Our First National Monument

Wy-O-Ming: Chinese-Indian word meaning 'Land of Only Two Radio Stations'

(of which one will be lame Country/Western and the other will be an stenorous-voiced, southern-twanged preacher-man who likes to use the word SMOTE a lot!)



Wyoming turned into a beautiful, restful state. I guess judging Wyoming by Rawlins would be like judging California by Trona!



In Gilette I noticed once again how numerous are young white males who are scrawny. They look underdeveloped and undernourished. They lack fire in the eyes, squareness of shoulders and pride in the way they carry themselves. The are the exact opposite of the young soldiers we see on TV who make us so proud. These wasted opportunity denizens of small towns stand out because they should already be on their way to being contributing citizens--but they're not. I suspect drugs play a huge part in the way they look. It reminds me of G.K. Chesteron and his 'hollow-chested men.' They never tried and now they slip around in ever-diminishing forms. It's very sad.



The day was drizzly and gray. I enjoyed the great open spaces immensely! The only company were antelopes, cattle, trains and the occasionally truck. I found two interesting Wyoming "uniquities"--the Highway Patrol has singing commercials on the radio for buckling up and a billboard had a great pro-life message: If it's not a baby, You're not pregnant!!!!



The highlight of the day was driving through the first ever National Monument signed into law in 1905 by Teddy Roosevelt--whadda guy! It was so beautiful. I arrived in low fog and clouds and left with the sun lighting up the entire monument and surrounding red hills. I then drove on into Spearfish where I'm spending the night at the City Park RV section. Amazing! This beautiful city park with a nice stream running all around it and people are able to camp here with full hook-ups! No gravel, no cheek-to-jowl, no trains and interstates running through it. Just beauty.



I was also able to meet up with an old friend and his new bride. They both agree that this area is one of the best-kept secrets in the country. I'll do more sightseeing tomorrow with them.

And I Guess It's Just an Omen...

'Cause I think I've Got Wyomin' on My Mind~

Sons Of The San Joaquin From Whence Came The Cowboy CD

Since 5:30am seems to be the preferred time for at least half the RV camp to fire up their engines and hitch up their tow vehicles, sleep becomes pretty impossible after that. I have to keep reminding myself that I am in the minority and only intend to cover about 150 miles today.






It rained last night and got quite a bit cooler. It's perfect--the gray skies now match the gray earth.

Not many people in this state. The road just goes on and on. It strikes me much the same way as the Mojave Desert does--space and emptiness.

Now this is something the Mojave does NOT have! Out of nowhere there's a lake in the middle of some suken hills. The red colors of the cliffs didn't come out in the picture as brilliantly as they were ITRW.

The dreary sameness of the Rawlins area gradually turned into what I suppose are called the High Plains. The spaces got expansive rather than repressive. Eventually high distant mountains could be seen outlining the horizon and the color of the earth changed from drab to colors.

This part of Wyoming looked exactly like places out by Calico! It could have been the Newberry Mountains in the background.

I wasn't too far along when I pulled over to a place called Pathfinder Refuge. It was magnificent. The day is overcast and cold--not the best day for photos--but the perfect day for taking in this other-planet world of a lake leftover from ancient of days. I was told the white mineral deposits were not salt but something else that just is leeched up through the soil here. Excuse me--in these here parts to use the local lingo. Gray skies, gray water, what looked like a salt rim on a marguerita with stark hills falling away made it seem other-worldly.

I was so excited to come upon the Platte River. There are some rivers that figure so vividly in American Western lore and the Platte conjures up all sorts of stories of pioneers and wagon trains. I was not disappointed. I remember the Pecos in Texas was a little dribble of water last March. Certainly not enough water in it to warrant being mentioned in as many Country/Western songs as it is. But the Platte was big and fast and muddy. I wouldn't even let Byrdie down to the banks I was so afraid she would be swept away.


She had to be content with looking from her passenger seat in the Minnie and making mournful howls while I snapped a few photos.













Yes--the scenery is definitely improving. Loved the red barn, the red outbuildings and the red house!

















Some sunshine began to make it through the clouds cheering me up quite a bit. I'm still struggling to overcome the side effects of this new medication to take the place of the previous Medication #2. This one is no better and nothing takes away the urge to wander too far from home base like nausea, clamminess and other sick experiences. I eventually did call my doctor in La Jolla who wanted me to come in. Caught! I had to explain to her that I was in the middle of Wyoming and an office visit wasn't very practical. The upshot is that I have to tough it out and that NO--GIN AND TONIC IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTE FOR GATORADE! Harumph--what do they know!


