Day 87 Buffalo Wyoming
Trip Start
May 07, 2008
1
94
205
Trip End
Nov 22, 2008
Buffalo,
Wyoming,
United States
Friday, August 1, 2008
Before we left Earnie suggested we check the water and tyre (tire in American!) pressure, The water check was easy, but gee the battle to check the tyres was an interesting exercise, firstly we found we were unable to remove some lugs off the dress rim and then unable to check the tyre pressure.
Ok lets head to a tyre shop to have that done before we leave, gee should be a simply, but nope, the Wal-mart servo tire service are not allowed to do RV's but directed us to an RV repair shop. Off we go (remember this is a simple check the tyre pressures trip) find the RV shop and ask for the tyres to be checked. "Ahh no they are a little difficult I suggest you go to Rimfire tire service on 16th.
Patience guys we will get there, so off we trot and find the tire place and YES they will check them, This took a guy with all the correct tools and jacks etc, about an hour, We found we had a punctured spare, and he added extensions to the valve stems on all back wheels. We were extremely happy with the result and even though we rolled out a little later than planned.
Well we were taking the highway 16 towards South Dakota, but before that we had spotted on the map a town called Powell, only 25 miles down the track, and just after Powell was a town called Garland, how freaky is that? For those that may be unaware Karon's surname is Powell and Earnie's surname (Karon's Maiden name) is Garland.
Basically this made it compulsory to head to those towns.
We stopped and took the appropriate photos in Powell and had a cuppa break, then headed the 5 miles to Garland, again a photo stop, naturally.
Well off we head with route 16 in mind simply because we had a brochure about it and it leads to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. Would you believe it, about 20 miles further along the route we come across a town called Byron! (Karon's eldest grandson's name) No choice but another photo stop!
The route was a picture of contrasts as we travelled through sage grass desert areas along one side (near Powel/Garland) and on the other side lush green pastures of crops for hay and wheat.
The Powell/Garland area is irrigated by the Buffalo Bill irrigation dam and the farms were allotted beginning back in 1917, with a further influx of settlements after WWII, by war veterans.
We then travelled into a climbing road that took us through some rugged rocky mountains as well as winter ski resorts and the area is full of history, dating from imprints of dinosaurs to a museum of flight featuring planes that helped break the Berlin Blockade back in the Cold War era.
Also the small towns such as Ten Sleeps, named as this because the Indians used to measure distance by the number of sleeps, and Ten Sleeps was Ten sleeps from the point the tribes used to gather for their "meetings". (maybe the real time "Conferences" and not junket trips as they are now!)
Also this area was the battle ground between the Cattle ranchers and the sheep herders, the cattle ranchers drew a line here and refused to allow sheep herders in, this was defied (of course) by some hapless souls who were attacked by the Masked hooded men at night and were slaughtered along with the sheep and horses. Really civilised are human beings?
We chose Buffalo as the over night stop because it was enough travelling and it was fairly warm, the RV park has a pool, as well as catch up with washing. Also around this area are the dinosaur imprints fossils and historical places, as well as Indian battles in the local area.
Fort Phil Kearny one of the few Wooded palisade forts of the West, was around here and was occupied by the Calvary for 2 years and they suffered the biggest loss in battle with the Indians before Custer's last stand at Little Big Horn that followed 1 year later.
The fort was abandoned after 2 years and had been under constant Indian attack during that period,. When the Soldiers left as they rode over the hills leaving the fort behind, it was burnt to the ground by the Indians. (Gee have they no sense of preserving history?)
Well we are comfortably settled with the washing in hand under the shade of some big trees, The pool will receive a visit as soon as the washing is completed.
Please check the last few days if you are interested in checking out the photos they have been updated up to the Rodeo night.
