Sorry...

I know I have been negligent in my posting, but the last week or so, I have spent a ton of time visiting friends and family. I will catch up, soon!

Promise!

Meanwhile, Aleksandra says, "Hi!"

Wyoming, Greybull

Next stop: Greybull, Wyoming. Nice name, eh?

My lodging was this quaint, old-timey motel. It was to be my stepping stone for my upcoming item on my itinerary, Cody, Wyoming.

The only problem: They had a NO PET policy.

When I told the owner/manager lady my pet was 'jus a liddle kitty', she paused. Thought about it. Then she gave me a room because she had never seen someone travel with a kitty-cat before. The charm worked.



They also had the mudder trays I spoke of before, and these cool, log, 'rustic cabins' for rent at $40 night. They had no bedding or facilities. You had to bring your own sleeping bag or rent one of their bedrolls. And you had to poop outside in one of their porta-potties. How cool is that?

But the BEST part of this town was to come, when I had breakfast at the downtown cafe the motel manager told me about. And here it is: The Uptown Cafe. Pretty catchy, eh?

What made this place so special? They allowed SMOKING! Yes, you read that right. The cafe permitted patrons to light up with their morning coffee. I had a glorious breakfast that I haven't enjoyed for decades. I was so enamored with the unexpected LIBERTY, I had a cigarette before and after the meal.

I asked the waitress why they allowed it. She answered, "Well, my Gramma owns the place, and she smokes, so there you are." I can't argue that. The funny thing is, half of the place was a cafe, and the other half was a bar where smoking wasn't permitted.



Just down the avenue from my favorite cafe in the entire known universe, was the old town hotel...still in operation. If I ever pass this way again, I just may check that place out.

But wait, there's MORE!

As I was heading out of town to the highway, I saw a small airport and espied this:





A genuine WWII era Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer patrol aircraft.

Now it had been demilitarized (darn) and converted to a fire suppression airtanker, but it was still cool. I later learned it had belonged to a defunct aerial fire control company, but was still in flying condition. Due to a crash of one in 2002, all air tankers in the region were grounded temporarily. I suppose the company didn't survive that, and there she stands.

Perhaps some WWII aviation enthusiast(s) could restore her war face.

Wyoming, The Big Horns

After the magnificent Devils Tower, I set out on my way to the next target, Cody, Wyoming when I noticed I had to cross a little mountain range--The Big Horns.

Now all three highways that traverse the mountains are designated Scenic Byways, so I couldn't go wrong, right?

Wow.

I missed a lot of really fantastic scenery because I was too busy driving and didn't want to plunge off a cliff or smack into a concrete or steel barrier. The geology was unbelievable. On various roadway cut-throughs, they marked what geological epoch the rock formations represented. A ride up the mountains displayed billions of years of geological history (and reminded me of how much I had forgotten from Geology 101).

Take a look see. My photos do not do this route justice.

Looking back

Looking ahead

Looking way back

Fallen City
Cluster of tumbled rocks that resemble a ruined city that formed along an enormous fault

Rock formation observation stop & passing bikers.

Hummingbird in flight @ wayside stop

There's a waterfall down there, somewhere.

I cannot stress more, how very dramatic scenery has been omitted because I had my eyes mostly on the road. If I had a human passenger, they would have been agog. (Aleksandra snoozed through it all)

I have never seen the Grand Canyon (yet), but this may well be a Mini-Me version...covered with trees.

AGAIN:
Please click on the images to see them unblurred (why they do that on posts, I don't know) and in full size. You won't regret it.

The Devils Tower

Ten miles from Hulett, WY was my next goal: Devils Tower.

Now I have wanted to see this monument, since I learned about it back in 1959 when I was just a little kid. My family did the car camping thing then, and we went past this without visiting it at all.

I had seen a postcard in some tourist trap that illustrated one of the Indian legends regarding it. It showed a giant bear trying to climb the tower to eat some Indians at the top: hence, the claw marks along the sides.

It reminded me of the Godzilla movies I so loved, then. Since then it has always held a spot in my heart to really see...someday. Well, this was that day.

I was not disappointed. It was breathtaking.



While I was there, there were several climbers attempting to scale it. I guess anyone can register a climb, and it is a fairly common activity. It takes about eight hours for a skilled climber to get to the top. I don't know how long it takes to get down, but I suspect anything quicker than an hour or so, would not be a good idea. The top is supposedly crawling with rattlesnakes. I'll take their word for it.



































More pix!






As you can see, the shape of the Tower varies, as well as the lighting throughout the day, giving it a very different perspective, depending where you are viewing it from.

As for the Close Encounters of the Third Kind angle, I can see why it was selected for the site of the first contact with our new Galactic Brothers. It is indeed a very impressive sight. No small wonder why it was our first National Monument.

I think the movie would have been cooler if a giant bear tried to eat the aliens, though.

That would have been awesome.

Wyoming

My trek across Wyoming started at a small hamlet called Hulett, WY. I got a room at a hotel that was built of logs. How's that for pioneering?

Aleksandra loved it. Imagine a house built of scratching posts!

