Home, home on the Range....Wyoming

Today is our last day in Wyoming, tomorrow we head back east, leaving the Rockies and heading across the plains.  Destination is Clayton, NY with a stop in Chicago and a couple of days in Cooperstown, NY before heading back to Blacksburg.

I always have mixed feelings when visiting Wyoming.  Forty one years ago, I deplaned in Laramie, Wyoming and told my sister, Carol and her husband Don, who had just moved to Wyoming that this is where I was going to college.  I was a rising senior from Georgetown, Ohio.  One look at the wide open high plains, the mountains and blue skies convinced me that this is where I wanted to be.  That decision was the turning point for my future. Wyoming it is where I learn to ski, backpack, hike and fish. UW is where I met Rick, who has taken me on a wonderful journey.  So the west draws me like no other.  However, as much as I love visiting Wyoming, I am not sure I could live here again.  The winters are long and brutal and there is an element in this state that is cruel.  Too much of a libertarian slant for my taste.  But,  I always have a good time when I am here and I know I will keep coming back to tromp though the mountains and enjoy the wide open spaces.

Darren, Ethan and Rick fishing at sunset

Lisa, Ethan and Katelyn at Vedauwoo

 We camped two nights with Lisa, Darren, Katelyn and Ethan at Crystal Lake near Cheyenne. The sunsets were beautiful.  We hiked at Vedauwoo and watched some climbers. After camping with them, we headed to Ryan Park to visit Carol and Don.  Rick had planned to help Don build his garage, but since he had to wait on a delivery and weekend help, we had several days to play.   We went fishing one day at "Sucker" Lake with Carol and Don.  We caught enough trout for dinner, releasing many more.  Kona decided she want to help fish.

Carol, Don and Kona

Dad, I just want to help!

What a delight to wake up one morning at the cabin to see a mother moose and her twins!  Momma was eating away in the willows and the babies kept watching us. The one was very curious and kept trying to get closer.  We were safely in the truck, you don't want to provoke a female moose with babies!

The wildflowers were beautiful.  I never tire of taking photos of wildflowers.  Even got Kona to pose in the meadow.

After a few days of playing it was time for Rick to help Don with the garage and for us to earn our keep.  It felt like Carol, Liz and I were feeding an army for lunch and dinner.  The reward was for us to go to Steamboat for a few days without Kona. 

Steamboat Springs has always been a favorite town in Colorado.  It has great skiing, hiking and hot springs.  Nice downtown with shopping and restaurants and a beautiful river running through town.  We shopped for cowboy boots, hiked, went to the hot springs and tubed the Yampa.

Super Moon taken from my nephew's condo in Steamboat Springs. CO

Fisherman on the Yampa River in Steamboat

 Rick is always saying this, but we never knew where he got it from.  Now we know.

 New cowboy boots for both of us.  Rick picked the dark cherry red boots, pretty fancy I thought.  I actually wanted him to buy a pair of hand stitched boots, but they did not fit correctly and they were expensive.  The tan/brown ones are mine.  Can't wait to wear them.

 I just love fancy drinks.. We enjoyed happy hour at a place called Carl's tavern.

Then it was on to Strawberry Park Hot Springs, beautiful setting, different pools to soak in.  Just wish someone had not let their kid crap in the pool....what are people thinking?  We got up the next day and did a great hike.  It was butt kicker, 2.5 miles one way with almost a 2,000 feet gain.  We started out around 7,000 feet and ended up near 9,000.  There were some flat stretches through beautiful aspen groves.

This is actually Lower Fish falls at the beginning of the trail.

So sweet goodbye to our home away from home.  Thanks to my sister's Lisa and Carol and the hubbies,  Don and Darren for being generous with their time .  We had a great time as always.