Traveling out west in Wyoming eases the soul and rests the mind. Just traveling the open roads without traffic congestion is a good stress relief.
All roads lead to somewhere and we’ll eventually get there. However, let’s relax and enjoy some of the beauty along the way.
Let’s not forget the simple wildlife too. These cute little prairie dogs were at the Sweetwater Rest Area. I had fun trying to sneak up on them to take their photos. Although they are a little camera shy I was able to snap a few while hiding behind a post. Sneaky, huh? Also, I guess the sign doesn’t apply to prairie dogs. 🙂
Red rock formations near Lander and Dubois, Wyoming
Following a beautiful, yet wide-open plains travel into Wyoming as we traveled toward the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, we welcomed a respite in Lander. One could naturally feel the pioneer and western spirit.
While Lander is a stopping point, it is also a beginning point for those desiring to explore the mountains or the desert. It is surely a welcomed site for bicyclists and hikers. In 1906, Chicago and North Western Transportation made Lander the end point of its “Cowboy Line” railway and the town earned the slogan “Where the rails end and the trails begin.” The Cowboy Line ran from 1906 to 1972. (Lander Chamber of Commerce)
The Wind River Indian Reservation is quite stunning. I can see why travelers would consider settling there, albeit the winters can be quite brutal. I can see also why the Indians fought so valiantly to retain their dwelling and hunting land. Still, with the news of opportunity in the west continuing to bombard those in the east, it was inevitable that travelers would come.
“For 19th century prospectors and miners in the rich gold fields
of South Pass, the crimson mouth of Red Canyon meant a change in diet. From the
wind-swept sagebrush prairie, they could descend nearly 2,000 feet down a steep
wagon road to the fruit orchards and vegetable gardens in the warm valley below
where they purchased fresh produce – a welcome switch from wild game meat.” https://windriver.org/destinations/lander/
Since we had been traveling for a few hours along the Chief
Washakie Trail, lunch was calling. We
traveled through Lander and located a local, nice place to eat – Gannett
Grill.
The menu was enticing as we examined something different. That’s one of the interesting and fun parts of travel, getting to try things different than our normal routine. The food was excellent and we enjoyed sitting outside, relaxing from the drive.
Menu
Counter area
Patio
Order counter
Patio
Patio door
Patio and brewery
Inside dining and bar
Inside dining
Old bullet casings
Old fly fishing gear
Old fly fishing reel
Old lantern
Old tools for pioneers
Before leaving Lander, we wanted to check out some authentic Native American gift items and stopped at the Indian Territory gift shop.
Metal buffalo display
Metal teepee (tipi) display
Craft supplies
Craft processing area
Craft supplies
Craft supplies
Native American-made items
I liked Lander. The people were friendly. The town wasn’t large, but it had about all the conveniences you need.
Isn’t it interesting how years ago when the western part of
the United States was being settled, they had their share of camping. Do early
settlers compare with modern campers?
Settlers must have been mobile campers for sure. Wagons
filled with commodities, sleeping in the open wild; exploring ever-changing
terrain, using gifts of strong and mild.
Camping display at Wyoming Welcome Center
Campers may come and go, explore on foot, motor – through heat and snow.
One is necessary to begin new life, the other for pleasure,
to ease the strife.
Explore if we will, love the land, embrace life around,
protect life with a zeal.
These thoughts were generated from visiting the Wyoming Welcome Center during a recent visit there.
Wyoming is the 10th largest U.S. state by area, the least populous, and the second most sparsely populated. It became the 44th U.S. state in 1890.
StatessymbolUSA also mentions that according to the Wyoming Secretary of State, “The name Wyoming is a contraction of the Native American word mecheweamiing (“at the big plains”), and was first used by the Delaware people as a name for the Wyoming Valley in northeastern Pennsylvania.”
If one is traveling from Colorado to Wyoming, toward Cheyenne, I recommend stopping at the welcome center. It has excellent information on Wyoming.
Wyoming is a wonderful place to visit. I’ll post photos and information during my next several posts. I’m glad to have you along with me on the journey. Let’s explore the area, shall we? I’m amazed.
While traveling into Colorado on Interstate 76, one of the stops for the night was at Fort Morgan. We had dinner at Cables Pub & Grill.
I usually have to work around the menu due to staying on a gluten-free and yeast-free eating regimen. It’s a challenge sometimes but one has to be creative. Cables was a pleasant restaurant with ample variety.
