Wyoming and I-90 Eastbound

Wyoming the leftover after the backpacking trip. Roadtrekking across Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio.

7/23

Leave Indiana Pa

7/24

Wake up Ohio in the Rain, Thru Indiana, Illinois. Nebraska – Costco with a covered parking lot. Metal Corn Statues, Hot Sleep in Cabelas parking lot

7/25

Into Wyoming, Stop in Laramie WY, New pants shopping and walking around town.Thru Desolation and arrive at Tim and Nora’s.

7/26 – 7/29

Alexis and Noras Adventures in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons

Friday 7/30

After a solid night sleep in the van the regular road trip vacation began. Unfortunately for Alexis, it began with a massive nose bleed in the morning. Blood poured out of her face for an hour, so we made coffee and watch the neighbor horses in the morning.

1^st item on the Lander agenda was to make sure Tim’s truck had a working tire. So, we went through the down town and Tim got his tire plug for the 3^rd time in as many weeks (limestone eats tires). While in Lander, we got one of the chips in the van window repair. While all the vehicles were being fixed, we had a nice breakfast in downtown lander at the “middle fork”. Still waiting on vehicles, we walked the downtown looking for a Lander Souviener Magnet, but to no avail.

We tried to rally to got climbing up at Wild Iris before the end of the day. As we pulled in, we saw a Fleet of White Promasters, one for them we noticed fit the north Carolina climber mold. Just as we were packed up and ready to walk in, a large thunderhead appeared on the horizon to the west of us and pushed quickly towards the ridge that we were located on. Cracks of lightning and whipping winds made us re-assess and pivot to visiting a few ghosttowns, South Pass City, and Atlantic City. One was still partially living and the other was setup in a museum type reconstruction. Later that evening, with our rent mountain bikes, we all went for a ride at “Johnny on the Rocks.” This was a sandy rock rock wash that also operated as a cow pasture. It was a newer trails systems so it was a bit rough around the edges and wild. For dinner, we had a lovely shrimp dinner and cocktail.

Saturday 7/31

We went back into town and had a burrito and pastry morning at the Lander Bake Shop. The day was scheduled to be a mountain bike activity day. In our typical fashion, rains which normally don’t appear this time of year, decided to show up and dowse the land. We would be riding higher up in the mountains so there was a chance everything would still be okay. On the drive up out of Lander, we went through “the sinks”. We stopped to see why it was called the Sink. The water pouring down through the canyon disappears into a hole in a wall, and then reappears several hundred yards downstream. What is interesting is that it take several hrs for the water to reappear in the lower pool. The lower pool also was filled with massive trout, which we got to feed.

Then we weather cleared and we were set to bike the Upper and lower brewers trail. Alexis had her first really mountain bike trail experience on the upper brewers. We made our way through this granite pine forest next to a large reservoir. As upper brewers ended, Alexis and nora headed back to the truck, Tim and I continue down through the decline in to limestone territory. The lower brewers wrapped down around fossil hill through many different type of habitat zone. Couple times, both us realized we were letting it hanging out a bit too loose. We were very surprised we didn’t have a tire blow out ripping down this limestone chunder line. As we got through the wet pine forest section, I blasted through a couple booters and my foot slipped on the last one. Ankle bent backwards, cleats jammed into my achilles and I crumbled to the ground. Thought it would be broken, but managed to tape it into a club and continue down to the pickup zone. (The ankle pain and swelling would last 3 months). That night we settled into our large celebration dinner for getting out of the Winds in one piece. Meat was on the menu, Wyoming Steak and King Crab. Bryan Miller and Sylvia stopped by that night to catch up and hang out.

Sunday 8/1

We packed up and separate all of the gear and had breakfast at the Nora and Tim ranch. I wanted to get at least touch wild iris limestone, so we got out early to visit the erratics. It was nice hiked up through the hills above lander in the aspen glades. Tim and I were able to climb 4 things, but Tim had a catastrophic injury to this finger. We left lander and start the drive to Ten Sleep. We took a similar path that took many years ago to get to Yellowstone.

