Scottsbluff to Fort Laramie to Fort Robinson

July 9

Fresh off of a lovely stay at the Barn Anew B&B located literally on the Oregon Trail I headed west towards Fort Laramie.  Fort Laramie is in far Eastern Wyoming and sits on the approach to the Rocky Mountains.  This fort has surviving buildings dating back to 1849 mostly because homesteaders purchased the buildings and lived in them.  Finally public agencies took the necessary steps to preserve the buildings that are filled with history.

Many of the buildings are only ruins, but several survive intact and there is an active restoration process on many buildings. You can’t help but wonder what these old walls would say if they could talk.  I found it interesting that the Old Guardhouse from 1866 is one of two tornado shelters on the property.  These people take tornadoes pretty darn seriously. 

The Old Guardhouse has been a part of a recent archeological dig and the researchers found traces of the Old, Old Guardhouse.  They located the foundations for the cells where the chronic, repeat offenders stay for weeks at a time while living on bread and water, no furniture, heat or light.  It is approximately 5 feet long and three feet wide.  Imagine if we did this today…

Heading through Northeast Wyoming towards Fort Robinson, I happened upon a quilt store.  Okay—I admit—I planned it this way.  Anyway, the little shop had an owner that is like my soul sister.  I loved everything in her shop, but I only bought enough fabric for one throw quilt.  I really like being on the road and still having MSD drop money into my checking account every two weeks—it is like magic money.  Oh—to be a member of the privileged elite in the state of Indiana!  No, I don’t get paid for when I don’t teach.  I don’t take a full wage so I can get paid in the summer.  Horses eat all 52 weeks of the year—not just the 36 weeks we are in school.  It still sounds pretty good though doesn’t it?  Until you figure in all the unpaid vacation weeks during the school year.  But---I can’t think of ANYTHING else I would rather be doing—with the exception of what I am doing this summer. J

Anyway—I had a lovely drive on HWY 20—the same one that goes through Angola.  It is much narrower here and doesn’t have a gazillion semi-trucks on it.  Don’t think I came across any trucks.  I did pass a cross-country bicyclist and wondered just where he was going to sleep tonight.  What would possess someone to ride a bike that far?  The front wheel of his bike looked like a grocery cart and carried all of his gear.  There are very few trees in the area from Lusk to Fort Robinson.  At one point I could see for miles in every direction and not see any trees.  Don’t get me wrong—I love trees—remember my Arbor Day Farm visit?  However, I LOVE the wide open spaces and just the quality of life people live in this area.

On several occasions I have had teenagers strike up conversations with me about trivial things that most kids wouldn’t even notice.  It is like there is another set of values in Western Nebraska that we don’t have in Angola.  No mention of meth— or thug looking kids—lots of rodeos and FFA/4-H signs.  The schools that I have passed are very small.  I saw one that was about the size of AHS, then I realized that it was the elementary, middle, and high school for a tri-county area. 

As I crept closer to Fort Robinson the hills began to look like those found near the Badlands and I began to see more trees. The hills leveled out and began to look more like buttes.  The grass became greener and there were more horses instead of cattle on the open range.  I did go about 50 miles without cell coverage which didn’t bother me a bit.

No trees!!  For miles!!

 I did come up with a project for someone looking for a Lilly grant idea.  They could document the artwork of the ranch signs on the open range areas.  Most ranches have a fancy iron sign either in front of their place or in an arch that goes over the driveway.  That could be an interesting project.  You could photograph the signs and talk to the owners about the history of the ranch.  I’m sure they would have many tales to tell.

Fort Robinson is an old military post that is now a Nebraska state park.  It is big and beautiful.  More details on the park tomorrow.  It is time for bed—I just read this post and it sounds like my dear friend Cody wrote it with his ADD going strong.  Sorry!