Yesterday we left Deadwood and did a lot of driving. We detoured to Devils Tower where the aliens from Close Encounters landed and then found a place called Medicine Wheel, an Indian holy place built about 800 years ago. The various points around the circle line up perfectly with the sun's setting and rising during the summer solstice as well as with certain constellations that are important to Native American culture and religion. The site is only reachable for 2 months around summer solstice and since they had a snow storm 2 weeks ago here the road up was closed and we had to hike in about a mile and a half over 2 snow banks to get to it. Luckily they let dogs go on the hike as long as they don't approach the actual site so Oops and Squeek had their first tourist experience that wasn't just sitting in the car with the windows cracked. They loved it. It was worth the detour and the hike to see not only a very ancient ritual site but also some great views of the Bighorn mountains and the local flowers, birds and even some chipmunks and a fox.
We made it to Lovell pretty late and found most of the town lined up and down the main street patiently waiting in the half dark for prime fireworks shooting time or else already in for the evening. Since it was the 4th of July, the town’s 3 hotels had only one vacancy. Luckily the hotel in question allowed pets, and wasn’t across the street from the only bar in town (the other hotel with vacancies seemed to be problematically connected to the only bar in town by a wavering, stumbling line of bar patrons). After checking into the hotel and meeting the only nice and friendly person in the entire town, the owner of the motel, we went in search for food. Only one place was open in the entire town, Taco Johns – proudly serving “West-Mex”. We were the last people in the door and the teenagers running the place were extremely distracted trying to close up for the night. We finally got our food (YUCK!) ate, and went back to hotel and straight to bed.
Pictures for Day 12
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4 comments:
"I hate these mashed potatoes. There's a dead fly in my potatoes."
We finally figured out hoe to get to your blog site! ... And we're loving it! Some of the places you are visiting, we have been to in the past, but so many of them are new to us ... it's like taking a little vacation with you everytime!
momanddad
We are enjoying your descriptions, comments, and photos. Keep up the good work. We want to encourage you to keep this going when you reach your destination and start your next adventure in Alaska.
Don't we have a great country!
Thank you for taking the time to do this. I feel much better hearing about your experiences. Please save all these entries, they are great!
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