Wyoming!!!

We had a great visit with family in Tulsa and Rolla.  The family is looking well and everyone seems to be happy.

As I write this, we are camping near Sibley Lake, in the Bighorn National Forest outside Sheridan, Wyoming.  We had a hard, two-day drive to get here.  We logged nearly 600 miles the first night, camping at a great little private campground called Camp America near Salem, South Dakota.  We drove nearly as long the second day. 

It is always interesting traveling the rural areas of America. Bales of hay dotted the prairie like bison of old must have appeared.  The corn and maize are ripe for harvesting.  Fields and fields of sunflowers raise their heads towards the sun.

We passed signs for sites like Mitchell’s Corn Palace and Kimbrell’s Desperado Days, and we consistently spoke with folks more concerned about the weather than politics.  Yesterday, we drove through Sturgis, home to the huge motorcycle rally.  Now that we are in the Bighorn National Forest, we have passed several herds of cattle being driven down from the high country. 

While we had plotted several lakes to camp beside, we were disappointed last night to discover that Lakeview campground outside of Buffalo was already closed for the season.  Too late to try for another lake site, we ended up camping at Doyle campground, a lovely spot (with no facilities but open for camping).  In the evening, we watched several deer grazing in the meadow near us.  We were at least six miles off the highway.  The silence was a blessing to weary ears. 

When we awoke this morning, the air was sufficiently chilly for us to done sweatshirts.  Our vacation has officially begun!!!

Today we drove back through Buffalo and Sheridan, to our current campsite on Sibley Lake.  We were initially disappointed that the campsites were on the rise above the lake; however, Roxanne made the hike up and down the steep hill quite easily.  While she was a bit wobbly getting in and out of the water, she swam well and strong.  She even seemed to get encouragement from the resident ducks, who were not the least bit intimidated by our big red water dog.  We’re hoping that this is an omen that Rox will continue to get stronger and stronger.

 

Hike down to Sibley Lake

This afternoon, David and Roxanne are both taking a nap as I write this.  I sit beneath a canopy of dense lodgepole pines.  Huge, fluffy white clouds billow over us.  The temperature is in the high 70s.  A marauding squirrel keeps a watchful eye on our sleeping Roxanne.  

Life is so good!  Wish you were here to join us.