Not really. She behaved herself. This area of the state is very hunter-friendly, and It is my understanding these motels are booked solid during the various hunting seasons. The rooms include a mud-tray to put your mudded up hunting boots in, so as not to track Wyoming geology all over the carpets. The view of the Belle Fourche River out back of the motel, wasn't bad, either.



Just kitty-corner from my motel was an antique store that was itself, an antique. I am not into antiques per se, but I had to check this one out.

My suspicion that Dick Cheney's home state was rather conservative was confirmed at the store. For example, they had wooden coffins placed out front, giving tourists the opportunity to display themselves as dead desperadoes brought to justice, the old fashioned way.

Next, just outside the front door, they had a Hangman's Noose in a red box. It resembled one used to house a fire extinguisher or other such emergency equipment.

My photo didn't turn out, so I borrowed this one off the web.



I wonder what antique bargain hunters from New England would think of it?






They also had another interesting display out front. I wondered if it was for sale. It'd make an interesting lawn sculpture.




I did visit a restaurant. I ordered a pulled pork sammich, again. This one already had the BBQ sauce in it. It was pretty good but way too big for my stomach. I ended up leaving about 1/4 of it.

The cook/chef was the owner and advertised his catering/cooking skills as, "Great food; Bad attitude"

One thing you can say about folks around those parts is that they are honest and don't pull punches.

I like that.

Traveling With a Cat.

People have asked me if it's difficult traveling with a cat.

The answer is yes and no.

In some respects, cats travel well: They don't need to be 'let out' to do their business. Cats are good at holding it...better than a human. Cat boxes work well. I put Aleksandra's in the bathroom so when she does kick some litter out, it can be easily swept up. I also use some wet/dry kitty wipes. These are good for minor messes in the carrier or wherever. I've only used them a couple times and they smell swell.

I keep her in a pet carrier, that has a hatch on top so I can pet and otherwise console her (or give her a treat). I don't want her roaming around the car freely. I'm afraid she'll get down by the pedals at an inconvenient time. She mostly sleeps and occasionally takes a drink/snack break.

Her usual routine once she is released in the motel room is to scout the place out, and visit her kitty box once it's "all clear" in the room. After that, she'll plump her butt on the bed and watch TV.

When I check in to places, I always notify them I have a pet (usually a $10-20 fee...sometimes for the stay and sometimes per night). Cats are usually cheaper by $5. (In all cases the fee is far less than having a human companion) I have even managed to get rooms where they have a NO PET policy. This happens when its a Mop & Pop place where the manager is the owner---and female. Gals tend to adore cats and give them a break. In addition, it is rare for people to travel with a cat. Even other guests are surprised to see a lil kitteh. The park attendants at the entrance booths like to see a kitty too. I have gotten a lot of good unsolicited advice from folks, just because I have a cat co-pilot. There are a lot of "cat people" around, and all of them are nice people.

Cats are also very quiet, unlike those folks who travel with those damn yip-yip lapdogs. Ugh.

Cats don't complain about where you are going, how much money you are spending, or give driving instructions. Cats could care less if you visit the "boring" places. If they wonder at all, it would be something like, "Does Badlands dirt make good kitty litter to poop in?" They also don't ask if you are lost.

Now, there is a downside as well. Cats don't really like to be confined in a cage, even when all is well. Just the other day, Aleksandra decided she didn't want to go in her carrier and decided to escape my grasp. We had a bit of a tiff over that, but she lost. She's been kinda peeved at me since. She'll cuddle and sleep next to me all night, but in the morning, she'll be under the bed. This morning she came out as her food bowl was empty. Not a big deal as I am staying here for a couple days. She can pout to her hearts content.

When we leave, it will be a different story.

Another downside is what to do when you are on the road, yet out of the car at meal time or other stop. I am very careful not to come back to a cooked kitty. You really have to watch the temperature and ventilation. I keep the air conditioning cranked up, so the car is actually rather cool or even cold. This allows a longer time than you might expect for extravehicular activities. This could be a limiting factor, but I haven't even gotten close to a crisis. I also keep the sunroof open and in very hot areas I crack the windows a bit, too. I am sure the dark window tinting minimizes the 'green house effect' as well. I find that I am ready to hit the road again after an hour or so, anyway.

Did I mention cats like venison?

South Dakota, Part Two

When people say there's nothing to do or see in South Dakota, they simply haven't looked. There's a lot to see. In fact, I'm going back when I can, to see the stuff I missed this go around, especially in the Badlands/Black Hills.

I think next time I come out here, I will focus more on my geology/paleontology/anthropology interests. I even brought my rock hammer this time. I haven't used it yet. I am just too dazzled by the wonder of it all. I keep getting flashbacks from my college geology days. I know I have forgotten a lot, but images and facts pop into my head every once in awhile. I'll have to do some brushing up until I get back here, so I won't look like a complete doofus.

So back to the trip.

The first photo show the breech of a 16 inch gun from the BB-57 USS South Dakota. That little white semi-circle is a US Quarter Dollar coin to better show scale. The gun is a monster.

