May 31, 2014 (40th Day)

Another sunny day and we were happy. This meant a good day for sightseeing and photography.  It was 51˚. We had fried eggs and hash browns.

Fort Caspar Museum was around the corner from the campground, so we left the campground at 8:15 am.  $3 per person for admission.  Fort Caspar Museum is WY's regional history museum, has exhibits on Indians, ranching and the town of Caspar.  It was very interesting.  It took us about an hour and half to look around.  There are building structures outside, and we went inside some of them.  Well preserved buildings and stuff.

After visiting the museum Edith wanted to go to Verizon Wireless store, so she can get the tech guy help her refill data to her Mifi.  He was very nice and helpful and he got it straightened out for her. Edith walked out of the store with a smile on her face because she can sign in and work on our travel blog after we settle into campgrounds.

We looked up on the Internet to see what other attractions we could see before we head out of Casper, WY.  Tate Geological Museum on Casper College campus was mentioned and we thought it might be interesting to go and see rocks, etc. . It had Columbian Mammoth on display, as well as other skulls and skeletons.  Erwin asked the guide if there was somebody in the lab that would come and verify the fossil rock that Erwin bought for $2 from Little Springs general store the other day.  Yes, there is Russell, the geologist, he said, so he went to the lab and got Russell to come out.  We were properly introduced before Erwin could show him the rock.  Wow, his face and eyes lit up when he saw it.  It turned out that it is a fossilized belemnite that is estimated to be around 150 million years old.  Very valuable, so Erwin got a good bargain for it! A lucky find!  Erwin said he is not selling it!

Erwin's piece is on the right!

This is the creature that is in my fossil! A kind of squid.

After leaving Tate Geological museum we took a short drive around the campus and saw this beautiful bronze statue of Spirit of Thunderbird

We were getting low on groceries, so we stopped at Safeway and bought $92 worth of foods.  That should last us through 5 days. No, Edith did not use coupons :-(  While there we went by Safeway gas station to get gas.

We got on Route WY-225 then to WY-220. What a pleasant/scenic drive.  Beautifully and manicured landscapes, boulders and mountains.  We pulled over to a parking area at N 42.55907 W-106.85590 and the elevation was 6,302 feet. This was when we saw how dark the clouds were and Edith took time lapse of the stormy clouds. 

We pulled over to Independence Rock rest area.  The wind started to pick up and it started to rain after relief break.  Then came down torrential rain and the wind was howling.  You could see stormy clouds in the distance.  We felt sorry for the motorcyclists who had to hurry to the shelter.  We did not leave immediately because we wanted to wait until the rain started to dissipate.
Brief history about Independence Rock: It was a famous landmark for pioneers to make their way across the frontier.  It was named by William Sublette in 1830 to honor America.  If the wagon trains want to get through the Rocky Mountains before winter they must arrive at Independence Rock by July 4th

After our rest break we continued traveling until we turned right to 287 to Lander, WY.  Went to Chief Washakoe Trail. Stopped at Split Rock overlook. Erwin went hiking to the rock boulders.  We could not find Split Rock, but after driving down the road we found the marker and saw Split Rock in the distance.  It is appropriately named because of the split in the middle. The split in the rock can only be seen from a certain angle or place!

We saw few beautiful wild horses. Edith wished they would cooperate by coming closer and posing for her, but she got pictures she could get.

The surrounding was so outstanding, so mesmerizing. There were lots of antelopes on the hill.  We saw sandhill cranes.

We made a right turn to WY-789 to look for campgrounds, checked into Twin Pines Campground that is off the road.  Isolated, but very quiet.  Settled into site #4.  Wifi was spotty where we were, so Edith had to walk to the deck by the office.  There were lots of robins hanging around.  While Erwin was cooking supper Edith decided to walk across

the road to see what is on the other side. A very pretty pond with few ducks, but it was difficult for her to hike down and then back up.  The sky started to turn very grey, meaning the storm is on its way.

A Robin basking in the warm sun!

The sunset was ok, but Edith took few pictures.  Back to the van we played Scrabble, then early bedtime.