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August 23, 2005
Wyoming
We decide on Saturday to drive as far as Gillette Wyoming and then look for a place to camp. In Gillette, we see a sign CAMPING: NEXT RIGHT. We take it and follow what appears to be the main commercial street for about 3/4 mile. A sign next to a used car dealership points up a gravel driveway. At the top of the driveway is the office.
There are plenty of vacancies. Most sites are taken up by RV's, but there are a dozen tent sites, two of which are already occupied. Behind the campsites is a grassy knoll topped by a hospital. We see a little bunny there. Selkye really enjoys running around on the grass after a long day in the car.
A tent is set up in one of the RV sites. They are a younger couple who are there, Roomie tells me, to hump. "Look, the windows are zipped up already." The next morning, Roomie occupies the stall next to the woman from the tent at the showers. A tremendous fart and long pee confirm her theory. To Roomie, anyway. I think they may just be a cute young couple out camping.
We are faced with the dilemma of disposing of a used propane bottle. These things typically go to the local hazardous waste facility, but it is common to see them set out next to the garbage at campsites. Dealing with the empties is a large reason we went the white gas route on our cookstove. I dispatch Roomie to the office to find out what the deal is, and she is told "I suppose there ought to be a law, but I guess most people just throw em in the garbage." Done. Hurrah for Wyoming and its environment. I hope the trash compactor does not explode on our account.
There are many many pronghorn antelope here. And much much open space.
We spent the following night in great luxury with Ranger Ted and SuSuBelle and their menagerie, whose feline members provided entertainment for Omega Third Class Selkye, who was otherwise Confined to Quarters in the dining room. We stop by the notorious Cat's Paw in Bozeman for witch juice, which RT adroitly transforms into martini's. The Coq Au Vin is superb. The next morning, RT and SSB send us off with coolers full of ice, a smoked chicken, and a loaf of homemade Challa bread. We consume some of the Challa and chicken in a desolate turn of just north of the Kaycee Rest Stop, which we learn is solar-powered.
The final assault on Cheyenne is marked by the needle on the gas gauge hitting "E." The fuel low light goes on about 200 yards after a "Next Services 42 Miles" sign. We reduce our speed to 60 from 75 (which feels like crawling), turn off the AC, and draft trucks whenever possible. A double rainbow follows us the entire way to Cheyenne. When we do fill up, I learn we still have about two gallons left. Still.
Posted by Underblog at August 23, 2005 6:53 AM
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Comments
love this on-the-road entry...I've just returned fom Calabria and no, I wasn't kidnapped. I've visited the moringa files but my comments don't post sometimes, btw is there a link to there without back calendaring through July's entries to 'this'?? please send me your new full out address, k ? Lots of love and welcome to NM.
Posted by: heather at August 23, 2005 1:08 PM
Welcome to the mountain west! I remember how shocked I was the first time I drove through and realized from reading the *services* signs that I'd have to watch the gas gauge a lot more closely than I usually did! Then again, when we were driving up to see you in SP, I was whizzing along in the Subie at about 65 miles an hour, singing along with Lyle Lovett at the top of my lungs, when the low fuel light came on. I quickly determined I was about 20 miles from the nearest station, but still--it was nerve-racking.
Posted by: Suzanne at August 23, 2005 4:58 PM
you ventured through my territory! we have a couple of sayings in Wyoming (what state doesn't?): "you know you're in wyoming when the elevation is higher than the population," and "wyoming, where there are more antelope than people."
the distance between service stations/towns can be scary, but it's so neat to drive at night in the dark with just your headlights, the moon, and the stars, and no other lights to be seen....
oh, homesickness....
Posted by: danielle at August 25, 2005 8:33 AM
Can you please explain to me what the connection is between audible bathroom events and "night before" events?
Perplexed in St. Paul
Deb (and Leah!)
Posted by: neighbor deb at August 26, 2005 9:23 PM