Peace and Quiet For the Bang! Boom! Holiday Weekend

Freedom and its celebration mean different things for different people. While we love fireworks, we're not fans of crowds of strangers and late nights.  So like last year we exercise our freedom by staying home, and leaving the revelry to those who enjoy it.

Although fireworks are legal here, there are only a few pops and bangs from across the river around 10:30 PM on Saturday and then all is quiet. Perfect.

Thermopolis, WY, is a wonderful little spot to spend a holiday weekend. No crowds anywhere but the hot springs park, and since we can just drive through, we do so on a several occasions. 

The locals are very friendly, there's plenty to see and do - even more if you want to get outdoors in the hot temps. There are three RV parks in town and we like Eagle RV Park the best (only a couple sites have the sewer hose near the picnic table so just ask to be put somewhere else). Best of all, the area is quiet and beautiful.

After Bill fishes for a couple hours, and Tessa and I walk around the park, we return to Wind River Canyon on Sunday morning. The drive here in the motorhome was amazing, but all the pull-outs are on the southbound side and I very much want to spend some time taking it all in.

One feels very small below these impressive walls 

Small trickles of water are visible high on the cliffs, but there is evidence of massive water flow in several places along the highway

The Wind River now shares its canyon with a railroad and Hwy 20

Boulders the size of houses dot the shore and create islands in the river

These mutant flower stalks stand over five feet tall - pretty, but kind of creepy

Occasional spots of iron add color 

A large pinnacle towers over a curve in the highway

All are over 15' high, but I still ducked my head when we drove through in the motorthome :-)

Each of the outcroppings is a tunnel

The river narrows by the tunnels, adding excitement to a rafting trip

Getting wet on this hot July day sounds pretty fun!

We've not seen these signs in previous canyons, and they really make the drive even more interesting. Starting at about 950 million years old at the southern entrance, and ending at about 125 million years old at the northern-most sign, it is fascinating to see the difference in the geology.

Can't even wrap my head around that number

Look great for their age!

So grateful for the freedom to enjoy such beauty at our own pace

Hoping to see some buffalo this time, we head back to Hot Springs State Park. There are fewer people at the pools, but more cars on the prairie. Still, we have unfettered views in all directions. And there they are!

In the distance we can see half a dozen of the herd

Driving around the hill we're able to get closer - plenty close enough.

Such an amazing animal, about the size of an F-150. I do NOT need to get out of the Jeep to take a photo!

On our way home I stop in the large day-use area of the park and find a spot away from everyone else. Tessa hasn't had anywhere for zoomies in way too long.

Woohoo!!

I don't know how she can see where she's going.

Pretty purple-tongued girl

Monday is our last day here so we take a random drive into the hills, then north to the small town of Worland.

A small red rock canyon just out of town

where you need to remember to close the dang gate!

Tiny spots of moss at your feet

and large views when you look up

Several properties have this as their view - wow!

From the other side of the river, we look back at where we were.

We never get tired

of the red rock here in the southwest.

Heading north on Hwy 20, there are large farms and acres of agriculture. A small storm is moving our way and as we enter the small town of Worland we get a few drops of rain. We stop at a gas station that is closed although the pumps are working. Soon we see that the whole downtown is closed. Literally. Every business, every restaurant. The street and sidewalks are bare. I expect Stephen King to start narrating.....

Two fast food places remain open and are reaping the rewards with several cars in each drive-through. We opt for quick sandwiches at Arby's.

We miss the bulk of the storm and the opportunity to rinse all the dirt-road-dust off the Jeep. Thermopolis is quiet, but there are still signs of life here. I'm somewhat relieved. We might want to avoid crowds, but that "last people on earth" feeling isn't what we're going for :-)

Monday night we can hear the big show from the state park, but can't see anything in the sky. We're fortunate that Tessa has no reaction to fireworks or thunder. Soon the quiet returns and we're off to bed.

Tuesday we're off for a week in Cody, WY, where hopefully we'll get the Jeep fixed, see all sorts of wonderful places, and find cooler temps.