| CRUISIN' WITH JAY & SHERRY YELLOWSTONE 2009 September 7 Day 5 |
| Monday September 7 When we last visited, I think I said Sherry and I hadn't decided whether to go to the BBHC or Yellowstone or what. We still hadn't made up our minds yesterday morning. After a "taste-tempting continental breakfast" at the motel, we forced ourselves to go to Mickey D's for chow. Not too bad. Met a guy who's been here in Cody for 30 years, who says he's been here long enough to be considered a newcomer. He said the only way he could claim to be a native is, if everybody who could say he isn't a native should die off...something like another 80 years or so. An interesting idea for a dilemma not unlike my own. We drove over to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center around 10:00 and couldn't even get into the parking lot. That made up our minds for us. After a quick photo op with Buffalo Bill's statue, we went over to Old Trail Town. There have been many changes there, since my last visit, including many new exhibits. This place consists of buildings that were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries on the frontier. These are the original buildings, brought to this location, not replicas. After a couple of hours at Old Trail Town, we started off to Yellowstone National Park. I must have been out of my mind. The traffic was like Clairemont Avenue in Eau Claire at going-home time Friday afternoon. Well, it is Labor Day weekend, after all. Despite the traffic jam, we saw quite a bit (photos below) and had a grand time. Jay and Sherry |
The first thing you see outside the
Buffalo Bill Historical Center in
Cody, Wyoming: Buffalo Bill, from
his scouting days.
Buffalo Bill Historical Center in
Cody, Wyoming: Buffalo Bill, from
his scouting days.
At Old Trail Town in Cody. A man named Bob Edgar began
collecting these old buildings and wagons in 1967, placing them on
the site that was to have been the original Cody City in 1895. The
big pile on the left is elk antlers.
collecting these old buildings and wagons in 1967, placing them on
the site that was to have been the original Cody City in 1895. The
big pile on the left is elk antlers.
Every building in Old Trail Town has
a sign that gives a brief history of
the building. These relics represent
a lot of "firsts" in the Big Horn Basin
of Wyoming.
a sign that gives a brief history of
the building. These relics represent
a lot of "firsts" in the Big Horn Basin
of Wyoming.
Keep your shoulder to
the wheel and your nose
to the grindstone and
you'll look like
Quasimodo.
the wheel and your nose
to the grindstone and
you'll look like
Quasimodo.
Ever have one of those days
when you didn't know whether
you were
coming or going?
when you didn't know whether
you were
coming or going?
The pioneers brought the necessities
and many of their personal treasures.
The saloon on the left apparently did a
brisk business. Some things never
change.
and many of their personal treasures.
The saloon on the left apparently did a
brisk business. Some things never
change.
The general store had just about
anything a pioneer family might
need, including bars of P & G
soap.
Yep, Proctor and Gamble was
keeping necks clean on the
frontier.
anything a pioneer family might
need, including bars of P & G
soap.
Yep, Proctor and Gamble was
keeping necks clean on the
frontier.
Interior of a cabin that belonged
to some rather well-to-do
people. There's a print of
Jeremiah Johnston on wall
above the table.
to some rather well-to-do
people. There's a print of
Jeremiah Johnston on wall
above the table.
John "Liver Eatin'" Johnston
was an actual frontiersman.
Now better known as Jeremiah
Johnson, he's buried at Old Trail
Town.
was an actual frontiersman.
Now better known as Jeremiah
Johnson, he's buried at Old Trail
Town.
One of the signs that civilization
had come to Cody: an
undertaker to take you for your
last ride in style.
had come to Cody: an
undertaker to take you for your
last ride in style.
On the right, one of the tunnels on the road to
Yellowstone and the Buffalo Bill dam, which
created the huge natural reservoir that holds
the irrigation water that changed the Big Horn
Basin from a desert to a great place to grow
sugar beets, small grains and alfalfa hay.
Yellowstone and the Buffalo Bill dam, which
created the huge natural reservoir that holds
the irrigation water that changed the Big Horn
Basin from a desert to a great place to grow
sugar beets, small grains and alfalfa hay.
Old Faithful, still doing it's thing. There
must have been a couple of thousand
cheering fans when she finally blew.
must have been a couple of thousand
cheering fans when she finally blew.
Above, on the road to Yellowstone. Below, panoramas of
Lake Yellowstone, showing a variety of weather conditions
across the Lake.
Lake Yellowstone, showing a variety of weather conditions
across the Lake.
Where do the buffalo roam, you ask?
By the hot springs on the left and
anywhere else they darn well please.
By the hot springs on the left and
anywhere else they darn well please.
Heading back to
Cody after a long
and full day in
Yellowstone. Just
about dark down
in the valleys, with
sunlight still on the
peaks. If you love
to travel to our
Nation's parks,
and if you're 62
years of age or
older, you can get
a lifetime pass for
only $10.00 that
will admit you and
three companions
to any National
Park in the United
States.
Cody after a long
and full day in
Yellowstone. Just
about dark down
in the valleys, with
sunlight still on the
peaks. If you love
to travel to our
Nation's parks,
and if you're 62
years of age or
older, you can get
a lifetime pass for
only $10.00 that
will admit you and
three companions
to any National
Park in the United
States.
