade to go to the Mint for dinner. Place seems to have been
updated and cleaned up. Still raining lightly.
Tuesday, July 16
Went for a bike ride in the neighborhood behind us, gradual uphill,
about 4 or more miles. Back to town for dinner with a stop at the antique store
– more books. Dinner outside at Montana Brewery and another walk on the other
end of the boulevard.
Thursday, June 18
Drive to Big Sky, with a stop at Garden Barn after Gallatin Gateway
(scored 2 self-watering pots). Beautiful drive and weather, high 70s. Set up
camp at Red Cliff, boon docking. Made a stop at O’Connor’s and met Kevin and
family, then took a drive to the Town Center. Looked around and asked a bike
shop about a bike trail and ended up riding a bit around the golf course –
steep return!!! We see there will be a meadow concert later, sounds good. Went
back an cleaned up to have dinner at the Corral, then on to the concert. Huge
turnout, it is the event of the week or month, however often it happens. Lots
of good food, had we known we would have eaten here. Called it an early night –
the memorial is tomorrow at noon. This was a funk band from Calif, not bad but
kinda disco-ish.
Friday, June 19
Beautiful morning, hung out before time to leave. Watching we don’t
bring inch worms into the trailer on our shirts… Great turnout at Bucks T4,
nice service and talks by the brave, including Dan and Amy. Took a drive up to
Lone Mountain afterwards, not much going on except families playing in the big
lake. Hung around the trailer until the 6pm service of spreading the ashes.
Another good turnout, emotional time for all, everyone took some ashes in
Katy’s favorite teacup and spread them across the three dog headstones. Chatted
with a life-long friend of Katy who happens to love Santa Fe. Small world.
Another beautiful weather day, did my best to get some good photos for Jim.
Saturday, June 20
Went for a hike at Bison Horn, behind 320 Ranch. Chosen at random, it
was more of a multi-purpose trail, with hikers, mountain bikers, horses and
even dirt bikes. But nice gradual hike with gorgeous wildflowers – the wild
geraniums and roses were especially brilliant. All in all we did 5 miles,
surprisingly. Didn’t think we could – been a while. Later we, most of the out
of towners, went to dinner at Bucks again, but first a stop a O’Connors. Turned
to be 14 or 16 people, and Bill found out he should ask before ordering –
Mezcal margarita, $26 x 2. Ouch. Went back to the house to play with Newt, much
to Jim’s chagrin, and enjoy some time with Amy and Don, Kevin and Michelle and
Jim. Our last night here.
Sunday, June 21
Want to try to get into Yellowstone. We did! Mammoth campground. No
reservations and lucked out with a great spot up high. Another nice cool-ish
day. Did the back hike up to the village, checked it out, then came back and
had dinner. Took an evening ride hoping to see some critters, and did b a r e l
y see two (I only saw one) bear cubs on the Blacktail Drive. Pretty lucky. I
did see black fur. Not much else but a large herd of elk on a mountainside.
Monday, June 22
Got up and headed out for a north loop drive. Pretty busy out there,
but saw the Grand Canyon and water fall, view of artist paint pots PARKING
LOT—too busy to park—just kept moving. Everything is so green and beautiful,
tried to get pics but tough out the window on the move.
Tuesday, June 23
Left the park out the East Roosevelt exit to Lamar Valley hoping to see
Bison. Well we sure did, and they felt like walking in traffic, and so we
crawled. Some impatient motorcyclists tried to pass him and he gave them a
charge! Needless to say, his friends stayed back. We must have crawled along for
an hour before we got some open road. Ut was their road hiking day I guess.
First time out that excit – gorgeous! We want to camp on that side next time.
Next thing was the Chief Joseph drive, more beauty!! A bridge over Clark’s Fork
gorge, a mountain pass (with nice shoulders), just green and PINE SMELLING
beauty. Town of Meeteese, and a wild history, just did a drive thru. Continued
down the Wind River Canyon and found a camping spot along there at Boysen SP.
It was very nice, with the river, but it was HOT with no electric and our worst
night yet. Ambien helped end the restlessness.
Wednesday, June 24
A long day of driving, but still heading south out of Wyoming, figuring
on visiting Jeff in Steamboat Springs, but they are out of town, so focused
ourselves on Oregon Trail RUTS! Going from Shishone down to Riverton and
Lander, we followed the historic markers and got so bold as to dump the trailer
near South Pass and actually drive the ruts. Pretty cool, how in hell they did
this is beyond me. It was super windy which made it annoying, but we did a
couple miles and turned back. Since cars are allowed over it, it’s pretty
smooth in that part, but imagine being the first few groups over, I do not
think so. But they had a guide with
landmarks. Pretty warm now, 88, so kept going south to Flaming Gorge, ending up
at Dutch John’s Resort. Again, lucked out getting a FULL HOOKUP spot, as rain
threatens all around, it’s good to have electric, I must say. And Laundry – and
on that note, I now stop typing to check my washer.
RIP: Art Neville, Rutger Hauer
