Our camp site in Cody. Nice clean shiny bus !!!!
And that's what we call a good hair day in this household !!
Arrived in Cody WY on Friday of Labor Day Weekend. We were a little worried about getting a spot but had no problems. Pulled into Ponderosa RV park. Sites were a little close together but it worked out. We ended up taking 3 tent spots and actually had more room than if we had taken an RV spot. The last day a mobile service came and washed the RV. The guy that did it is a police officer from Cody and does this on the side. He was very impressed with Jeff's wax job. Got laundry completed, thanks to Lexi who did it all .... wash, dried, ironed, folded or hung up AND put away. While she was doing that we scoured the inside of the bus, treated all the wood and organized. Got great pictures of us all dressed up to go out to dinner but they are on the camera, so will post later. Had a wonderful steak dinner at Cassie's Steakhouse in Cody and Jeff and Lexi talked to the waiter without us knowing and had an anniversary dessert brought to the table. Made us so proud of them!!!!
Did not do the Buffalo Bill Museum and regretting it now.We just had a hard time because the only thing offered was a 2 day admission to 5 museums but Lexi and Jeff did go to the Dug Up Gun Museum.
The absolute best part of our journey to Cody was our day drive .... a 10 hour drive and too long on Moe to be left behind. He was good but missed us too much.
We started the driving going to Meeteetse, WY (population 250)and had a drink with Jeff at the Cowboy Saloon where Butch Cassidy was arrested on trumped up horse thieving charges and spent 18 months in jail. He was actually arrested for talking about planning on robbing the local bank, built in 1904 and still standing. It is now a museum but holds the distinction of having never been robbed.
We had seen a write up on "The Cowboy Chocolatier". His name is Tim Kellogg and he is a local rancher that opened up the chocolate store in Meeteetse. Not only is he fabulous at what he does, but he is an absolute stud too and we got to see him .... thought Lexi was going to swoon to the floor. Had the best treat there (other than the glimpse of Mr. Kellogg ... lol) ... Sea Salt Caramel covered in dark chocolate. Everything was good but that was the best. They don't allow pictures to be taken in the shop, but if you look him up, you will see what I mean.
We left Meeteetse and drove west on the main road for about 6 miles and then turned onto a gravel road for about 30 miles that ended as a 4 wheeling road going over and through streams. We made it fine in the tracker and Jeff had a good time driving it. Our destination was Kirwin, WY, a ghost mining town.
View of our drive up through the mountain gorge heading to Kirwin.
In 1907, Kirwin, at 9000 feet, had a population of 200 people and 38 buildings, when it was hit with a record snow storm that dumped 100 feet of snow on the town in 9 days of straight blizzards that got stuck in the gorge. An avalanche hit the town, destroying many buildings and killing 3 people. A rescue mission was sent up from Meeteetse, and every resident left immediately and no one has lived there since. The locals say that when the went back the next spring, dinner dishes with food had been left at the dining room tables of many homes. People left that quick. Amelia Erhart and her husband built there but their home site was abandoned following her disappearance.
We saw old log cabins, still standing from the early 1900's, the mine, which you can go into and look around and lots of old mining equipment. Jeff was so excited and had such a wonderful time that his whole attitude was contagious. He has such a passion for history and all things old. I will never forget that day and all the joy in watching him and listening to his excitement. What a great kid !! And the other one had a good time too and behaved herself.
Jeff and I at the entrance to the mine.
The Kirwin mine that survived the avalanche.
!! Bother and sister trying out the double seater outhouse. For real.
Sorry that was a little long but was one of our absolute high lights. Will update from Cody on tomorrow. The sun has broke out of the clouds here and it is just absolutely gorgeous.
This a truck Jeff and Vic saw in Cody WY.
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