The scenery got even more green with the occasional oil well tucked away for good measure. It turns out that Wyoming is the biggest supplier of natural gas for the entire Western States. That's odd--I never smelled anything.

Surprise! Oil wells here too! I look at the one little well and wonder if it pumps enough to feed the Minnie on this Big Trip. I guess people make their choices: if you want oil, you either drill for your own, go buy someone else's oil or go take someone else's oil. Pretty simple until someone comes up with a better way of running gasoline engines.

I missed seeing Independence Rock--the one everyone assured me I couldn't possibly miss from the road! I was just so happy to get to this KOA here in Douglas. What a wonderful place it is especially compared to the last two nights. It's off the road, sits up on a little hill, there are antelope and rabbits, corrals for the horses, picnic areas all over. If I'd known it was so nice here I would have pushed harder and then been able to stay here 2 nights. Very restful for the soul and body. Hopefully a good restorative sleep will do wonders and I can finish up Wyoming by tomorrow. I've gotten in the habit of starting out in the morning by getting gas, pushing the next button on the NavSys and just doing what she says!Because some people have asked about the meds I'm including them here. Eventually I'll be taking all 3 meds but right now the body has drawn a line at the 2nd one and I can't seem to get past it. They are: Ethambutol, Azithromycin and Mycobutin. Right--them's dah ones!

Sunday in Rawlins, Wyoming

August 26, 2007, Sunday I must admit that the last three campgrounds I’ve stayed at--KOAs in Vernal, Rock Springs, and RV Campworld in Rawlins, WY, are cleaner than my house!!





The laundry areas and showers are spotless. I think it comes from being raised in a part of the country where kids are taught to clean up after themselves and what the campers don’t take care of, the campground hosts are right on top of it. This campground today even has a little shelf in the laundry area with hand cream!

The campground hosts are frequently older Rvers themselves who are “Full-timers.” These are people who hit the road as soon as they retired. The couple at RV Campworld have been doing this for six years. When the wife got ill back in their late forties they also came to the realization that it’s NOW. They sold their house, bought the RV and haven’t looked back. They love it! They even have their favorite doctors in Arizona where they always manage to end up at least once or twice a year. I notice that full-timers drive huge Class A motor homes and tow Jeeps. As a friend once described Americans to me--nothing but Gypsies with credit cards!

Rawlins was only 100 miles from Rock Springs. Since I got here so early I decided to drive through the downtown--such as it is--and check it out. I went right by St. Joseph’s Catholic church and mass was just starting. Amazing! I was happily surprised to find a church that had been built by people who gave a damn.

It was actually quite pretty inside although I found the arched ceiling sans earthquake retrofitting a tad disconcerting. I nearly jumped out of my skin when a REAL PIPE ORGAN played! What blessed relief not to be assailed with guitarists familiar with only 4 chords and aging singers who haven’t heard the news that the Sixties ended a long time ago. I haven’t felt so thankful in a long time.

The congregation was small--maybe 75 people--but congregation the organist played as if she thought she was in a cathedral. My only disappointment was realizing that my lungs really have been damaged.

Finally there was music worth singing and I can only manage about 5 notes before needing air.

I took quite a few pictures and again thanked the good pioneers of the turn of the last century for caring enough to build a church that wasn’t disposable.

I do wonder what happened with this table in the back of the church that must have really ticked off the secretary!!!

Southern Wyoming is a mystery--there is nothing to see! It’s not ugly--it’s simply nothing! No rocks, no trees, no rills, no purple mountain majesty, no fruited plain. Some dull gray/green plants dot the dull earth but nothing over 18” high. I-80 just goes and goes with no turns or decisions.
The LEGAL fireworks stands are a constant temptation. How many bottle rockets can one stash in a Minnie Winnie? “Please, Officer, I’m just a little ole grannie going to her father-in-law’s funeral. I’m sure I don’t even know what a Picolo Pete is.”
The only business I saw and it was booming was something called The Red Desert. It said “Adults Only” but nothing about books. I suppose it could have been a House of Ill Repute but I was entertaining breaking fireworks laws, not moral ones.
The best sign I saw was for Frontier Prison: “Come Do Some Time With Us.” I thought it was an invitation to break the law but later found out it was a museum!
And now, for your viewing pleasure, a photo tour of Rawlins, Wyoming.