North American history has really come alive for me on this trip. I am fascinated to see how the natural world has drawn human attention and value, and how the economy, culture and politics evolve from there. I don’t remember learning much about the westward migration of Europeans in school, so visiting these sites was a real eye-opener.
I first met Vickie when she and and her husband Sissy were about to have their 25th anniversary, and now they’re having their 50th! They have quite a love story, you are interested in hearing them tell a bit about it – Longtime Couple Found that Clothes Didn’t Make the Man It was wonderful to see Vickie again, to finally meet Sissy, and to enjoy their lovely company and hospitality.
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- Interesting where the three trails originate, converge and diverge.
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- “At one time some of the Indian pictographs and petroglyphs on the rocks were still visible, but like the land surrounding us that was once the hunting grounds of several Indian nations, those images have been lost in the flood of the white names on the rocks.” Register Cliff
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- I had never thought about any “graffiti” between petroglyphs and modern spray paint. I like the fact that a lot of the lettering is so fancy. Register Cliff
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- I felt more of a sense of context when people added their profession or town or state of origin. Register Cliff
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- Mason symbol. Register Cliff
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- Somewhat amazing to see one’s own name. No relation that I know of…
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- And love, always love. Register Cliff
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- And this… the literal Trail. So much so that they wore a square path into the rock! Amazing. Oregon Trail Ruts
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- Oregon Trail Ruts
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- A whole infrastructure of military, commerce and communication existed to support the westward migration of Europeans.
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- Restored office and housing building at Fort Laramie
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- Part of the communication infrastructure for the Trails, the Pony Express. Fort Laramie
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- Part of the communication infrastructure for the Trails, telegraphs. Fort Laramie
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- Ayers Natural Bridge Park
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- Ayers Natural Bridge Park
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- Ayers Natural Bridge Park
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- Me & Sissy atop Ayers Natural Bridge
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- With my very kind and thoughtful friend Vickie
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- An extremely cool little bar in Douglas
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- Douglas, WY – Home of the Jackalope!
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- The oldest bar in Wyoming! Hartville
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- I grew up in my beloved blues and greens on the East Coast, and came to a great appreciation of the the stark beiges and reds of the desert near the West Coast. I seem now to have fallen QUITE in love with the yellows of grasslands West! ? WY-SD border
