Pat Gallagher's Blog

Our B & B in Cody, Wyoming was a "Tiny House" on the Apple Jack Ranch.  It was really cool and would have liked to spend more time exploring the ranch but we had a very long day ahead of us.  The owners of the ranch have been on the property for about 100 years and the houses on the property came from an Indian reservation.  After a morning meet and greet with the owners, some coffee, tea and scones, we were off to find a real cowboy breakfast.  We were not disappointed in the tiny Cowboy town of Cody. 

After breakfast, we headed to the Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody Museum, where your guns had to be left at the door.  It was a gigantic place with every famous Cowboy and Indian outfit you can imagine, Guns, Western Art, stuffed animals of the Prairie and Western tales to be told.  We only got a one day pass but they mostly sold the 4 day passes to most cowpokes. We spent several hours meandering and dreaming about the Wild West.  Then headed to the Buffalo Bill Cody Stampede Arena, only to be disappointed because it was a Monday and everything of any interest is closed on Monday.  Next Time. 

Since Cody, WY is the “Rodeo Capital of the World”,  we headed to the Bullalo Bill Cody Rodeo next, only to find the Rodeos were closed for the season!   I  am starting to see a pattern here!  We started just touring around town and this is what we did get to see:

-Buffalo Bill Cody Hotel, opened by Cody himself in 1902.

-Buffalo Bill Cody Trail Town, which are buildings and artifacts that date back from 1879.

-Buffalo Bill Reservoir.

-Buffalo Bill Dam.

-Buffalo Bill State Park.

-Buffalo Bill Center Of The West.

-Buffalo Bill Cody Ranch.

-Buffalo Bill Cody Firearms Museum.

-Buffalo Bill Cody Dug Up Gun Museum.

-Dead Indian Summit Overlook.

Whew……..After all of that fun, it was time to get out of Dodge!

We really wanted to head north to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana, which was a 4-hour ride from Cody, Wy (about 230 miles).  We decided that it might be too far out our way because there was nothing else there to see (or so we thought).  I kept second guessing our decision.  Mind you Fred had never been there on his Western Adventures, so it would have been a new experience for him too.  As a kid, I always wanted to go to Montana.  Who knows why? I wanted to live on a Dude Ranch and go horseback riding and fishing and live like a Cowgirl.   

So, instead, we headed south instead to Thermopolis, Hot Springs, WY, 85 miles, 1.5 hours.  Thermopolis is a town full of Mineral Hot Springs. The big, little town claims the world's largest mineral hot spring in the U.S. (Also in the Guinness Book of World Records). 

"Thermopolis" is Greek for "Hot City".  It is home to numerous natural hot springs, in which mineral-laden waters are heated by geothermal processes.  The springs are open to the public for free as part of an 1896 treaty signed with the Shoshone and Arapaho Indian tribes. Thermopolis is also home to many Dinosaur fossils.  I am getting all geeky again.  I love this stuff.  Can you imagine what my Western Adventure would look like?  So, we found a hot spring and went for a dip.  It is hotter than a hot tub and smells like rotten eggs because of the gases.  Sounds like fun and it was!  So after 30-40 minutes, we headed south again.

Let me tell you there is not a whole hell a lot to see or do from Cody, Wy to our next real adventure spot of the Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado (except for Thermopolis).  But we have to stop somewhere before I get crazed from being in the car too long. So it will be the not so western town of Rawlins, WY.  (180 miles - 3 hours, due south).  Another mini Norman Bates Motel and not a whole hell of a lot else. But after a long day of sightseeing and steam bathing, we are ready for bed. 

The next few days will be like groundhog day, so I will move quickly along..... 

Today, we get up after spending the night at a Norman Bates Motel, we eat, we get on the road, we drive, we eat, go to bed in another Norman Bates Motel, NO ART TODAY!,

Tomorrow, get up, eat at some local diner and on the road again.  NO STOPPING, a full day in the car.  Oh, what fun!!!!  Can you hear the joy in my voice? 

Tomorrow, we are headed to Montrose, Colorado because it is the same name as the town where Fred built a home in the mountains in upstate PA. We get up, we eat, we get on the road, we drive, we eat, go to bed in another Norman Bates Motel, NO ART TODAY!,

Rawlings, WY to Montrose, CO  325 miles, 6 hours.  UGH!!!!!! NO ART TODAY EITHER!!!!!

I am going out of my mind!

First of all, sorry for the delay of Part 8. I know how everyone is anxiously waiting with bated breath for every chapter of our trip……Life has a way of changing your plans, not mentioning Christmas and New Year holidays.  

Anyway….

We wake up in our fabulous room, still in Jackson Hole, Wy, by the ringing of our hotel phone.  As I try to reach for the phone, my body will not move, not one inch.  The phone continues to ring and ring.  I finally struggle to get out of bed, wondering why my body can hardly move and I hurt all over like I was hit by a MAC Truck.  Then the light bulb goes off in my head, “White Water Rafting”.  Finally, I reach the ringing desk phone to hear the very chipper Receptionist/Concierge at 7:30 am remind us of our upcoming 2 hour Horseback Riding Adventure.  I almost throw up!

Thinking of being on a Horse for 2 hours, which I haven’t done in about 10 years or longer,  and feeling as I do, I know this is an impossible task today.  Being I was closer to the phone, and I have not seen Fred move,  I am guessing he feels the same as I do.  So, I politely tell this annoyingly Chipper Receptionist to cancel our Riding Adventure in the Grand Tetons, and NO!!!!!, we are not rescheduling.  

Now mind you, there were only four things I really wanted to do on this trip, 

1.  Fly fish on the snake river or any river out West.
2.  Horseback ride in the Grand Tetons
3.  Paint, draw, sketch
4.  Little Bighorn Battlefield  

 So far two are off the list, still trying for the drawing, painting, sketching, and LBH.

I head back to bed, to rest my weary White Water Rafting body.  Fred has still not moved, I put a hand on his chest to see if he is still breathing, satisfied, I go back to sleep.  When we finally are up and awake, Fred makes no mention of Horseback Riding, so we pack up and head out to continue north on Fred's Western Vacation.

Our destinations today, driving through the Grand Tetons, Caribou National Forrest,  Yellowstone National Park (Old Faithful), AppleJack Ranch, Cody, Wyoming.  Distance driving from Jackson Hole, Wy through Yellowstone to Cody, Wy is about 200 miles.  Not much hiking today, just some leisurely walking and sightseeing. Thank God!

Our first stop, Yellowstone National Park, before entering, we are already seeing so many animals and beautiful scenery.  Ok, this trip isn't so bad….. 

We see the second Geyser in only a few days and truthfully, the one in Soda Springs, Idaho was actually bigger but who ever heard of Soda Springs???  Riding through Yellowstone, we see all kinds of Geothermal areas including Mammoth Hot Springs, Grand Prismatic Spring, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, mud holes and fumaroles. Most of my friends don't know I am a real Geek for this kind of stuff,  Fred stayed in the car while I explore.  Awe-inspiring with pictures to follow….

After spending all day in the park, we head out at dusk only to get lost taking a wrong turn,  one way in, one way out….so it takes us a very long time to get to our Air B & B location in Cody, the AppleJack Ranch.  We arrive at 10:00 pm in the middle of nowhere to our little house on the ranch with only the Horses and Donkeys to greet us.  No dinner tonight, we would never find our way back to the ranch, just snacks we can find in our cooler.  No Art today but some beautiful pictures to paint later.  Good Night from Cody, Wyoming.