Thursday, July 14, 2016

Our Last Day in Wyoming - for Now

Friday, July 8, 2016
Cody, Wyoming

We have Internet at our current spot, so I can get caught up soon :-))


For our last day in Cody, Wyoming, we return to the Shoshone River Valley. This time with fishing poles and a camera.

The river is strong and healthy above the dam at Buffalo Bill Reservoir, with unique and interesting canyon walls. We stop first at Horseshoe Day Use Area. 

Guess what Bill does?  

See him doing it?
Bet you guessed correctly :-)
Tessa and I walk among the trees, tall grass, and wildflowers. Colorful lichen dress up the otherwise plain boulders along the water. We don't go too far as there are lots of Beware of Bear signs here. 








The canyon tops are like shelves with knick-knacks of odd shaped items collected by giant children. Many seem like they could topple over with just a slight breeze, others look like misplaced puzzle pieces. 






Then there's "this guy"
with the split personality.
Bill finishes "playing with" the fish, Tessa and I manage to avoid bears, and we continue down the highway. Our next stop is the Firefighters Memorial dedicated to the 15 men who lost their lives fighting the Blackwater Fire in August 1937. 

The memorial includes a 12 mile trail ending at a rocky knoll where Ranger Post led firefighters to safety

It is a lovely spot along the river
The Rex Hale Campground is a wonderful surprise in this forested river valley. It includes a few larger electric sites and several dry camp sites of varying sizes. There are vault toilets, water spigots, a camp host, and a dump station. The views are spectacular. We will remember this when we return to the area.

We make a few more stops to enjoy the river and its surrounds, then make our way back to town.





Alien keeping an eye on us
Between the reservoir and town is this valley of many colors
As so many have told us, this is truly a beautiful area with a lot to see and do. Our next visit will definitely be longer!

For now, we move on to Montana in the morning - another new state for us.


16 comments:

  1. The best of both worlds: fishing peacefully (maybe a little too peacefully) for Bill and a walk through the surrounding area for you and Tessa. Those are some pretty photos too. Glad you had your good camera :-) LOL

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    1. It really was fun and different for both of us. Never forgetting it again!!!

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  2. Love seeing Bill deep in his element:) All those little hoodoo things are always such fun to see. It is hard to believe they actually stay up there in high wind. Another fun, beautiful day in paradise:) Enjoy Montana!

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  3. You are definitely getting around to some great places. Montana is a big place. Have fun.

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  4. The flowers, the lichens, the area, just beautiful!

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    1. Thought those lichen were really cool :-) You're in some beautiful country in CO too!!

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  5. I’d be doubly alert with Tessa in Griz territory. Love your close ups of the grasses, lichens and flowers there. Art work of the first order. Great description of the canyon tops as a collection of giant knick knacks. Really glad to know about the Rex Hale campground. Thanks much.

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    1. Thanks Sherry :-) I'm always amazed at the beauty at ground level - as I know you "get". Along with Rex Hale, add the campground at Lewis and Clark Caverns in MT - you guys will love it! Although Tessa is great off-leash, we keep her connected in bear country.

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  6. The lichens and moss are so pretty! They always catch my eye, but unlike you, I just can't get a decent capture...beautiful photos Jodee! Loved the picture of Bill in his waders!

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    1. Thanks Gay, I was so lucky with the light. He says the water's still really cold :-)

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  7. I guessed right! Fishing! (Haha!) Wonderful photo of Bill in his happy place. I'm always fascinated by lichen, too—it's so beautiful and colorful, and I always appreciate those "macro" photos. Such a perfect description of the canyon tops "like shelves with oddly shaped knick-knacks." Very creative. :-)

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    1. Thanks Laurel :-))) It was an inspiring place!

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  8. Amazing contrast of grasses and sculptured rock. Crazy tree! So much to see in this country it would take several lifetimes. You pick and choose well. Now adding more to my 200 year list.

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    1. :-)))) at least 200! Like so many before us we keep wishing we had traveled more and sooner.

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