Around The Block

The Lazy R Campground that is our parking place this week is actually located inside the Ranchester town limits.   We are 1/2 block from the restaurant which is next door to the tiny laundromat.

We ate supper here Wednesday.

Today was chore day.  Our day started here at the laundry.  We could have carried the wash but by 10 am it was too hot.

After lunch Duane took the truck to Sheridan to get the oil changed and to fill a propane tank.  The tank was no problem but Duane was told by 4 places that he needed an appointment for an oil change.  Back home he noticed something dripping from the truck.  We decided that it was diesel fuel but he was unable to find the leak.  Monday am the truck is going to be fixed.

After supper we strolled to the little Conner Battle site State Park at the edge of town (two blocks east, two blocks south.)  The park is encircled by the Tongue River.  It comes in from the south,

past the swimmin' hole.

That white dot in the river is swimmer just off the rope.

It circles east

under the footbridge,

straight for about 1/4 mile,

then flows south past the camping area.  

This is a pretty little park (about 2 acres), quiet, great views of the Big Horns.  Rv dry camping is on the north side along the river, tent camping along the east.

The rest is day use area--large green space for games, picnic areas, 

small play area with slide, swings, and things to climb.

Buffalo or Mastadon?  After a bit of thought I decided this climbable sculpture is a buffalo.  (It looks like rock but is molded plastic.)

Across the road to the west are several llamas.  One posed for me.

The town has a healthy population of very large trees.  I liked the twisted trunks of this willow.

 View of the Big Horns to the west

There don't seem to be any restrictions for homeowners.  Several of the houses along this street are very junky.  This one neatly placed a seating area out front at the street and a play area to the side.  It made me wonder what was in the back behind the fence.

All in all this is not a bad little campground.  It is quiet--no street noise, we rarely see any neighbors.  Periodically a train will come through, but be gone within a minute or two.  

Tomorrow will be cooler.  A bike ride is in order.

Montana, anyone?

Louise and Duane

Big Horn Mountains

A meandering road took us to the foot of the mountains, then the only way to go was up.

Interesting geologic formation

Half-way up

The valley floor and the snaky road up. The town of Dayton is in the trees as is the Tongue River.

Finally at the top.

The Tongue River.  Up here it is a trout stream.

Our route.  We are taking the US 310 cutoff at Lovell to Greybull then back to Burgess Junction.  Lovell, Greybull, and Shell are all on the valley floor. 

Brock and Leola adding a layer.  Yes, that white patch is snow.

White snow, green grass, red truck, yellow flowers.

More of the snow patches that we viewed from below Tues. before we arrived at Ranchester, WY.

Our high point of the day.

Down again

Big Horn River at the bottom of the mountain.  It was hot here--in the upper 90's.  You can bet the extra layers came off before we reached the bottom.

Stopped for a picnic and to cool off just outside Lovell.  We did not visit the Mustang preserve, but enjoyed learning about the horses.

US 310 between Lovell and Greybull.

A stop for fuel and a drink then left  in Greybull to go back to the mountains.

Beautiful canyon views 

Finally up top again.  No extra layers this time.  After the hot valley floor this mountain top valley felt wonderfully cool.  There is actually a deer at the left by the road.  It is one of two we saw, the only wildlife we found except for something Brock saw that he thinks was maybe possibly a moose.

One more stop for a cool drink then time to head back down, across the valley and home.

Another hot day is predicted for tomorrow.  

Wonder what we'll do next?  Come back and find out.

Louise and Duane

Out and About

While we waited for our friends Brock and Leola to catch up with us here in Wyoming,  we took a little ride to the next town down the road.

Big ranches here with a lot of hay production.

1000' lower than we are used to

One street of small businesses, church, school, the rest is residential.

Lots of sculptures

 Yes, that's Dino the Dinosaur at the Sinclair gas station.  There are still a few Sinclair stations out here in the West.

Notice the falcon under the big horn sheep

Back to Ranchester.  The town is about the same size but the buildings here are not as nice.

The rest of the main street.

We parked the bike and walked around.  A stop here netted us some site-seeing information and a history lesson.

Since gold-seekers were allowed anywhere on the Reservation, hostilities broke out.  The army was sent in to protect the Bozeman Trail and the stage line.

General Patrick Conner led an attack on Chief Black Bear's Arapaho village.

This sign is about a block from our rv park.

Visitors' center diorama of the attack.  Front is the army advancing, back is the encampment.  To the right is the Tongue River.  Along the river the army is rounding up the Indians' horses. (Remember that you can click on any picture to view details.)

The battle site today, a State park.

When our friends arrived in good time and all in one piece, we made our plans for tomorrow.

Next up--the Big Horn Mountains.

Louise and Duane