May 20, Chief Joseph Hwy and BearTooth Hwy To Yellowstone and Gardener

PB&J and banana sandwiches here after leaving Cody

Part of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail, Chief Joseph scenic drive offers panoramic valleys.  We were here 4 years ago.  You shall see why we had to return.

looking down over Sunlight Basin.  Here you read interpretive signs of history and geology

We drove past big meadows

Migrating pronghorn

Deep canyons

Rocky vistas

Waterfalls

Pilot Mountain will be just past the turnoff to Beartooth Highway

We heard Beartooth Hwy was closed because the pass at the top had not been cleared.  Doesn't look too snowy here. We decided to give it a try, gambling there would be a place to turn our RV if unsuccessful.  I did try to tell Beth that "at own risk" means they don't rescue, but she does not believe it.

It gets deeper and deeper

There were half buried Stop and Barricade Signs, and who knows what other cautions

Here's some of why we are revisiting this road.  (Were there several years ago)

Can't see any buried "Don't Sand Near Snow sign" :)

We did have to turn back just short of Beartooth Pass - not because of road conditions, but because they were bringing an oversize load from the north side.  Then we turned back down and onto Chief Joseph Hwy to Yellowstone

Beth found napping bear in Yellowstone

And this one near road, causing traffic jam.

Drove by big horn sheep

Buffalo with calves by lake

and nesting osprey

Wej camped at Mountain RV in Gardner, MT

May 19 - Buffalo Bill Center of the West (arts rules gun museum)

Around Cody, WY everything is named for Buffalo Bill  schools, public buildings (everything but churches, I think).  Today we see the Buffalo Bill Center.  We have been here before, but were rushed by our agenda. Today, we decided to let our interest pace the day. This oldest and most comprehensive museum of the west is a complex of five museums and a research library featuring art and artifacts of the American west.  The collections are huge and diverse.   We took lots of pics last time. Our photos this time represent snippets of the whole.

Beth likes the American western art museum best. This gallery of paintings and sculpture is organized thematically, with spaces dedicated to heroes and legends, the heroic cowboy, wildlife, horses in the west, inspirational landscapes, first people of the West, and the western experience.

typical painting - Madonna of the Prairie by W.H.D. Koerner

Bronze statues are a big part of western art.  Seems that Most sizable towns and businesses have them.

Art reproductions available in Museum store

I liked the firearms. Besides the general evolution of firearms, every American conflict, and significant manufacturer is represented, as are TV shows, movies, air rifles, and special interests.  A gun nut could spend a week here, and then return.  I liked the odd stuff, such as.

.22 pistol is part of multi-tool with over 100 functions

perhaps  selection reflects anticipated type of conflict

Plains Indians Museum features the stories and objects of Plains Indian people, their cultures, traditions, values and histories, as well as the contexts of their lives today.

Elk teeth adorning this dress reflect a brave's hunting prowess

There were accounts of a number of events.  This one is Little Big Horn.  Many dead Yankees.

Native American ladies recognized for skills

Brave's headdress

Natural History Museum features of `20,000 sq ft featured geology, wildlife, and human presence in the Greater Yellowstone region.  There are many good exhibits, but our favorite nature experience here was the Raptor experience with handlers and live raptors.

Peregrine falcon snacking

Great Horned owl watching you

At the end of the day we conclude that though the gun collection is world class, the arts (counting native American) "rule".
That evening we returned to the Ponderosa campground.

May 18 to Cody.

Our host at Worland, WY campground recommend we check out the old planes at county airport on way to Cody

We saw 6 of these old forest-fire fighting planes

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Upon arrival in Cody, we found Information Center and were referred to the following

Street view.  Like most western towns, there is plenty of room to U-turn a freight wagon and four horse team

There were grocery stores, black smith shops, livery sable, and a number of cabin sized homes. Most businesses (especially the saloon) were smaller than seen in movies.  The saloon was definitely too small to film action shootouts.  The Rivers Saloon, frequented by the likes of Butch Cassidy bears scars of a few shootouts. 

Rivers Saloon

Waiting for service

Three tables (one behind camera).

Remains of half a dozen wild west notables lie here

resting place of Jeremiah "Liver Eatin" Johnson

We stayed at Ponderosa campground after sharing a 16 oz a buffalo rib eye diner.  It was good, but  really dry compared to beef.  Influx of a large party hindered service, but not a problem since manager is a huge Duke basketball fan, and I was wearing a Duke tshirt.

May 17 - Tensleep Canyon drive to Worland

Leaving All Seasons Campground east of Gillette, WY.

We drove by pronghorn grazing

And mares with their foals

Surface coal mine

A good number of the Wyoming accesses on I-90 are to dirt roads

On Rt 16 south of Buffalo,WY we see people and pets

A frozen lake and fresh snow in Big Horn Mountains

the sign indicates a hairpin curve

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around the curve

Below we see Ten Sleep Canyon

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The canyon begins to level out

Into farmland

We camped at Worland RV Park and Campground.  They had all we needed except cable.  Hosts were great.  Showers great.  WiFi fast