We got to Ten Sleep in the evening, were luckily enough to time it to meeting a bunch of Charlotte People that just arrived as well (Blake, Kristie, Alex, Shane and Churri). We met them at the Coolsville sectors. Which a taped up ankle and bright fun pants from Laramie, I was able have a quick sample of this limestone formation. Little smokey smoked me and right next to it climbed a interstellar 0 star route that felt like I was endlessly climbing up the moon. It was also during this time, we realized that we stole Tims sport draws, so we made a plan to mail them back. That night we had a big convey sleeping in the canyon above the Ten Sleep Fish Hatchery.

Monday 8/2

We woke up early and snuck out of the vagabond camp and heading into town to get coffee and mail out Tims draws at the post office. The goal for the day was to get to Rushmore, but there were many stops along the way.

Ten sleep fish hatchery. This was one of the most enjoyable fish hatchery that we had visited. We were able to freely walk around the facilities and interacted with the fish. They information and exhibits all over. Even the workers just stop to hang out and chat with us.
Drive up and through the Big Horn mountains to Buffalo WY. Stop to use the dumping station in the high country.
Long haul drive from to spearfish across I80
We wanted to stop a pizza place recommend by Blake, but it was closed. ( “barbacoa’s” fall back)
Spearfish Historical Fish Hatchery. Toured one of the old fish hatchery in the US. 1890 Neocolonial styles housing and grounds. Full reproduction of a Fish Train Car. Bought 2 lbs of fish food to feed the massive trout.
Drove up into Spearfish canyon.
Hike back into Devil’s punch Bowl
Climbed a single route at the Ice Box Canyon.
Deadwood. Walkaround town during the week before Sturgis. Lost money gambing.
Drove to Rushmore and found a van parking spot in the climber lot outside of the park.
Had “hot mush” for dinner

Tuesday 8/3

We had to get to rushmore bright and early to beat the Sturgis Rush. I had not been since visiting with Mom, Dad, and Josh back when I was in Highschool. We hiked the same trails and saw some of the same views.
Next stop was crazy horse. This place had grown into a massive museum complex, but the mountain looked unchanged in 20 years.
Wind cave camping spot, and planning how to get into the cave
Custer State Park. Wild Life loop were we saw and petted the wild burros. Buffalo roamed the hillside. Stopped at the Wildlife lodge.
Sylvian Lake Hike
Jewel Cave – stop to visit. They were closed due to installing a new elevator for the guest access.
That night, I finally got to use the RV inside shower. It was quite nice.

Wednesday 8/4

We got up super early to get a spot for the Wind Cave – Fairground tours.
Alexis was the #2 spot in line. We made friends with #1, and #3. I made them coffee while it tried to rain. By 8 AM the line had grown to over 100 people.
We had time before out tour, so we went to the town of Hot Springs. Here we found the “MAMMOTH SITE”. I was thinking this would be a cheesy hack store, but it was one of the most impressive active archeology digs
Wind Cave Tour and viewing buffalos in the park. Boxite formations
Finally got burgers in Custer SD (jake and jess recommendation)
Wall Drug, SD. Milkshake, free water, and tourist traps
Bad Lands Loop. Drove through the driving loop and small visit hikes.
Long Haul across the SD plains. Corn, Sturgis People migration, Big Farming
Blue Mound State Park. Spent the night in a quite state park, which had the only rocks in MN.

Thursday 8/5

Saw the MN buffalo herd at Blue Mounds
Stop by the Jolley Green Giant statue.
Got delicious coffee at Cabin Coffee Company
Spam Museum – hormell
Wisconsin Dells
- Pirate Mini Golf
- Down townriver walk
- Mac and cheese shop dinner
- Camping at Rocky State Park
- The horror story of Scotty-scampa-begio. Campervan that eats people.

Friday 8/6

Recreation day at Mount Olympus
- All Types of go kart rides
- Water slides
- Middle America Vacation Experience
- Wave pools, and made friends.
- Rainstorm open up and cut the experience short
Madison, WI. Food at the Nitty Gritty. Cheese Curds and big burgers
- Walk around down town and the strip.
- Ice cream
Decided to Bypass Chicago via a big L
After dark stop at the Indiana Sand Dune National Park
Sleep in a Rest stop in Indiana.