A bit more like a normal morning. Awake at 5:50. Maybe after 5 days the jet lag is over.
Another bright, sunny and warm day with blue skies and temperatures promising to be in the high 20’s.
Today we started in – Sheridan, Wyoming
We finished in – Cody, Wyoming
Miles travelled today – 161
Miles so far this trip – 907
Tonight we are staying at –Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel
We head north for a few miles up the I90 before branching left onto US Highway 14.
We pass through the small town of Ranchester and then the road opens out with the mountains of Bighorn National Forest looming.
We drive over Toungue River into the town of Dayton. A Crazy Woman saloon, gas station, school, cafe and fire station and we are out the other side. It seems the population of just over 400 have all they need.
We resume on the open road, those mountains just a little bit closer.
The road starts twisting and climbing and we find ourselves in the heart of Bighorn National Forest.
It seems to project us ever closer to the clouds, peaking at 8,347 feet. The mountains that once towered over us are more at eye level now, such has been the climb.
Just after that peak the brake testing descent begins.
There are plenty of pullouts. Far too many to stop at all of them. We choose the odd one and make the most of the photo opportunities.
20 minutes or so later we pass the sign telling us we are leaving Bighorn National Forest.
For a mile or two the landscape is more akin to the red rocks of Sedona than the outskirts of a National Forest.
Soon though, the trees and greenery are back with us, albeit 4,000 feet closer to sea level.
We are now hurtling west on route 14. Flat and not much of note to write about. Farms with crops to tend to. Houses with large yards full of derelict cars. A field full of cows and sheep.
And a flat, dare I say it slightly boring straight road takes us towards Cody.
Cody. A town that is definitely in the heart of Buffalo Bill and the Old West.
First of course there is the Irma Hotel. Built under the instruction of Buffalo Bill himself you’d be forgiven in thinking it has not been decorated since 1902 when it opened and it likely hasn’t.
Floral carpets. Old furniture and dated decor still remains. Even the gentleman that greeted us at check in fitted in with his surroundings.
We had a few things to visit, the first of which being the Buffalo Bill Dam.
Construction commenced around the start of the 20th century but hindered by bad management and Mother Nature. The works changed hands several times and was finally completed in 1910.
On the way back into town, we pay a visit to The Old Trail Town. A collection of maintained building from the past that have been preserved to show what life was like back then. Here is one of those rooms, plus other photos from the Town.
We had one eye on the buildings, and another eye and ear on our surroundings as we were armed there could be rattlesnakes in the area, much to the horror of Suzanne!
After eating at the taco place (I found it average, Suzanne and Max really liked it) we left and got chatting to a local. He had a few remote ties with England, one of which would be his granddaughter marrying an Englishman.
We took the opportunity and asked about bear spray. “nah. You don’t need bear spray. Buy a shot gun!””
On that note, I will leave it there and see you tomorrow!
