schellsontheroad2014.blogspot.com: Hello from Cheyenne, WY

I will say again for anyone new following the blog this year there probably won't be a lot of new things/places to share with you this summer. Sometimes, this mobile lifestyle is a 'repeat' just like a stationery lifestyle. We are making our way to Rapid City, SD where we need to renew our drivers' licenses and then to IN where we'll start the process of having the interior remodeled. The plan is a month in IN so we'll see how that goes.

We made our overnight road trip to Kingman and Bullhead City, AZ to see Wally, our New Zealand friend. He is anxiously awaiting word from the VA when he can have his hip replacement surgery and begin to feel good again.

We left Cottonwood on Thursday, 5/15, and spent the night at a truck stop in Casa Blanca, NM. We did have an interesting experience as we got on I40 at Flagstaff. There were hundreds of motorcycles coming from the west and we rode alongside them for about 5 miles. This was a very organized ride with all of them in the left lane riding two wide. Once out of Flagstaff and in the open, they moved to the right lane and the traffic was able to pass them. They had many 'road guards' and several patrols cars along the way that kept an eye on things. We stopped in Winslow at the Flying J and here they all came for fuel and whatever else. Dick & I talked about 'maybe' they were on their way to Washington DC for the big Rolling Thunder rally beginning at the Vietnam Memorial over the holiday weekend. Sure enough when Dick went in to Flying J for a soda he asked the gal and she said yes that they stop every year on their way east. We had noticed almost all of them had some sort of Vietnam insignia on their bikes, clothing, etc. so we were right. What an impressive site they were and I can only imagine the revenue they bring in as they travel but we wondered where they spend the nights, eat, etc. And I suspect the group gets larger as they make their way east. It was a little intimidating to drive alongside them but they never wavered and slowed when necessary, etc. etc.

Friday night we were in Fountain, CO at a KOA. We had 'tentatively' planned to stop and see some friends in the Denver area but that didn't work out this time so maybe we can catch them on our way back to AZ if we come that way. Saturday morning we left Fountain and got into Cheyenne around noon. Last weekend Cheyenne had 10" of snow (yikes) but now all that's left is some along the interstate and the roads were clear. We checked into the Terry Bison RV Ranch/park and got settled in.

This is a large working bison ranch here in Cheyenne with about 2500 head of bison roaming the ranch. Guests can take a rail express little train on the ranch's own railroad and see about 400 of the bison up close. The rest of them are roaming the 27,000 acres. The rail trip is $12 a person & we decided we'd pass as we could see them close enough from our campsite. There are guest houses here, cabins, a couple of restaurants, of course a gift store, and even some ostriches. They also brought in 5 camels back in 2001 hoping to train them to let the guests ride them. Well, that didn't work and so they have their own pasture and heated barn to live the good life now. Interesting place to stop if you're in the area.

We have a friend here so we called him and got together Saturday afternoon for awhile and got caught up at a local diner called, Luxury Diner, that once was a rail car. A locals favorite he said and we could see why. Cool concept and even though we didn't eat lunch (had already eaten) he had a burger that looked very good so we went back this morning for breakfast and it was really good!!! A definite must stop next time we're here.

Saturday evening after we returned to the RV, the sky got 'black' and we had some rain that turned to hail for about 10 minutes. Then it was over but it really cooled down for the night to in the 40's & a little windy. Of course, to us AZ wimps that was pretty chilly.

We will leave here tomorrow morning and be in Rapid City tomorrow night until after the holiday weekend. We hadn't planned to stay that long but we don't like to travel on holiday weekends so we will enjoy the area weather permitting (lots of rain in the forecast they say).

Until next time………