The second photo shows some relics in the BB-57 South Dakota museum. That Japanese flag and the two signal flags on either side, are ones "liberated" from the battleship INS Nagato. That was the last surviving dreadnought in the Japanese Navy. It was in the fleet that attacked Pear Harbor. That piece of metal in the case to the left is a piece of the battleship USS Arizona. The Nagato was later used as a target in a couple postwar nuclear tests in the Pacific.

My next stop was Ellsworth Air Force Base, Air & Space Museum, just outside Rapid City, SD. It is home to a B-1B Lancer squadron, and thus the major focus was on bombers. It wasn't a bad museum. They did have a nice outdoor static display of some significant aircraft: B-29, B-52, FB-111, and a B-1B lancer, as well.





The next item is Mount Rushmore. Not much to add about that except this was my third visit. It still amazes me. They have really improved the monument viewing area over the decades. I had fun taking pictures of the Japanese tourists taking pictures. It seems they all want to pose as if they are holding it up with their hands. Weird. Mebbe they want to feel like a Godzilla monster or something.

For the most part, my photos speak for themselves; nothing to add. But if you haven't seen it, it's worth the $10 parking fee. The buffalo burger wasn't bad, either. My only souvenir from there is another squished penny. Yup, first class all the way!




Next, I just happened to be in Sturgis, SD for the annual Bike Week festival. Really. Obviously, driving through in a "cage" wasn't in the spirit of the thing, but as it was a Challenger with a big-ass HEMI, I was accepted and I got more than a few "thumbs up". I imagine some of the gals and 'wannabees' wished they were in my air conditioned comfort. Aleksandra was happy enough. She slept through the whole thing. She perked up when I next went to Deadwood, SD. Now THAT is a place to go anytime. No photos from there because it too was packed with Bikers and I had to pay attention to my driving. I'm going back there.

Aleksandra Nooze

While shopping at a pet store "out west", I found some cans of gourmet cat food made with venison (that's deer meat to you urbanites). It was chunks with a 'savory' sauce. That's Aleksandra's favorite kind of canned food. So, I got a couple cans hoping she'd like them for a treat. Today was a particularly long day in the car, so I figured now was as good a time as any. We were also now in Wyoming-a state noted for its wild game and hunting.

She ate (gorged) half the can immediately for dinner and zonked out right there on the floor. That's her immobile. Passed out.

I had a Slim Jim and a Kit-Kat bar for supper.

UPDATE: She eventually got up, thanked me (rubbed up against my hand) and plopped down on my bed where I normally sleep. Wimmen.

South Dakota, Part One

There is more to South Dakota than just a great pulled pork sammich. They have poisonous snakes too, but I am not going to talk about them.

The first place on my South Dakota itinerary was Sioux Falls. I selected this place as it seemed a logical spot to spend an overnight due to time and distance. So, with trusty GOOGLE I searched to see if there was anything worth looking at.

I passed on their replica of Michelangelo's David. I've seen the real one in Florence, Italy. THAT was impressive.

How about a battleship memorial in the virtual middle of a continent?

Sioux Falls is the home of the memorial to the World War II battleship USS South Dakota. Now, anyone who knows me, knows one of my biggest interests is naval warfare, especially when it involves big guns. Although not a complete dreadnought, the memorial contains parts of that ship before it was scrapped and lots of related memorabilia. The memorial itself sits in a concrete outline of the ship, in actual size!



I won't get into the details of the ship's history except to say, it was the most highly decorated American dreadnought of WWII. A pity it was saved, liked other battleships. However, two of her sister ships were preserved: one in Massachusetts and the other in Alabama. I guess South Dakota got robbed because it is landlocked. This is a photo of a builder's model of the ship courtesy of the US Navy. It shows what she looked like when she lived. She was completed after Pearl Harbor, so was not there during the attack. The ones at Pearl were all old WWI vintage.

That is not to say, they didn't have REAL bits of here left worth looking at. For example: an armored hatch for the citadel (not all sections of the ship are armored).





Besides the "bank vault" hatch, they also had a bronze propeller (one of 4) and a 16 inch gun (one of 9). Lest you think 16 inches seems small, that's the bore diameter. A typical battle rifle's bore is about 1/3 of an inch in diameter. A shell from one of these guns, is like tossing an automobile some twenty three miles.

Inside the memorial was very cool. The ceiling was made from the teak wood decking of the ship. Yes, the big ships still had wooden decks...less slippery when wet. It was also jam packed with all sorts of memorabilia and personal artifacts donated by people over the years: the personal Bible of one sailor killed in combat...sliced by shell splinters that killed him, The ship's bugle, uniforms, awards, odd mementos, etc.

But the one thing that got to me was the ship's bell. This is often considered the 'soul' of a ship and is among the most honored items.

To be continued...

Dyersville, Iowa

After checking out of the motel and having that dynamite BLT sammich, I decided to get the oil changed in my car. After that, I cruised the little town one more time. Not much to see, or so I thought...

A Gothic basilica in a rural small town in Iowa??? Yup.

St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, IA