Monday, October 1, 2012

Left Keystone, SD, to clear skies, and a long road ahead. We really had no plans for the day, other than to be in Casper WY for the night.

 Some last views of the Black Hills.....

 Ponderosa Pines, many have become infected with a pine beetle that kills the tree.

 To prevent the spread of the disease, they cut down and remove the affected trees, so the healthy ones may survive. It looks kind of desolate, but it should allow healthier and more trees to grow.

 Very soon, we were into grasslands again. Amazing how quickly the view changes.

 Here we are entering into the valley that houses Edgecomb, SD. Way off in the distance are the Laramie Mountains of WY. 

 

Looking across the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, aptly named.

 This looked like a mini version of Devils Tower. It actually was near Fort Hat, I think being named for the scenery, like so many Indian names.

 Gillette, and also in Casper, there is a lot of coal mining. The train goes from Gillette, south to Lost Springs, then heads east. We traveled along with this train heading west, with empty coal cars.

 Then we met a train filled with coal, headed east. Long, long trains, with engines both at the front and back.

 It's hard to see, but way out there, you can just make out one of the higher peaks of the Laramie Mountains.

 Coming into Douglas, a very green town in the middle of grasslands, miles and miles. We also noticed many hunters, mostly on the edge of fenced pastures, looking out across. We saw many mule deer, and prong horned deer, but I think they were wolf hunting. Today was the first day for the hunting season.

 Douglas is also the home of the original Jackalope, and we were fortunate to catch a glimpse of it as we headed out of town.

 The northern edge of the Laramie Mountains, plateau like, very distinct end to the mountain range.

 I think this is a small ranch. It really is a series of aluminum buildings, grouped together, lots of fenced areas, and a small house. Many of these through out the trip.

 We came upon this string of wind mills, hundreds of them off in the distance. They were huge, 3 bladed mills, turning and turning. 

 You can just make them out on the crest of the hill.

 A bit down the road, the Dave Johnson Power Plant. It must have been tied to the wind mills. Very impressive, just before Glenrock, WY.

 I guess Glenrock is the home of the triceratops....didn't see the sign, but saw this on the top of the hill....hmmmmm

 All the way from Pringle, SD to Casper WY we saw oil rigs like this. Casper is known for oil and coal processing. 

A day of traveling west to get back to our original destination, Jackson Hole WY. We (Ken) drove 232 miles and tomorrow we have 278 miles to go. The skies are clear, and the prediction is for more of the same. A good day with the man I love. Hate to have this journey end, but really miss the kids, and grandchildren, and "home."