I knew I would regret it all winter if I didn’t get out West for my first TTOTC search, but where was my back up:   my husband couldn’t get away;  a brother just laughed;  my friend needed more notice.

(Really a diaper bag)

So, I just did it.  Found a back pack that could easily carry a bronze box, water, and bear spray.  Flashlight.  Check.  Whistle.  Why not?  GPS.  No.  Forrest’s book.  Definitely.

Packed the car.  Took off.  It’s amazing how much ground you can cover at 75 mph.  The vast, flat, empty Nebraska disappeared in a blur.  Made it to Ogallala the first night.  Then came eastern Wyoming.  Hillier.  Also mostly barren.  Until the mountains start looming up out of nowhere.

I headed north and stopped in Chugwater, site of an old buffalo jump, a museum (closed), and the state’s oldest soda fountain.

Since it was 105 degrees F, I indulged in a delicious chocolate malt after wandering the outdoor exhibits.

From there I headed for Buffalo and the Big Horns via Casper.  On the way I took a quick peek at Register Rock and the Oregon Trail ruts near Guernsey.  (See Stephanie’s coverage at her blog ‘What’s A Chase’.)

I passed the reservoir at Glendo, water low, where many ancient layers of rock are visible.  Saw a couple antelope roaming, and a couple raindrops made it to my windshield.  Fort Fetterman was Closed as was the GlenRock Museum.  (It’s not even Labor Day yet, folks.  Not that I minded the lack of crowds on the highways, etc.)  I also saw the bright red gash where they’re cutting Red Mountain for the rock.

At Kaycee I took in the Hoofprints of the Past museum, which had an outstanding number of arrowheads on display.  Down the street was a large bronze of a rodeo rider/singer.

I picked up a book on Wyoming’s geology at the museum in Buffalo.  Also, helpful was the museum in Worland, Washakee.  I tried to memorize the various ages/layers of stone by color and texture. ( Like, where are the dinosaur fossils, the oil, the ocean beds–a visible geologic clock.)

Tensleep Canyon

The most stunning visually is the Tensleep layer, a swirly red and cream, which I saw coming down out of the Big  Horns.  BTW, there’s a beautiful Meadowlark Lake up there in the woods.

Meadowlark Lake

Are the Big Horn Mountains part of the Rockies?  Until I hear otherwise from Mr. Fenn, I’m not ruling them out.

[To be continued. . . .]