I always like to search for something unique wherever I travel. We didn’t have much time to stay in Fort Morgan so I researched on Wikipedia.
Fort Morgan began as Camp Wardwell, and was established in 1865 along the Overland Trail to protect emigrants and supplies going to and from Denver, and the mining districts.
The fort was renamed in 1866 by General John Pope for one of his staff, Colonel Christopher A. Morgan, who died earlier that year.
During our stay I noticed a unique smell in the hotel during the night and wondered what it was. I discovered we were across the street from the sugar factory. I didn’t even notice the plant beforehand.
I was confused a little as I read about
the sugar factory; and then read about sugar beets. So, does sugar come from beets? According to Quora.com and Michael Shaw, a
plant person, 😊 the typical red beet is certainly different
from the white-colored sugar beet.
While leaving Fort Morgan, I just had
to have a couple of photos of the processing plant. I would have been interested in taking a tour
if I had time along the way. Still, it’s
amazing what we can learn if we take a little time to check things out.
Also, this I didn’t know: “Today, sugar beets account for HALF of all refined sugar production in the United States, and around 20% of all sugar in the world! Cane sugar and beet sugar are the two processed sweeteners that most of the world’s processed food industries are built upon, ” according to Healthy Home Economist.
Okay, where is the horse? Actually, the name reflects a quaint, little barbecue (BBQ) place tucked away near Interstate 40 in Sallisaw, Oklahoma.
The restaurant is nestled in the foothills of the Wild Horse Mountain range in eastern Oklahoma. Maybe there are some wild horses still in those hills.
Business cards,, old and new, adorn the walls of Wild Horse BBQ.
Artifacts are displayed on the walls of Wild Horse BBQ – including these two with Garth Brooks and Carrie Underwood in their younger years.
If you travel along this area it is worth stopping for tasty food with quick and friendly service in a rustic environment. The menu is limited and simple. I think the brisket sandwich is their most popular item. The plate includes some very tasty beans too.
Metal drum ends provide wall art at Hampton Inn, Mulvane, Kansas.
When I saw these metal drum ends with rust mixed with color in Kansas I thought of our Native Americans in North America.
Not knowing much about Indian culture, I have become more interested during travels across the United States. It is amazing how many various tribes were populated across this vast land. I suppose many of the generations are scattered now and it’s more difficult to determine pure tribes aside from reservations.
As I pondered these pieces of art I wondered if they were made and painted by Native Americans, or even if this artwork is indeed similar to the Indian culture in this area of Kansas. From my own simple analogy, this area is where the Kiowa Tribe was predominant, and a remnant still remain.
So, does the different type of “drum” that is painted trigger any particular thoughts with you?
If you’re traveling through Alabama, U.S.A., near Dothan I think it would be worth a stop at “Our Place” in Ozark, AL, for some good food, nice atmosphere and friendly service.
The pink Volkswagon half is a good eye-catcher as you travel along Highway U.S. 231 in Ozark.
The burgers, hotdogs and onion rings are delightful and tickle the taste buds. Apparently folks in Alabama really like the burgers too as they voted the “Big Bopper” burger as number one in 2018.
Mission way-station along Florida’s El Camino Real.
From the time St. Augustine (capital of Florida at the time) was established in 1565, Spanish military and religious authorities began extending their reach beyond the town limits. They developed various modes of transportation between widely dispersed settlements which eventually included forts, missions and ranches.
Map placed at Ichetucknee Springs near Fort White highlighting part of the Camino Real.
During this period, many roads were established in Spain’s New World colonies, often following earlier Indian footpaths and trade routes. In La Florida, the Camino Real helped move people and supplies between St. Augustine and the more than 100 missions located to its west among native populations living on the frontier.
Rontittle.com photo of the drawing by Edward Jonas depicting movement of an oxcart along the Camino Real toward a mission.
In the 1680s, Florida Governor Diego de Quirogay Losado contracted the services of military engineer Enrique Primo de Rivera to build a formal road across north Florida that was suitable for oxcarts.
Rontittle.com photo of drawing of oxcart by Edward Jonas.
Although there are no standing Spanish missions in Florida today, important clues found in historical documents, archaeological evidence, and the land itself have allowed researchers to reconstruct this royal road’s path. So, come learn about, explore, and enjoy the places and stories of La Florida and its El Camino Real! https://dos.myflorida.com/historical/explore/el-camino-real/
