Day 35 50th at Laramie

Took a day off from publishing yesterday to focus on our 50th Wedding Anniversary. Had a relaxing day enjoying Laramie. Visited the Ivinson House which houses the Laramie Plains Museum. This magnificent mansion with carriage house is over 11,000 sq’ and filled with beautifully maintained artifacts from the area along with items that were original to the house. Edward  Ivinson married his 13 year old wife, Jane; made a fortune in banking and dry goods; adopted a daughter then decided to move west. The family stopped in Laramie where they built this crown jewel of the city in 1892 for $40,000. It had electricity and running water including a spa-like shower. There was a doll couple made in their likeness on display given to the Ivinson’s on their 50th wedding anniversary and since we were there  on our 50th, thought I’d include it in the blog. When Edward passed at 97, he bequeathed his house to the church which used it as a girl’s school until 1957. The church could not afford to keep it anymore so it fell into disrepair until the local women’s guild took it over in the ‘70’s and meticulously restored it. Later we wandered the historic downtown while listening to locals performing in a summer street festival. Though it hardly felt like summer  since it was only in the 50’s. There’s actually snow falling in the upper altitudes! Every time we left our hotel, we passed a giant 13.5 foot tall head created by an artist. It’s called “Big Twig Head”. She made it out of cottonwood bark to “give nature a voice”. Interesting yet a little creepy.   Finished our anniversary with a steak dinner at a “chophouse”. Checking out of the Marriott this morning and heading to Cheyanne. 

A knife sharpener

Wreaths made out of hair. The top one was from a deceased relative. The bottom one was hair contributed by a whole family every time they got a hair cut.  A lost art and that may not be a bad thing. 

Day 34 Crossing Wyoming

Wyoming is a state with so much landscape diversity. We decided to hotel it for a couple days to celebrate our anniversary and recover from some head colds. We booked a Marriott in Laramie which was a long drive from Cody. Started out passing rugged prairie then the terrain became green and rolling hills. By the time we got to Thermopolis, the Wind River was cutting through the majestic mountain ranges that surround that city - Bridget, Owl Creek and Absaroka Mountains. Poison Creek and  Boysen State Parks sit on the banks of the Boysen Reservoir and looked like excellent places to camp. And as quickly as all these ranges cropped up, they were gone and the landscape turned to flat grasslands. Eventually the road looked like a ribbon stretching out in front of us. Stopped for gas in Casper and John noticed one of the tires on the camper was quickly losing air. Quickly googled a nearby tire shop that replaced it in an hour. Someone upstairs was looking out for us because a blow out on an Aframe can literally total a camper plus if it had happened earlier, we would have been out on the prairie. By the end of the day, we made it to Laramie; a hotel shower and bed never felt so good. 

Day 33 Cody

Left the rain of Montana this morning for the sunny, breezy conditions in Cody, WY. Along the way we passed several little cowboy towns with cowboy bars - about the only establishment in the town. We drove parallel to the stately Yellowstone Mountains. Tonight we are staying  in a quaint little RV park in Cody which is about 52 miles from the entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Cody has grown quite a bit since we brought the kids here almost 30 years ago. There are five “Buffalo Bill”, William F. Cody, museums. The legendary scout and showman founded this western town. Bill Gates now owns the land that Buffalo Bill’s modest cabin sits on. Nothing strenuous tonight, just going to watch the sun set behind the Yellowstone mountains. 

Day 32 Crossing Montana

From what I can observe, Montana is a land of sprawling lakes, grazing cattle,  gently sloping mountains, sweeping valleys, enormous forests and lots of casinos; oh yeah, and a giant gas station heifer and a herd of metal horses. Spent the first half of the day driving to Three Forks KOA. Not a fan of KOA’s or their prices but a necessary stop after boondocking with few facilities. This campground is actually very well laid out with shade and room, clean laundry room and away from city noise, so worth it. Only staying one night then off to Cody, WY. 

If you look close and zoom in, these horses are manmade. WTH?!

Day 31 Enjoying Flathead

After the strange weather moved through last night, it left glorious conditions for us to explore the park today - sunny, cool, low dew point and breezy. We climbed the huge flat rocks and sat absorbing vitamin D while being serenaded by rhythmic waves lapping on the cliffs below. There’s something that restores our souls when we are near water; whether it is a rushing river, raging waterfall, tranquil lake or great ocean. This replenishing body of water was originally called Salish Lake named after the Salish Indians, who lived in this area then early Europeans renamed it Flathead when they mistakenly thought that was the name of the Indians who lived here. The lake is a remnant of an ancient, massive glacial dammed lake. In 1930, one end was dammed up to generate electricity which is controlled and operated by the regional Indian tribes.  It is one of the cleanest lakes in the populated world. We rested on a bench after another walk. It was dedicated to a young man who left this world too early. The dedication sign read -

 “It matters not how much we owned, the cars, the house…the cash. It matters how we lived and loved and how we spent our dash. 

               1992 (dash) 2019”

After dinner, we walked down to the water one more time to see the sunset and maybe, Flossie. The serenity of this lake is so soothing. 

After boondocking for three days, next we go to a KOA to restore DragOn’s power and replenish our laundry. 

Day 30 Flathead Lake

After a successful stay at our second Harvest Host stop, we drove the short distance to Flathead Lake State Park. Small park but very well cared for, lush and peaceful. The lake is HUGE; it’s the largest (in surface area) freshwater lake in western America. Earlier today, lots of boating, fishing and paddle boarding was happening  on this gorgeous spring day in Montana. Hiking here is more like rock climbing since the shoreline is all slate and boulders. The view across the lake is Swan Range and Mission Mountains. Was hoping to walk down to the lake again at sunset to get some pictures and maybe see the infamous Flathead Lake Monster, Flossie, who has been lurking in these waters for hundreds of years. “Serious” reported sightings started in 1889 of a 20 - 40 foot long blueish-black eel like creature. He/she isn’t vicious or scary, just big. But alas, the skies darken, temperature dropped drastically, weather alerts sprang from our cells. Threatening weather is all around us so the sunset pictures and the “monster” will have to wait till tomorrow. We weren’t very ambitious today anyway;  just did a lot of relaxing in a pleasant, cool natural environment. Not a bad thing. 

Day 29 Sacred Waters

Packed up this morning and started our trek back to the USA. Hated to leave this spectacular land; we are so much richer for having visited Banff, Yoho and Lake Louise. Traveled through another spectacular Canadian National Park, Kootenay, in British Columbia. Passed by the Canadian Continental Divide (1st picture), which follows the ridge of the Rockies. It’s a natural boundary of elevated terrain that separates the drainage basin of North America. Kootenay is the same as the other parks but different; ridges seemed more immense,  less traveled, greener but with millions of dead trees killed by the Douglas Fir Beetle and the Mountain Pine Beetle. No problems crossing the US/Canadian border. It was an easy but long drive to our next destination, a Harvest Host, the Sacred Waters Brewery in Kalispell, MT.  One of the best breweries we’ve ever been to, owned by a woman who dedicated it to her mom’s memory - welcoming, attractive interior;  tasty beer and pretty healthy and creative menu; and a talented musician performed in the well-designed outside area. Early to bed tonight in our boondocking site behind the brewery; tomorrow we have a short drive to Flathead Lake State Park for a two day stay.