DEVIL'S TOWER~WY

Holland planned the whole day today around the Devils Tower, and Sundance … 2 things on my Bucket List :-)

We were up bright and early: on the road by 9 AM … and back home by 3 PM

I drove to Moorcroft, then Holland took the wheel and I was glad: 80 mph is too fast for the curves on that freeway - and local drivers are just plain rude.

But, the day was beautiful with wonderful summer weather; and we enjoyed ourselves to the max with our adventuring :-)

Spent some time dolling myself up this morning ;-)

Ready to roll; I bought this top 3 years ago - first time I've worn it was today; Holland likes :-)

A backroads kinda Day - at least 50-50.

Moorcroft-WY from Buffalo-WY; 1 hr 24 min (98.8 mi) via I-90 E

Moorcroft Rest Area - just off the freeway; Bleu relieved himself, and Holland and I walked the kinks out while reading the Historical Markers.

Texas Trail Marker; Moorcroft Rest Area-WY.

Texas Trail~WY:

(http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattle.html)

Wyoming landscape changes every couple miles - always different.

And there it is - the towering tower dominates the landscape in this region of Wyoming.

The closer we get, the more awe-inspiring it becomes.

Richard Dreyfuss builds the Devils Tower from a vision he can't shake, in the 1977 movie, 'Encounters of the Third Kind'.

Devils Tower Trading Post is at the Monument's Entrance - YES, we stopped and I bought 'mementoes' ;-)

So glad I finally got here.

Adventuring off the beaten track for a 'vantage viewing' ;-)

A different viewing angle.

Holland meant it when he promised me some 'backroad experiences' :-)

Buzzsaw Horse flies. LOL

I'm standing at the base of this thing, on one of the hiking trails around it.

Devils Tower: WY-110, Devils Tower, WY

A topside view of Devils Tower taken by a drone; internet surfing picture.

Devils Tower-WY from Moorcroft-WY; 34 min (32.1 mi) via US-14 E

I LOVE MY GUYS! Bleu's tummy has settled down, and Holland wasn't hurting too bad today. Elohim is favoring us today :-)

Leaving the Park, these Prairie Dogs caught my attention with their antics.

Next stop … a Buffalo Burger; then on to Sundance-WY

James Taylor - 'How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You' song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSQdRz-HlJw)

Leaving Devil's Tower - and turning left.

Hmm - that's {it}; in-and-out in the blink of an eye. The town is named after the Sun Dance ceremony practiced by several American Indian tribes:

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Dance)

We can scratch Sundance off as 'done' …

Holland says a LOT has changed in Wyoming since he was last through here.

Buffalo-WY from Devils Tower-WY; 2 hr 3 min (130.4 mi) via I-90 W ONE WAY

My Devils Tower memento's: coffee cups, perfume, magnet, & a tee.

The entire Day was a true blessing, from start to finish.

Tomorrow morning, we pull stakes and start for Cody-WY.

JIM GATCHELL MUSEUM-Buffalo-WY

After a peaceful night's rest (Bleu slept the night through), Holland made breakfast … and planned a day at the local museum, "to put a smile on my Baby's face" :-)

He's working our way through my Bucket List.

He really is the greatest!

Holland made a bacon-cheese-biscuit breakfast; YUMMY!

But first we stopped at the Sports Store downtown to make a few purchases - I brought it up a few days ago when I spotted a billboard I knew would interest Holland, and added that to my Bucket List; which is becoming {our} Bucket List; he spoils me, and I spoil him ;-)

Buffalo-WY Plaque.

Downtown 'Historic Buffalo'.

The Sports Lure Store; the guy there was talking Holland's language:(66 S Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834)

 

Black Bear & Juvenile Cougar.

Mountain Goat.

Buffalo & Moose (probably as close as I'll ever get to one, on this Earth).

My purchases; we spent big here with Holland's items, included.

Frontiersmen metal sculptures on a Bank's lawn; across from the museum.

Jim Gathcell Museum; 100 Fort St, Buffalo, WY 82834:

(https://www.americanheritage.com/content/jim-gatchell-memorial-museum)

Transplanted log cabin from a pioneer Buffalo-WY homestead.

 The original Jenkin's homestead; & Buffalo-WY in the early years …

Teepee.

Humorous stickers ;-)

Pretty.

Dinosaurs in Wyoming … I love stuff like this: I'm a prehistoric history freak ;-)

Belemnites were marine animals belonging to the phylum Mollusca and the class Cephalopoda. Their closest living relatives are squid and cuttlefish.

Scaphites, extinct genus of cephalopods (animals related to the modern octopus, squid, and nautilus) found as fossils in marine deposits. Because Scaphites is restricted to certain divisions of Cretaceous time (the Cretaceous Period) it is a useful index, or guide, fossil.

Baculites are commonly referred to as walking stick rocks. They are actually an extinct cephalopod genus with a nearly straight shell. Baculites, genus of extinct cephalopods (animals related to the modern squid, octopus, and nautilus) found as fossils in Late Cretaceous marine rocks. Baculites, restricted to a narrow time range, is an excellent guide or index fossil for Late Cretaceous time and rocks. The distinctive shell begins with a tightly coiled portion that becomes straight in form, with a complex ammonite sutural pattern.

Cheyenne Ceremonial Buffalo Hat.

Hide War Shield - interesting design.

Bozeman Trail Info.

Bozeman's original route tp Platte River Bridge crossing & the Oregon Trail; 1863.

Bozeman Trail route from Richard's Bridge across North Platte River; 1864.

Bozeman Trail during 1866-1868; showing forts & fights of Red Cloud's War on the US Military.

The Trans Continental Railroad; 1868.

My fate was … death. Both times the wheel was spun :-(

I never heard of this man - but Holland did; and he educated me before I read the museum account.

Pretty fancy rifle …

Bad blood between cattlemen, sheep keepers, and farmers.

Homesteading Act; Cattle 'barons' tried to squeeze everyone out …

A very nice Western Saddle w-saddle bags; made in the 1880's in Cheyenne-WY

Woman's Side-saddle looked very uncomfortable; used on the Wyatt Ranch-Johnson County, WY

Basque Community History in Buffalo-WY

Basque Pioneers in Buffalo-WY:

(https://www.historicwyoming.org/profiles/sheep-buffalo-wyoming-and-the-basque-community)

Basque 'home on wheels'; LOL

Oilcloth roll-down 'roof'.

Bedroom & Kitchen/Dining areas.

Entertainment on the move.

'Mus' Card Game:

(https://nabasque.eus/mus.html#:~:text=Combining%20aspects%20of%20poker%20with,for%20your%20own%20club%20tournaments.)

A Buffalo-WY souvenir; Holland likes his flamingo wearing pink ;-)

All in all, it was a great day of joyful, adventurous, togetherness, today :-)