Cody, WY

Fri (9-2-11): We are here at the Ponderosa Campground (Good SAM) [307-587-9203] for the next 6 nights.

Sat (9-3-11):  Drove to Red Lodge, MT; then thru the Beartooth Hwy up to 11,000 ft; in the 40's; patches of snow! Met and talked to a couple from MT that had a Spyder motorcycle. Came back thru the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. Met our camping neighbors who have a 600-acre ranch in east central MT. Was so interesting hearing how they went to school living in a dorm during high school and going home on the weekends because they were about 35 miles from their school. Now that's different!

Sun (9-4-11):  Buffalo Bill Historical Center today here in Cody, WY.

Wagon Used to Travel West

Poster Advertising Buffalo Bill's Show

How'd you like to have to wear one of these ladies?

Ret Senator Simpson Signing His Book at the Museum

Mon (9-5-11):   Meteetse, WY--BBQ lunch with locals in the Lion's Park, Mini Chuck Wagon Races and RODEO today, which is how they celebrate Labor Day. This is their 99th year celebration. This is a small western town about 30 miles from Cody.  There are about 300 people in the town and from 115 to 130 students in the school, which is K-12.  The high school football team has only 6 players and they use an 80-yd field and have to travel pretty far (over night) to play similar size schools.  Most of their graduating classes go on to college!  Rodeo was fun, except for the hot sun that we sat in on the bleaches--our cowboy hats helped!  Were surprised to see such young kids competing in the rodeo!

Downtown Meteetse, WY

Mini Chuckwagon Races

This Burro Didn't Want to Walk on a Rope!

Meteetse Rodeo Children (Hellrung Photo)

Litte boy about 3 yrs old practicing working with a lasso--he was GOOD!
(Hellrung Photo)

Tue (9-6-11):  Drove into the eastern side of Yellowstone today thru the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway in the Shoshone National Forest and made it up to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. 

Beautiful Bald Eagle Sitting High up in a Dead Tree

Wed (9-7-11): Down day to get wash done, coach cleaning and some Wal Mart shopping as we won't have one again until we leave Jackson Hole, WY!  The guys drove up to the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center.  Patty made her famous margaritas (3 pitchers full!) and we cooked in tonight.  I think this is only the third time since we left home!  Decided to check out Cassie's as everyone we talked to said we needed to go there for "local color."  Not a great night, but there was a guy singing that sounded just like Wiley Nelson!  Patty and I traded in our husbands for two good looking cowboys.  They sure look good in cowboy hats!  Was disappointed that no one was doing the two step.  Would have loved to have been there on a Saturday night!  Weren't ready to call it a night and headed downtown to the Irma Hotel, which Buffalo Bill Cody built, where a cowboy band was playing out on the porch.  We sat at a picnic table and got to talking with a gentleman from Texas who worked for an oil company who was with friends and going elk hunting in the morning.  Tomorrow is the first day of the season and the elk are in rut, so he was real excited to have gotten the lottery to hunt for the next week.

Our Cowboys for the Night!